The Call

Everything with my mission call happened so fast! I was able to start my papers at the very beginning of January, and I just did a little at a time. It is possible to get everything done in a couple days, but since I was juggling school and work, it just worked out better to do one section/ one appointment at a time. I had my appointment with my Stake President on Tuesday, March 25th, and my papers were officially submitted the next morning, March 26th!

I had been thinking and praying about where I would want to serve. Of course, your call is up to the Lord, but I think He takes into consideration where you personally would like to serve too! Many leaders and moms of my friends who had already left on missions encouraged me to really think about where I would want to go. I prayed... pondered... fasted... everything. For a long time, I didn't receive any inspiration or have any specific thoughts on that subject, so I just figured I would be surprised when I opened my call. I always thought, if I were to go foreign, I would go to Italy, Germany, or France- basically the languages I had been using for my music classes! I also thought I would definitely stay stateside for multiple reasons, and I was more than fine with that! I never had a preference though. I knew that I would be called to where I needed to go.

So, with my papers submitted, I waited. My dad is a stake clerk and is able to check the status of my papers. On APRIL 1st (APRIL FOOLS DAY) I am sitting in class and I get a text from my dad saying "Your mission call has been assigned! Congratulations!" I totally thought it was a prank. As soon as that class was over, I called my mom and she was *emotional* (because you know, it's my mission call!), and then I explained my thinking that it was a prank, and couldn't decide if my dad would actually joke about that. I called my dad just after and told him "If you're joking about this, I'm going to be so mad!" He said the thought hadn't even crossed his mind! It was official, my call had been assigned!

I really wanted to be the one to open the mailbox and get that wonderful white envelope. I asked for all of the mailbox keys, and checked every day after work. Most mission calls in Arizona arrive on Friday. On Friday, April 4th, while at work, I got a text from my mom saying "Text me when you are on your way home, and I'll meet you at the mailbox." I drove home really fast from work that day (not too fast though...!) My mom was waiting there and she was talking to a few of the neighbors, who were also hanging out by the mailboxes. She was ready with her phone to video the whole thing. I was literally shaking as I turned the key. I opened it up and reached inside. THERE WAS MY BIG WHITE ENVELOPE! There was a happy dance and a few tears (from my mom).

Photo cred: My mom :)

I knew I wanted to wait until Sunday night to open it. I wanted my friends and family to be there, and Sunday nights at 7pm work pretty well! That weekend was also the April 2014 General Conference. The talks were so amazing and I probably took 10 pages of notes! It was awesome to have my mission call sitting right next to me while I was listening to inspired men and women and beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson, share messages that greatly impacted my life.

My extended family normally comes together for dinner on General Conference weekends, so we had eaten dinner, cleaned up, and played a few too many games, and it wasn't even 6 o'clock!!! Time dragged by so slowly that day. By 7pm, people started coming. My mom had been baking cookies all week, and they were all gone really fast! We put up a map for people to place guesses, and I had emailed my missionary friends and asked for their guesses too, so everyone was represented!

Photo cred: Diamond Zamora

The house was PACKED. I was amazed at how many people came. I was so happy to share this experience with my friends, family, and others that I am close to! I waited a few minutes for everyone to arrive, make their guesses, and eat some cookies. All of the sudden my heart started racing and I announced, "I am going to open it RIGHT NOW. Get grandma on the phone, we're doing this now!"

We gathered everyone around. I tore open the white envelope and pulled out the contents. Of course my eyes flashed right to where I had been assigned to serve... but I took a deep breath and started from the beginning:

"Dear Sister Sanders:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Japan Fukuoka Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 20th, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Japanese language..."

My thoughts went something like this: JAPAN??? HOW DO YOU EVEN SAY FUKUOKA CORRECTLY? OH MY GOSH. This is real. How crazy is this?! This feels right. This is right. I am so excited. I don't know any Japanese. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I looked around the room and I could just feel the Spirit there, confirming to everyone that the Gospel is true! The next few minutes were full of congratulations, hugs, some tears (Kayla!), and lots of happiness!

I know I will never regret my decision to serve a mission. I can't wait to serve my brothers and sisters in beautiful Japan!

photo cred: Samantha Incorvaia

Just a few of my awesome friends!