Home is Wherever I'm with You

Aloha y Bienvenidos a HAWAII.

I'm home guys. I can feel it in my bones, and every minute of every second that I breathe in that Hawaiian air, walk along the sand, leap into the ocean, run barefoot, jump off a cliff, or hear the sound of a ukulele, I just tingle with excitement. How is it possible that a mere human being can feel such a connection to a place, idea, or atmosphere? I have yet to discover the answer, but MAN do I love it! 

I've  only been back on the island for 4 days, and I feel like it's been a lifetime! Wednesday, I flew in and made a massive Costco/Walmart trip (courtesy of Jack and Andrea) and spent way too much money on food. haha I love Costco with all my heart, but it's like Target in the sense that you can't just go in an come out with one thing.

But I digress. So I got to my fantastic new house at about 7pm, and went straight into unpacking, bottom bunk baby! So, I live in this sweet little house with 5 other girls, and it is so much fun! My actual roommates are Kristin (from Idaho) and Whitney (from Oregon). Kristin actually served with my cousin Melissa in Michigan! Small world. My other housemates are, Makana (Hawaii) and Kulia & Kawena (Maui). I'm a minority here and it's great! All my roommates are Polynesian except Whitney, she's half Chinese and GORGEOUS! I love me some culture! 

Thursday, I was up at 6:30am and got to enjoy the sunrise and peaceful morning all to myself. Let me  just say that there is nothing better than sitting outside, early in the morning with the birds and roosters conversing around you while you study the scriptures and the sweet Hawaiian wind is running through your hair. Did I mention I love it here? hehe

Later that morning I got an invite to go to Waimea Bay. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. We swam and played beach volleyball and made friends with some local Marines. Then I fell asleep in the sand and got fried. My face is a nice brown now, but my shoulders are suffering. It's okay though, just 2 more burns like this, and I'll be back to my nice brown coloring again. Oh how I missed it! The sand between my toes, the waves carrying me to and fro, and the Aloha spirit that runs through the veins of all who come to the island. Oh, and we went cliff jumping off the giant cliff pictured below. (photo cred: thisrecording.com)

We finally made it home right before dinner, and I got ready to see some old friends and go to a session at the Laie, Hawaii temple. 

Lds.org

I was reunited with some old friends, and filled with the spirit. This temple is beautiful and so unique! I've yet to see a temple as expertly designed as this one. It is quite the experience.  After the temple, we went and found more old friends and reminisced the night away. I kept feeling like I needed to pinch people to see if it was real! Almost 3 year have gone by since we were all last together as the Ohana and it feels as though nothing has changed.

This morning, I'm sitting on the couch,  attempting to sit comfortably with my sunburned shoulders and still trying to wake myself up, after a crazy eventful night. I made patacones y salchichas con salsa (fried green bananas and hotdog sauce) for the girls in my house, then some of my friends came over and we played Egyptian Rat Screw (which got very intense, might I add) and next thing you know, everyone has friends over! I think that at our max, there were easily 24-25 of us. Cookies were made, songs were sung, good food was eaten, adventures were had, smiles all around, I realized that I'm in college in Hawaii again, and I just can't get enough. The Poly's jam seshed, and I happily listened as my ukulele got the most use its had in 2 years. :) But don't worry, going to bed at 2:30 in the morning is not going to be a habit by any means. I'll just do it every once in a while. 

All in all, I realized that I am home. I'm where I need to be and I couldn't be happier. Good friends, good food, good memories, and so many more adventures to come! Mahalo!

Another One Bites the Dust

     So here we are, 22 months later, and so many thoughts to be processed and placed on paper, (or the screen in this case). I think I want to take on a topic today, that, since being a return missionary, has been on my mind oft. And on the minds of everyone in my family. It's the BIG question:

"WHEN ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED???"  

    I'd like to take the time to answer that question, starting from my answer 4 months ago, to my answer now. 

