Called to Serve

The moment we have all been waiting for! Well, I have. My mission call came!

I got it in the mail at about noon yesterday and just about died when I opened the mail box and it was actually there. IT WAS FINALLY HERE AFTER 3 WEEKS! I was so excited in fact, I dropped the container of soup I had just picked up at the grocery store and broke it all over the ground. I was soup dropping excited! I ran inside and did as anyone else would do with big news; post it on Facebook, obviously.

I'm being totally serious. 

The day was a roller coaster of emotions. I went from feeling scared and petrified and not wanting to open it, to feeling so impatient it took all my willpower to not rip it open. But the feeling I felt above all those was the confirmation of the Holy Ghost letting me know this big white envelope held a destination I would go to and have my life changed forever, for the good. 

As I waited until my parents could call and open it with me that evening, I thought it best I prepare myself as much as I could. I prayed at least 10 times to Heavenly Father that I would know matter where I was called to (even Utah) that it was where I was supposed to be. I watched tons of mission call openings so I knew exactly what to do when I opened mine, I read missionaries stories and talks from my church leaders, and sang called to serve and least a thousand times. I realized later that there's not enough emotional preparation in the world to help you be ready for that moment you open your call.

The day went by faster than I expected. I went to the church's trunk-or-treat and had a ton of people tell me things like "Youre going to be a great missionary!" "I would've ripped it open already" and "you're so patient (if only they knew)". I then ran back to my home to set up to call my parents and then it was time.

My hands were shaky. My legs were weak and my eyes were blurry. I thought my heart was going to beat straight out of my chest and onto the pristine white envelope. I had planned to open my envelope gracefully as to preserve it, but that didnt happen, it's destroyed. Of COURSE, me being the Klutz that I am, I dropped my letter on the freaking floor. Then, I began to read.

Dear Sister Parry,

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 Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on December 28th, 2016. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language. 

I can't begin to describe the joy, relief, and inadequacy I felt after finding out where I am going. It is no secret that I really wanted to go foreign. But waiting and praying yesterday I knew I was going to go stateside, and God treated me well! It's the most beautiful, history rich mission I could have ever asked to be called to. Not to cold, not to hot, and beyond perfect. I mean, look at these pictures from my missions official blog!

 THAT'S A BUGGY

 I am so beyond blessed. I can not wait to go and serve the people of Pennsylvania. I know that it is where exactly where I need to be and there will be people in my area only I could touch. My life will be changed forever. I am humbled to know my local and general leaders have found me worthy to serve, and learned enough to bring others to Christ. It's been a long time coming to get to where I am now. There were lots of mistakes made, tears shed, and who knows what else. Thank you to every seminary teacher, leader, and especially my family for making me the person I am today. I hope I can make you guys proud. I am so happy and so proud of myself for fulfilling the dream I've had since I was a little girl. I have grown my foot or two, and now I am ready to get to work.

P.S. It's no surprise what I am thankful for this week is Missions. That's all I have to say about that.