7... days... AHHHHHHH!

In exactly 7 days from today I will be set apart as a full time missionary!!! Talk about SCARY, exhilirating, crazy, tender moments!

Today has been an emotional rollercoaster. Not only have I cried tears of sadness, I've cried tears of joy, nervousness, and excitment! At the moment I am not crying, but, I am so excited! Throughout my preparation time since I got my mission call, (5 months to be exact), I've had such great experiences. Most recently I gave my farewell talk, basically saved a man's life, and had a life altering experience. 

1st- I gave my farewell talk this past Sunday (4/28/2013). I struggled and struggled. I started writing my talk two weeks in advance and apparently that is not a good idea. It only made me more nervous and anxious. I wrote, re-wrote, and then re-wrote my talk again. The night before I gave my talk I reviewed my talk. I was nearly in tears thinking I was going to make a fool of myself. (did I mention I've been super emotional lately?) I knelt down in a prayer and asked that I would be able to convey the message properly and have the Holy Ghost with me as I perfected my talk. When I started revising my talk after that prayer, it was like I was Ernest Hemmingway, or even better, Nicholas Sparks. My words were so fluid and made since all of the sudden. Quotes and scriptures from my research were finally cohesive and made sense to my subject! 

I was also very lucky to have been able to sing a duet of "Oh Lord, My Redeemer" with my mom! Turns out the Choir got scheduled for the same day:/ We were sitting up in the front at the beginning of sacrament and the Bishop leaned over and whispered, "Oh can you sing your duet after the choir sings their musical number?" I just about had a panic attack! (not really...I was actually pretty calm considering the circumstances.) The choir's musical number was absolutely beautiful. That in combination with the song my mom and I sang, truely brought the Spirit to the meeting. When I got up to talk, I wasnt even that nervous. Words just flowed and made sense (totally a first for my public speaking experiences!). I had such an incredible day! As I was speaking I noticed my Young Women's leader from a few years ago (who is in a different stake might I add). She was there to support me! It really meant a lot that so many of my family members and advisers were there to support me! 

2nd- I kinda helped a man. I was driving with my sister and we saw a man on the sidewalk who was just lying there. We pulled over and I was fully prepared to give CPR. He was consious though so I called 911 and fortunately a nurse who was on a walk came over and helped as well! Fortunately he is ok! I'm just glad we saw him and were able to help in anyway!

3rd- Life Altering Experience! So recently I've been feeling a lot of anxiety and thinking I'm not prepared to be a perfect missionary! It's been kind of getting to me:( Anyways, I was reading in my scriptures a few days ago and read 1st Nephi 20 verse 10. It says, " For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the 

furnace of affliction. "  I LOVEEEE this! It really helped me realize that those feelings were a refining moment 

for me. I am not perfect, but, I am trying which is something! I also read the following quote on one of my 

favorite sister missionary blogs Bella In Berlin, She said,

"I remember how hesitant I was to serve a mission.

I'm no gospel whiz, or poster child for LDS living magazine. 

I'm not a " typical" sister missionary.

But then again. Noone asked me to be

Missions are NOT scary, hair pulling, sacrifices.

They are hard, but so rewarding. They do not run you into the ground or frustrate you..

The sisters and elders believe it or not.. are NORMAL people..

Not all sisters enjoy wearing shades of gray and orthopedic shoes and not smiling..

The quicker i learned to be myself, wear cute bows on my shoes and to love the work..... it made all the difference.

6 am may never get easier, weekly planning may never be fun, doors may never open..

but God doesn't ask us to be perfect or to move mountains, he just asks us to push." 

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!! God didn't ask me to be perfect. He asked me to try and to do my best. "God doesn't ask us to be perfect or to move mountains, he just asks us to push." Anyways. I'm babling on, but, I did want to post my experiences as they have really impacted me! Much Love:)