     4 months ago, I was an awkward RM, trying to find my place, re-learning how to dance, communicate, and dress myself. I was also trying out, and being terrified by, the dating scene. I have a confession: Since being home, I have been on 2 dates. YUP. Just two. So to all you sistas out there who are thinking that the RM card is GOLD. It's not always. Now, don't get me wrong. I have, on a weekly basis, watched at least one friend PER WEEK, (RM's and non-RM's) get engaged since I have been home. So, that is a solid 20 people, at LEAST. (Don't even get me started on the Christmas and New Years blowout. And now VALENTINES DAY??? Ugh. It's crazy.) And I am very VERY happy for every single one of them. They look adorable in their photos, they are all great people and they all deserve to get married to great people and have great babies. So happy day for all of them. With ever FB announcement I get to sing a classic by Queen, " dun Dun DUN another one bites the dust!" (It's perfect, right?)

      Just after getting home, it seemed right. Find a husband, get married, give my parents some grandkids and whatnot. And hey, everyone else was doing it! But, then after date #1, I felt normal. Like, not anxious for more. And after date 2, I was feeling anxious again. So then, I was looking around thinking, 

      "Great, where are you Mr. Right? I'm home now!" I had had a small mental list of people I had wanted to date since BEFORE the mission,  and in those first few months, 2 of those possibilities had already fallen through. So, I was back to square one.Then, I got frustrated.  These meme explains how I felt in regards to the world: 

It was like, "C'mon God, I've done my part, now where's my man? I thought I had some great choices picked out and they ended up not being right!" Then, I remembered something that my dear friend Ashley told me. " When you get married, you are at your peak, your very best self, and you find someone who is also their very best self, and together, you go on to become even better and even greater people!" It didn't make sense, until now. But let me explain. 

     So, if you look at me, you might think; "Ok. She's in a singles ward, she's an RM, where's the boyfriend/fiance?"

     I don't want to seem prideful, like EVERYONE thinks I should be married or something, but with my 16 year old sister feeling all the pressures of my family on top of her with her first boyfriend, she is anxious for the attention to be elsewhere. And then of course my loving friends, who think I'm awesome for some strange reason, find joy in trying to set me up! *Thanks to Heather, Jess, Syd, Tessa, and my MOM. 

     But then I realized, that I wasn't at my full point of awesomeness yet! I want this awesome husband, and yet, I am not even fully awesome myself! It;s just like Ashley said. Time after time in the mission (yes, believe it or not) I would learn things about what I would need to do to find my future husband, or what I needed to be, etc. Out there, I grew so much, I can hardly believe it. And yet, I STILL have room to grow, and I can't wait to do it. Now instead of waiting on my next future relationships, like the great Al Fox said, (see link below) "I need to focus on my relationship with God." Instead wasting my time pining away for a relationship to come, why not focus on the most important relationship I'll ever have!? The relationship with my loving Heavenly Father. 

 

Al Fox's post on Single Life

      So for now, that is what I will be humbling focusing on. My time as a wife and mother will come. But first, I want to deserve what I want. And that means continuing down the path of becoming my best self, and having the best relationship I can with the single most important person in my life. 

    Here is to you, my future husband. To bettering myself for you, for us, for our family. To having a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and to all the other single ladies out there, our time will come when the Lord sees fit. 

    On that note, enjoy this time, travel, eat, listen, pray, read, BE SINGLE and Love it. Because someday we won't get it back! We'll find them soon. 

Until then, hubby. 

Silly Sister.

So my sister isn´t posting on here for me, I have just discovered, so I have decided to do it myself! Bienvenidos to my BLOG!

Let me set the scene for yáll. You have just finished shopping at the Super 99 (groceries) and are ladden with bags of food for the next 2 weeks. On top of all of that, you have your backpack filled with the needs of a missionary, scriptures, pamphlets, sweat rag, cell phone, It´s all there. Needless to say, it is a heavy load. You cross the street to the bus stop, praying a Metro Bus doesn´t whip around the corner and hit you, like you saw happen the week before. (The woman lost her arm). Finally you are there, sweaty, tired and looking for a place to stand, because now, it has started to rain, and 100 other people are trying to stay under the cover. You´re wet. Oh well. So you wait. Suddenly the Chiva comes, ¨NuevoTocumen, Nuevo Tocumen, Nuevo Tocumennnnnnnn!!!!!!!!¨¨ Screams the bus driver. Suddenly the crowd surges, and elbows start flying. Everybody wants ON! You stand by and watch. Women push their children onto the bus so they have an  excuse to get on infront of others. People put their arms out in front of them to block more people from climbing on. The Chiva is filled, every seat taken, and all the standing space is jam packed. There are 3 men standing with only one foot in and one foot out of the door. And off they go. 

