Starting Over and Getting Called

So you may or may not have noticed that the older posts are dated differently. That's because I decided to combine blogs. The one I had before the URL was super long....not that this one is super short but you get it right? I will assume you said yes. This will hopefully get me in the habit of blogging so that when I go on my mission I will be able to keep people updated on what is going on. We will see how this goes. I already have a lot of catching up to do. As always I'm off to a great start aren't I? Where shall I begin?

Everyone placing their guesses on the map

Getting My Call-
The time leading up to actually getting my call in the mail and me reading it actually took a long time. I decided kind of on a whim that I needed to go on a mission in December of last year just after Christmas. So why the heck did it take me so long to get my call? Well let me tell ya! I had to take care of some financial stuff so that all my school debts were taken care of. School kind of wiped me out of everything I had (including the gumption to finish right away) So after watching all of my paychecks from January to March go straight to the school, I was finally able to start saving money solely for my mission. I had my end of the paperwork done by mid February but because of scheduling and all of that other stuff my doctor and dentist appointments were pushed back to the end of the month of March. Then it took my bishop like 3 weeks to get all of my paperwork and then it was another 2 weeks or so for the bishop to process them and look them over (He was a busy man). When I finally got in for my interview with the bishop he said that he felt that we didn't need to rush to get my paperwork in. Maybe I'll find out the reason soon enough. God works in mysterious ways and I am about to realize that on a very real scale I think. I got to meet with the stake president pretty soon after that initial interview and then my papers were FINALLY off!! I got my call in the mail about a week and a half later! What an exciting time for me and my family to get that white envelope in the mail!

Opening My Call-
I invited a bunch of friends over to my house Thursday to be a part of me opening my letter. Because in a big way my friends helped me to get to the point where I really considered a mission and actually went through with it. My roommates, Shay and Leah, invited a bunch of my Idaho friends over to their apt to "be there" when I opened my call also. I was so excited to open my call!! Then it finally happened:

So it begins...

"May 17, 2011
Sister Benson,
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 England Birmingham Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the England Missionary Training Center on Friday August 26, 2011. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.
You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.
The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place in you our confidence and pray that the Lord will help you become and effective missionary.
You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop."

Signed by President Thomas S. Monson! :)