Hey guys, so I haven't written in a few months. Just thought I'd post an update and talk about what the heck is going on with my life. Well, I'm assuming most of you are friends with me on Facebook, which means you guys practically see my life 24/7. Anywho, what have I been up to?
I finished up this semester majoring in elementary education. I started off with communications, which don't get me wrong, I LOVED COMMUNICATIONS. The classes were amazing and my professors, Sister Jackson, Sister Meade, and Sister Bean were all really cool professors and they made school fun but I felt that education was better for me. I changed halfway through the semester. I was already taking a few classes in ELED so it was easier. I had history of education (Sister Tobler) and geography (Brother Cannon), which was amazing. This semester ended with a 3.7 and an overall cumulative GPA of 3.2. So overall, I loved this semester and loved my professors. It was such an amazing semester.
I had the most amazing roommates ever. Now don't get me wrong, my past roommates were good too. Bentley, Chazz, Kade, Christian, and James from summer session 2016 were super cool. I didn't get super close to a couple of them and didn't always get along with them but they were really awesome. My roommates from Fall 2016 were amazing. I loved Adam, who was my room roommate, and I saw him a few times this semester. Eric, Michael, David, and Matt were super cool and I loved being roommates with them. I thought my roommates from Spring 2017 were some of the best too. Christian, Thomas, Fernando, Tyler, and Joseph were all awesome in their own ways and I had such a fun time with all of them. But this semester, I had the best time ever. I loved my roommates. Braeden, Dakota, Ian, and Matt were amazing guys and then my room roommate Sam was super fun to be around. I had an amazing time with them all. I'm extremely grateful for the roommates I had and the amazing memories we had.
The friends I had were so awesome. I was constantly surrounded by some of the most amazing people I knew. They were all amazing influences in my life and helped me to continue making good choices. I have way too many friends and I have talked about so many in the past. My next door neighbors were some of my favorite people. Nathan, Nathan (yes two Nathan's), Ryan, Ben, Cody, and Taylor are so awesome. I would go over there every day and visit with them. They let me borrow things and gave me food and would give me rides to places. It made me happy whenever I was around them and I was always grateful for the favors they did for me. There were so many other people I met and became friends with and grew closer with. And a few of them I have known for quite some time. Some honorary people are Amberly, Callie, Rylie, Katie, Juliette, Kaylee, Jozelle, Maia, Cullen, Amanda (my roommates' fiance and old FHE sister), Valerie, and so much more. I'm just super happy for everyone I met and all the memories created.
So when I began typing this blog post, it was the other night before I got exciting news. Today (Wednesday, December 27, 2017), I met with LDS family services. I have had about 5 or so meetings with them over the span of a year and a half to determine if I'm able to serve my mission. And every time, they tell me I need to wait a little bit longer and mature a little bit. No problem. I understand that I need to grow as a person before I serve, especially with my Aspergers and ADD, I really need to give it some time. Well, today, I went into my interview assuming it would go well. He asked me questions and I answered him and we just had our conversation. He eventually told me that he doesn't even notice I have Aspergers and he can notice that I have grown. He went on to tell me he will have to speak with my stake president but he is confident in recommending me for my mission. This is a huge blessing in my life. I have been waiting to serve for such a long time now and I am happy that I will be approved. Now it just comes down to the church and the mission department if they feel I am ready to serve. I'm super stoked and hopefully, I can serve now.
Before my mission, I was against serving anywhere. Like, who would ever want to serve in the Idaho Falls mission and be stuck in Rexburg for another 2 years? Or who would want to go to Kansas or Nebraska for 2 years? I told myself that I didn't want to serve in those places. I had such a negative attitude towards serving in some places. To be honest, I wanted to go foreign. And of course, I still want to serve foreign but my viewpoint has changed. I have been wanting to serve for over a year and a half now. Well, I have been wanting to serve my whole life but ever since I started my papers in May of 2016, I have really wanted to serve. Anyway, this past year and a half have changed my viewpoint. I have opened my eyes and realized it doesn't matter where I serve. At this point, I want to serve in Kansas or Nebraska. I know it doesn't matter WHERE I serve, it only matters that I AM serving. I know wherever I serve is where the Lord needs me and there is someone there who needs to hear my message. Being openminded to serving anywhere has been important to me in growing as a person and growing spiritually. I realized I was being selfish and only looking at my own needs. I may never know the real reason, but I feel that the Lord prevented me from serving for such a long time because he wanted me to understand the importance of serving wherever he needs me and any mission is an important mission. This is why I'll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord.
I hope that everyone else who is having trouble with coming to a realization of serving in "boring" places realizes it doesn't matter where you get called to serve. Receive your call and serve loud and proud. The Lord is proud of you no matter where you are serving. From Kansas all the way to Fiji. No mission is more important than the other. They are all the same and meant to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Life is great. School is great. And I'm loving everything. I should have my mission papers in later on this month and hopefully, have my call towards the end of January. Thanks again for reading this everyone and being supportive. Love you all!!!