It´s insane here people! SO many people in this country! But I am falling in love with Panama. The people, the MUSIC, the culture, and even the food! I found out that I have officially eaten cow udder. It´s good. Like, really good. haha But I am not sure if I can eat it again now that I know what it is. 

Lot´s of success this week out here in my little world! We have 2 new families that we are beginning to work with and we are starting to make progress with some of the less-active members of our ward! One of the less actives, is German. He is 16 and a convert of almost 2 years. He is the only member in his family, and his parents are very involved in the Evangelical church. We went by his house on Saturday night to share a message with him, a little movie, and invite him to church. During our lesson, he asked us a question. He wanted to know, individually, what was our motive for serving a mission. I let my comp answer first, because I really wanted to think about it, to give him the best answer possible. And to be completely honest. When it was my turn to answer, it just flowed. I explained that I had been a member of the church my whole life, and as I grew up and went to high school, many of my friends were not members of the church. As I interacted with them, and hung out at their homes, I noticed that there was something different. The feeling in their house was missing something. My senior year in high school, one of my teachers took me aside, and told me there was something very different about me, than all the other students she had met. She said I had this light, that she couldn´t explain, but it was different, inviting, and peaceful. I began to realize that that is what was missing from the lives of my other friends. The light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was missing. I had a completely different life because of it! I was different. And I want to share this light with other people, the blessings of the gospel, the plan of salvation, all of it. It makes all the difference in the world! And that is why I am here. To invite others to partake of this light, to come unto Christ and receive many wonderful blessings, more than they ever imagined! 

He started to tear up."It´s true, it´s so true. There really is a difference," he said. And it is true. We are different, but it is a good different. Never forget that.

In other news, I had the opportunity to have a REAL family dinner. Panamanians don´t feed missionaries like they do in the states. They give us our plate and we sit by ourselves and eat while they go about their business. But on friday night, we were invited to eat at the house of a member not in our area, but in our ward. Some other members drove us out, and we all stayed and ate together! It was so fun! I helped cook, and  we all talked and joked around and looked at old mission  photos, and then we sat together around the table and ate together, as a family. OH how I missed that! It was  perfect!

Lastly, some news for y´all! We had our first interviews with President Carmack this week. He is so kind, loving and extremely spiritual. He asked about my family and we talked about how I was doing in the mission, why I loved the temple, things like that. And then, he asked me. ¨Hermana Hunt, You are going to be training this next change, how do you feel about that?" WOAHHHH!!!!! haha I was surprised to say the least! He told me I came highly reccomended by my Zone Leaders, and my comp, and other missionaries as well. (interesting) But yes, I accepted, and he asked me to begin preparing to have my first "hija" (daughter) in the mission. Yes folks, I am going to be a TRAINER! I am super excited and also super nervous! I´ve already dreamed about it this week! I pray for her every night, and cannot wait to meet her! 

Well folks, That was my week. It amazes me how time flies! Tomorrow I hit the start of month 6. And in 2 weeks, I will only have about a year left in my mission! It can´t be!

I love you all, and pray for each and every one of you!

Peace out girl scouts,

Hermana Hunt

Missionary Farewell! Adios Amigos!

Okay everyone! Happy belated Easter! Yesterday I had my missionary farewell at my singlesward, and needless to say, I cried a lot. I had to do that awkward thing where you bend your head really far down so you can read over the tears that are welling up. But I think I did a good job because.... GUESS WHAT?!?! The investigator, Emilio, that I wrote about in my last post stood up after sacrament to introduce himself and announced that he had felt the spirit so strongly he had decided to be baptized!!!! AHHHH!!! It was truly an Easter miracle! Later he told my testimony was what really sealed the deal! Hoorah for Israel! So on that note, here is my talk for all of y'all to read

Brothers and sisters, friends and family, I am so beyond excited to be standing in front of you today, to have this opportunity to speak to you, although as most of you know, I like to talk all the time anyway. Today, however, Is different than any other time I have taught a lesson, because today, I do not have treats like jungle brownies to pass out to hold your attention! I'd like to thank the bishopric for allowing me to speak to you on Easter Sunday for my farewell , although I'm sure my mother offering to feed the whole ward afterward helped.

