My Mission- I Chose to Accept It

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to the Guatemala Guatemala City South Mission.  You have four months to prepare. We will have a plane waiting for you at seventeen hundred hours at the end of the four months.   This message will self destruct in 10 seconds."

I dove behind a desk as the tape burst into oblivion in a puff of smoke. 
I'd received my call. There was really no need to think about it. I would accept it.


Although this is not an entirely accurate depiction of how I received my call for my mission, it kind of has a similar point.  I had accepted the call the go on a mission.  However, my decision occurred before I even received the paperwork explaining where I'd go and when.

There are some things that you just know you have to do.  A compass inside you points the direction you need to go and if you're listening closely, you follow. It may be scary, it may be life changing...but it's going to be the greatest thing that has happened to you! I love moments like this!   And it's how I ended up filling out the paperwork to dedicate a year and a half of my life to a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...o en espanol, La Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias.

During my mission, I will be inviting people to learn more about and increase their relationship with Jesus Christ.  I will have the opportunity to help change people's lives by finding that which can add the most joy into their lives.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is that thing-most desirable above all else.

Since I have many friends and family who would like to know what I'm up to while I'm away, I've opted to create this blog to post the emails I will send to my parents, so everyone can share in my adventures. Selfishly, I also want to have a record of the things I've written home about-in hopes that they will keep from getting forgotten.
My mom will be in charge (I think) of maintaining this page and in updating posts with my emailed letters from Guatemala.  Hence the name...

For those that are curious, I have exactly a week before I report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Guatemala, and six days before I fly out. I will do my best to update with one final post before flying out of the country.

I hope you will all follow along with me on this wonderful opportunity I've chosen to take.  And, I hope my letters will also serve to be uplifting and inspiring to those who read them.