Sunday, March 24, 2013

Called to Serve. Finally.

Wednesday January 23, 2013.

This supposedly is the day! the day I am to receive my mission call. I have been waiting 3 weeks for today! Words can not describe how I am feeling! All I can do is keep myself busy until I get some sort of conformation. Since I am between apartments, I decided it would be safe to have my mission call sent to one of my Aunts house. So I am anxiously awaiting a phone call or a text from her! I went to work and luckily it is a very busy day so time flies just like I need it to. Then I hear my ring tone (which happens to be Shikira's  Waka Waka song.) Rip it from my pocket and answer is with so much excitement only to hear the same words that I heard last week. "Kate, it didn't come!"

bahhhhhh.....now all I want to do is sit on the floor and cry. There was no way I can wait another 7 days...

Then my Aunt says "Wait! Monday was a holiday wasn't it? yeah! it was Martin Luther King Day! So the mail is delayed a day!! it could still be here tomorrow!"

I have never before been so frustrated with a holiday but at the same time I had my hope and excitement back.

Tomorrow. It will be here tomorrow.

Thursday January 24, 2013

Holy Toledo. I have everything planned for my call to come. and now all I can do is kneel and tell my Heavenly Father how grateful I am to him that he has given me the opportunity  to serve a mission at 20 years old! I also tell him that I don't care where I go. The only thing I ask is if it could be a humble circumstance and that I will be allowed to grow and teach as much as he would like me to. Since I don't work today, all I can think of to do is to finish the 2nd season on Downton Abey until my phone rings once again.

Today, time was not flying. It seemed like I finished the season in just a few minutes and I still hadn't heard anything. So I decided to go grocery shopping! My grocery shopping sort of turned into walking down each aisle aimlessly with am empty cart just staring at my phone.

Finally.

Instead of a call I get a text from her. but not just any text, its a picture message! containing this unforgettable picture.


I have never received a more beautiful picture!

With my uncontrollable excitement, I screamed and jumped in the air a couple of times in the middle of the freezer section! a sales associate approached me and said "i know right!? what an incredible sale on Rodes rolls!"

I laughed so hard and then I told him "well that is great! but wanna know something even more great??? my mission call is here!!!" I immediately floated up to cloud 9!

6:30 pm could not come soon enough.

I sent out texts to everyone letting them know that it was finally here. Then I got busy making brownies and ice cream.

6:00 came around and my incredible friends and family gathered around me showing me their love and support.

Once everyone was there my dad made a beautiful announcement about how much he loved and supported me going on a mission. He then handed me his pocket knife and I couldn't open that envelope fast enough! I saw the cream colored paper and I pulled it up just a little too far and I immediately saw where Heavenly Father was sending me.

I was completely speechless  I leaned over and started crying! and then I heard someone say "Read it!" So with a broken voice I read the words I had been dying to read for weeks.

"Dear Sister Sites,
       You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the PHILIPPINES BAGUIO MISSION. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
      You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on May 8th 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Tagalog Language."

As soon as I was finished reading I looked right at my beautiful mother. She immediately had tears in her eyes and looked at me with the most loving and proud eyes. I will never forget that look. And I will forever be grateful for it!

Then I heard everyone yelling and clapping around me. As soon as I stood up I was attacked with hugs and congratulations.

This was the happiest day of my life. I am so excited to serve the people of the Philippines and to bring them the true and everlasting gospel.