Let me take a moment to introduce myself. My family lived in Escondido when I was very small until  the summer of 2003, when we moved for my dads job to Northern California in the Bay Area. After a year, my family decided to stay in the Bay Area. It was there that I grew up, played water polo, basketball, ran track, learned how to drive and made some of my best friends. I am the second oldest of six kids, and each one of us is adopted. Yea, you could say my family is pretty cool. They were the ones making all the noise in the back ;)  After I graduated high school, my family moved back to this area, and I attended school at BYUH,  studying Exercise and sports science and professional biology. I have been at school there for the past 2 years. This past thanksgiving, I received my mission call to the Panama City, Panama Mission, an will be reporting this coming Wed. Thus the reason I began attending this ward back in January! Since being here, I have been a nanny to 2 little angels, Charlie and Maudie, and making some of my most favorite memories and friends right here in this ward!

I woud like to start talk by sharing a poem story of sorts, written by a young man about a re-occurring dream he had. I apologize to those of you who have heard it before.


In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each on card.
And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed."

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

By Joshua Harris. Orginally published in New Attitude Magazine. Copyright New Attitude, 1995. You have permission to reprint this in any form. We only ask that you include the appropriate copyright byline and do not alter the content.

Brothers and sisters, is Jesus's name written on the cards of our hearts? In our secret places, the things that know one else knows or understands??  He places his name above ours, in a way that know one else can, this is called the atonement.

 Just as it said in the story,  Christ atones for all of our sins, even the most ridiculous and mundane ones.  Sis Linda burton made 3 points about the atonement, in the last general conference, relief society meeting.  I think these 3 principles really summarize the power, effect and blessing of the atonement.

The first was as follows:  all that is unfair in life can be made right through the atonement atonement of Jesus Christ.

Everything that is unfair. Simple as that. I think that it is pretty fair to say, that at some point or another, we have all felt that we were being treated unfairly. Whether that be someone judging us without knowing us, or even being ripped off by a customer, it is taken care of. That is why we are always told to forgive others, regardless of their wrong doing because, Jesus Christ's atonement will make these situations right again. Imagine being in that room that I just read about, but this time, it's your room of files. If we were to pull out the file reading, "people I have not forgiven" or "people I hold grudges against" would you be ashamed of the size of that file, or would you be proud at the lack of cards? I know that none of us, are perfect, but don't you think that with a room of that size, maybe we should try to give the savior less to do? Less cards to write his name on? It is not our place to hold a grudge or be unforgiving. We are to be no ones judgment day. That is why the atonement is in place.m

Sis Burton's second principle was this:  There is power in the Atonement to enable us to overcome the natural man or woman and become true disciples of Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, the word that came to mind as a researched and wrote the talk, and as I read this principle, was humility. In Mosiah 3:18-19 it reads....

Like I said before, humility. We know the difference between right and wrong. Just as we always have. Even since most of us were children, we had a basic knowledge of these principles. Our parents gave us rules to follow:ones that would keep us safe and help us to become better people. Some were just simple house rules, like no eating in the living room, others more important like always tell the truth  and respect your parents. Just like our earthly parents, our Heavenly Father had expectations of us. But sometimes, we thinke we are above those expectations. This is where we must humble ourselves and repent. Because, he knows what it best for us. Always. Imagine if you had a drawer labeled, "all the time I disobeyed my parents" and then next to it, one that read, " the times is disobeyed my father in heaven" I'm sure that would be one of my more embarrassing files. But the beauty of all of this is, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all of these things are put in Christ's name. What  a beautiful act of love and sacrifice.

Principle 3: The Atonement is the greatest evidence we have of the Father’s love for His children.

Elder Oaks once said:  “Think how it must have grieved our Heavenly Father to send His Son to endure incomprehensible suffering for our sins. That is the greatest evidence of His love for each of us!”

