Thoughts for the day

Forget

Everything

And

Really

Serve

&

1 Nephi 3:7

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father:

I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded,

for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto 

the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them

that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

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I don't really have a lot to say today, just wanted to post. These are two things that can get me through anything, besides prayer and scripture study. 

Satan likes it when I fear the unknown and so I've adapted the FEARS acronym as my motto. Forget everything and really serve. I never get nervous about anything, so the nerves that are present with getting ready for my mission are definitely a new thing that I'm learning to deal with! I know what it's like to go to college because I've been before, and I know what it's like to be a cheerleader because I was one in high school. But August 28th marks the first day of me being a missionary, ever, and I am so excited for this new experience of sharing the gospel for 18 months! I may not know what it's like yet, but I will soon, and I already know it's going to be great. So instead of fearing the unknown, I'm going to prepare and embrace the unknown.

It's kind of funny how every single fear I've had, Heavenly Father has not only calmed that fear, but he has placed someone in my path to calm that fear. I'm not really afraid of anything anymore regarding my mission and that is a HUGE blessing.

Another thing that goes along with the FEARS acronym is one of my favorite scriptures, 1 Nephi 3:7. It is possible to learn the crazy language of Cebuano! Had I ever heard of Cebuano before I opened my mission call? Absolutely not! How many words do I know in Cebuano? Like 4. But none of this matters. God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called. I know that as I work hard and really dedicate myself to learning this language, that I will be able to speak it and understand it.

Will my mission be hard? YES! But will it be incredibly rewarding and life changing? YES! 

I'm so thankful for the opportunity I have to serve my Heavenly Father and His children in the Philippines who are seeking for the truth. 

Today marks 2 months exactly since I opened the most life changing envelope I'll ever receive. I still remember exactly how I felt when I read the words "You are assigned to labor in the Philippines Cebu Mission." I had prayed and prayed in the days leading up to opening my call, that I would love where I was serving and that I would be excited. When I read where I would be serving, I was overcome with such happiness and peace that I knew Cebu Philippines is EXACTLY where I need to be for the next 18 months. I felt like if I closed my eyes, that I could literally see the apostle who assigned my call sitting at a desk and looking at my picture and assigning my call to the Philippines. It was an incredible feeling.

Then, being able to go through the temple and continuing to go back as often as I can has been a huge blessing. Every time I go to the temple I read D&C 4 and just being in that environment and reading that chapter just solidifies my decision to serve a mission so much more.

I only have 72 days left to prepare for this amazing experience! When I got my call, I remember thinking how far away August 28th seemed. It still seems a little ways away, but it is coming soon. On July 1st, I'll be able to tell people that I am leaving next month!! 

So, to make a long story short, I need to stop being afraid of the unknown and FEARS. Forget everything and really serve. 

I couldn't be happier.