The Lord qualifies those whom He calls

My adorable sister-in-law is her ward's activity day girls leader,

For one of their activities, she had a lady from their ward who served a mission speak to them

and then had me speak to the girls about why I chose to serve a mission.

She then gave them their own pretend little mission call with a name tag and everything.

It. was. so. perfect.

All the girls were so excited and I just wish I would have had that push when I

was little to at least start thinking about a mission.

So I decided to share what I talked about with the girls here on my mission blog.

Why I chose to serve a mission​

Growing up, I had never planned on serving, but like many girls around my age

once the age change from 21 to 19 happened....the idea and possibility began to creep in.

In high school I heard some of the best advice I could have received.

A girl a couple years older than me told me that no matter where her life lead

she was going to prepare to serve a mission.

Because that way, at least if you do all of a sudden decide to go, you're ready.

And if you don’t, you're still ten times more spiritually strengthened for wherever life leads you. So almost two years ago I began to prepare for a mission, even though at the time I kinda figured I wouldn’t actually go.

Over the course of preparing, I was spiritually uplifted, enlightened, and strengthened.

I never really had a single pivotal moment in my journey that said "GO ON A MISSION." I had tons and tons and tons of tiny spiritual moments and promptings that lead me towards my decision.

One of the biggest and my favorite was my preparation and journey to the temple.

This lead to my understanding of so much truth and happiness that is found in our gospel.

At a certain point through my preparation I began to feel a whole lot of doubt and discouragement. Thoughts like I'm never going to be as successful as these other sister missionaries are, or I'm to shy to speak my mind, I'm not confident enough to talk to strangers, I can't leave my family for that long, I can sometimes stumble over my words in English let alone a whole new language, I'm never going to be prepared, I'm not strong or smart enough and blah blah blah.

I literally began to fight the promptings from the spirit.

I let these fears slow me down, instead of just trusting God.

It sounds easy enough to just trust Him, but man fear can be unbelievably debilitating.

One-day last summer I couldn’t fight it anymore,

I went to my bishop’s office and began my paperwork.

I'm not kidding when I say that immediately, any internal contention with myself and external contentions with God disappeared. It was as though it was the right decision from the beginning. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders and my mind was clear.

This was the answer all along.

It just had to be my own decision. I finished my papers which was such an exciting and nerve wracking experience. I remember the very night I had my last interview with my stake president and just smiling the entire time and almost crying with excitement, and going out to my car just running and dancing and skipping because I just couldn't believe it was really happening!

Three weeks later. The longest three weeks of my life, I got my call!

Again, the second I held that packet, it just felt so right. Like this was the answer all along.

I felt like I almost didn't even need to open it and read where I was going, it didn't matter. The people of this place were the right people for me to teach. They were the ones God had prepared me to serve. It is such a strange thing to explain but man I loved feeling those tiny promptings.

I read it, NORWAY.

Even though I had never even thought of Norway as an option, again, I immediately felt peace. I was overjoyed with excitement.

But after it really hit me, it was almost like a piece of the veil had been lifted. It felt so beyond right.

One day a month or so after I got my call, I felt the spirit witness to me the importance of eternal families. I felt the love of my family, I felt the love of Christ and Heavenly Father. I knew that this was the reason I was going. This. This happiness and love. I understood that there are families in Norway who are dying for this answer. Dying to feel the peace that comes from knowing that families can be together forever. The sadness and doubt that I had once felt from knowing that I would leave my family for a short time really did become my greatest happiness. It was because of their love for me that I could understand happiness.

And therefore teach that happiness to others.

One of the coolest things to me is also the fact that I haven't once gotten nervous about speaking Norwegian. It really does blow my mind.

Like what.

How is that not scaring the crap out of me!? I'm sure I will feel it once I get out there and actually have to speak to people, but man I'm grateful for the comfort of the spirit in my life.

In the end I learned that being prepared, being patient, and trusting God are the only things we can do.

Trying our hardest and letting Christ make up for our shortcomings will lead us towards

the right path in our own divine plans.

I promise to you, I PROMISE that trusting God will bring you peace and blessings.

I am grateful for the plan of salvation so that we can all have eternal families.

I am grateful for missionary work and the opportunity I get to serve in the land of Norway.

I am grateful for temples and the peace found inside them.

And lastly, I am so incomprehensibly grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. Who has saved us all and for Heavenly Father who has given us every little thing we have here on earth and every ounce of knowledge we will take with us to Heaven.

man, I love this Gospel.