Can any of us imagine sending away one of our own children? And for us in the singles ward, what about sending off a sibling, or niece or nephew, to endure the utmost pain possible. It seems unimaginable. And how amazing is it that, our Heavenly Father, sent one of his own, to save each of us. And how amazing is it, that our Brother, Jesus Christ is willing to metaphorically write his name across our sins? I am going to ask each of you today, on Easter Sunday, to personally write His name in and on our hearts, so that we can always remember him, and so that there can be a file marked, "the ways I remember my savior" and that will be a file that none of us will ever be ashamed of. I challenge each of you to do this, and I know you will be blessed for it.

I am so thankful for this ward, and this time I have to address you, I cannot wait to serve a mission and I hope that I will have a GIANT file with the people I have shared the gospel with. I know this church is true, and that our Heavenly Father knows and loves each and everyone of us. I am so grateful to be able to share the gospel with the people of Panama andI I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. I know that the Book of Mormon is modern day revelation and that the words it contains are true. I have a personal testimony of the power and gift of the Atonement, and I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of it. 


So for now, until  I send my first letter home, this is my last post! Keep reading and don't forget to write! 

Adios Amigos!

Hermana Hunt


(My first Address)

Sister Emma Kay Hunt

Panama Panama City Mission

Guatemala Missionary Training Center

Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71

Vista Hermosa I, Zona 15

Guatemala City 01015

GUATEMALA

It's Been A Long Time Coming!

Well folks, I think the title of this post is MORE than appropriate in MORE than one way. Firstly, I haven't posted in almost 5 months (rude of me, I know), and secondly, I am only 5 short days away from leaving on my mission! Just for the sake of saying it again,  (first time on da blog) I have been called to serve in the Panama City, Panama Mission, and I report to the Guatemalan MTC on April 3rd, 2013. Yes, please read that sentence a few times, and drive it into your heads, because y'all would not believe the number of times, I tell a fellow pre-missionary (or any one person for that matter) that exact sentence, and they continue to quiz me about how excited I must be to go to the PROVO MTC. ( Or they try to see if we will end up in the Provo MTC together, in which I kindly smile and remind them that "No, I am going to Guatemala instead") Oh well, all that truly matters is that I know where I'm going and that I get on the right plane this coming Tuesday!

So quick update on the world of Emma/Hermana Hunt (that's "sister" in Spanish for you fellow gringos). Since my arrival home at Christmas, I have been having a whirl-wind of adventures. The day after Christmas, I was endowed in the San Diego temple, which was a fantastic experience. The following day, my mother, my sister and I traveled to Quito, Ecuador where we worked in an orphanage with children ages 2 weeks old to 4 years old. If anyone EVER is looking for a once in a lifetime experience, this is the program to do it with. For those of you reading, and interested, it is called  OSSO. It is a service program done through BYU-Idaho. If it was possible to send everyone I know and love there to experience that, I would. The children are beautiful, and it was such a blessing to work with them. Anyway, I digress.

Shortly after returning home I was offered a job as a nanny to to a family of 2 little  girls, Charlotte (Charlie) age 2.5 months, and Madeline (Maddie) who just turned 4. Ok, I just have to say that I am probably the luckiest nanny in the world, because these two little girls were so stinking cute! Perfectly well behaved, and adorable in all aspects. Their parents were awesome, and I have grown to have a wonderful friendship with them, especially their mom, Cherie, whom I give MAJOR props to as a mom. She has done an amazing job.

So basically I have been working and making memories, and amazing friends, and going to church and wasting gas, and eating good food, and working with the missionaries and getting sun burnt, just, the whole works. So I think the last 5 months I have been pretty spoiled. Last week, I went to Washington to say one final goodbye to my best friend Tessa Carter, and then on to Utah where I got to see both my sets of wonderful grandparents and some fabulous old friends, (shout out to Jamie, Adam, Haleigh, and Luke!) The week before that, I went to Florida with my boss Cherie, to take care of baby Charlie, while she manned a company event! There I got to go to Disney World and see more old friends AND go to Disney World! ( haha yes I said that twice because it made me so darn happy!)

And that brings us right up to the here and now, with the final clock ticking away!   I have an amazing story to share with y'all. And I hope y'all have stuck it through to this point, because this is the best part!

Tonight, I got to sit with the missionaries and teach a man who has been taught by many different missionaries for the past 2 years. We started with a prayer and then watched a video about the Atonement. Afterwards, the missionaries asked him how he felt about it, and what stood out the most to him while watching it. He told us that he felt this really strong feeling in his heart when the "elderly gentlemen" (aka the First Presidency) were talking about it. He then asked each of us what we liked about it. After we answered he kind of went off on a tangent about how everything he is looking for in this world and how we just all need to help one another and love thy neighbor and things like that. Elder Thompson then asked him to read a scripture in Moroni, which ultimately leads to asking him to be baptized. As soon as he read that part, he stopped and looked at all of us, and my heart was pounding so fast, I didn't know what to do! I couldn't believe that this was happening so quickly! (I think the elders were just as nervous as I was). Elder Thompson then officially asked him if he would be baptized. He sat there and thought for a minute, and told us he couldn't make such a big decision right now. (NOOO!!!)  And that it was hard for him to believe in it without something telling him it was true. So then I was just about to ask him to pray about it, and to wait for that feeling in his heart again, when the elders took the word right out of my mouth! (We were totally having a telepathic moment) So we all knelt together and Emilio offered the prayer. As soon as he began, my heart began to well up and I reached an emotional high of like, 30! (And if you have read any of my previous posts, y'all know that that is a BIG deal) Then, when Emilio asked if what the missionaries were saying was true, I kid you not, that room felt like it burst into flames. and he asked a second time, if it were true and it got even hotter! I'm telling you, that the spirit was so strong you could have cut it with a knife! It was incredible. After the prayer we talked about his feelings, ( he noted that I cried, and I explained that its something I just do... haha) Then he said even though he felt it, it was hard because it wasn't a tangible "feel". I then got to tell him that just because something can't be seen, touched, smelt, or tasted, doesn't mean it's not there! I told him that I have never seen his brain, touched or smelt or even tasted it for that matter (Ew), and yet I still knew it was there. His eyes got really big. HA! I had caught him! He told me that was a really good analogy to use. (my inner sister missionary cheered!) After this, we talked some more, and I invited him to come to my mission farewell on Sunday, in which he committed to attending! Hurray!

So all in all, it was one of the coolest, most disappointing, and yet enthralling experiences EVER! And now I really cannot wait to serve a mission! 5 days peeps! It's coming so close! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve, and I hope that I can continue to have experiences like this, not just as a missionary, but for the rest of my life! I know this Church is true: I am a Mormon, I know it, I live it, I love it! And the people of Panama ain't gonna know what hit them!

Until next time!

XOXO

Emma

Where in the World are you Going?

Like any other Pre-Missionary, awaiting their papers, I get asked about a ba-jillion times a day, "Where do you want to go??" Of course, the idea of going foreign is exciting and would be a fantastic experience! I mean, who doesn't want to be submerged in a completely new culture and learn a new language and be able to say, "Heck yes I lived in Australia, Argentina, England, Croatia, Russia, or even France!"  for a year and a half! What a crazy cool opportunity. But then I have to remind myself, that I could get called to the mainland for the next two years. Sometimes, people ask me what I will do if I get called to Pennsylvania or Ohio or Kentucky or something. And I tell them how it is! I'm going to jump and cry and scream and be just as excited as if I was going out of the country. The reason I have come to this ideology is because of some of the great wisdom that the my Stake President, President McArthur gave me the night of my interview! He told me that somewhere in this world there is someone or someones waiting for me to come and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. And that no matter where I am called, I need to remember that I was called to that place for a reason, and that the people there need me there. They need ME! And whether they need me in the U.S.A or on the Islands of Tonga, I will go! And no one but the Lord knows where that is.

This leads me to a piece of very exciting news! I was informed that my mission assignment has been made and that my papers were on their way Thursday morning! AHHH! Someone in this world knows where I am going to serve! I can hardly believe it! This was awesome news because my Daddy and my big brother are BOTH going to be here when I receive my mission call. So basically, I found out at work that my assignment was made, and I started crying right as a guest walked up to order food (remember guys, my excitement level went WAY over 7 at this point, hence the crying) and I had to try to quickly get a grip on my emotions and then I looked at the guest with this goofy smile on my face and asked them what I could do for them. Pretty sure they thought I was like the happiest PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center) employee in the history of all employees, and was extremely excited to be serving them nachos and standing in a non air-conditioned room that smells faintly of burning popcorn and day old chili. Nonetheless, I got a grip on my self and managed to help the next few guests with only a goofy grin and a little extra skip in my step. As soon as I could I ran outside and called home to let my parents know all the good news!

It never ceases to amaze me, all of the time, effort and prayer that goes into deciding where to send every individual  missionary. I still cannot believe that there are now people in this world who know where I am going. I'm hoping that a few days after Thanksgiving I will have my call and then it will finally be MY turn to know where I am serving. Today in Sacrament Meeting we sang the hymn, "I'll go Where You Want Me to Go" and I think it is the perfect end to this blog, as it states exactly how I am feeling.

It may not be on the mountain’s height, or over the stormy sea;
It may not be at the battle’s front my Lord will have need of me;
But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Yours,
I’ll go where You want me to go.

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be.

No matter where I am called to serve, I know I will love it, and I know that it is where I am supposed to be. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am so grateful to be a part of this new generation of sisters. And I am so grateful that I am both physically, emotionally,and spiritually able to serve a mission, and I am so beyond excited to share the gospel with the people of (insert place I will eventually serve) 

I'll blog again once my Dad and brother arrive, and it will be full of excitement and wonderfulness and happiness and good food

Peace and Blessings!

Once a Missionary, Always a Missionary

Today,while sitting outside the library studying that evil biology book, I was accosted by my roommate Hannah's boyfriend, Atif!  He looked at me and waved and next thing I knew he was galloping towards me and asked if he could sit with me and have a "talk". Now don't get me wrong, I haven't done anything wrong to this guy, or his girlfriend, but when someone says, that you need to "talk" it gives you the heebie jeebies! I started to get really nervous, and my heart was pounding, and he started asking about when I hoped to go on a mission and how long ago I put in my papers. Oh boy, then I started to worry that he had some terrible news about my papers or something and I really started freaking out! I think he could tell, because he started chuckling and told me not to worry, he just wanted to sit and talk about my future mission! phew! I can TOTALLY do that!

So then he sat and talked about his mission and some of the important things he learned while out. I am going to try and summarize to the best of my ability what he said. Firstly, Atif is from Pakistan and served in India on his mission. He got back about 2 years ago and will soon be marrying Hannah. But he started to tell me how important it was to give 100% everyday on my mission. "Never let a day go by without giving 100%. There is no tomorrow" he said. His mom told him while he served to live everyday like his last, and that once he was off his mission to continue to live as such.

 Like my title here, once a missionary, always a missionary. What great wisdom! It was such an awesome reminder that ESPECIALLY while I am here and preparing to serve a full time mission, that I can act in accordance with being a missionary example. Growing up in YW's and such, we are always taught to remember that every member is a missionary. How true! Just last night, I was at work at one of the snack shacks, and a couple came up to order food. They noticed that my coworker, Pria, had a small picture of Christ on the backside of her I.D. They were thrilled and began asking about it, and continued to tell us that they had served multiple missions for their church. At this point, I was pretty sure they were not LDS. What an opportunity! I proceeded to tell them that I was currently awaiting the opportunity to serve a mission for MY church. Intrigued, they began to ask questions about what sort of mission I was serving, where I would be and what church organization it was through. They were thrilled that someone as young as I am was choosing to leave the worldly things behind and preach the gospel. Funny, that obviously I was sharing a slightly different message than I think they thought, but that's no matter. It was still so fun to be able to tell someone new my plans for the next 2 years! 

2nd thought of the day: Atif also began talking of the blessings that my family would receive because I had chosen to serve. He mentioned  D&C 31, and how Thomas Marsh was preparing to serve, and began to worry about the well being of his family while he was gone. In this section Joseph Smith received revelation, telling Marsh how his family would be protected and blessed while he was serving. I am so excited that my family is also going to be blessed while I serve a mission! 

I still can't believe that I have reached this awesome point in my life and I cannot wait to receive my call! Half a week done!! And Dad comes in less than a week, AH! Such exciting times! I am so grateful to be alive in this great day and age! 

Aloha and Mahalo!

Emma