Officially Heck Yes

Today I sent my official acceptance letter for my mission call!!!! I fell short on words as I tried to express how insanely excited I was to have this call from the Lord. If I didn't worry so much about sounding like someone who could competently represent the church, my acceptance letter would have been a huge "HECK YES I'LL GO!! ARE YOU KIDDING?" with approximately 1,000 exclamation marks. Don't worry - I used a few more words and a few less marks... 

Anyway - here was the final product. What an awesome moment. I sent a letter to the First Presidency!! haha! Ahhhhh this is so cool!!!!

Tucanos is Joy

Mom and Dad took Aaron and I out to dinner at Tucanos last night when they were in town for Luau. Here we were in this amazing restaurant and Aaron showed me how to fix a typical Brazilian meal. He was talking all about Brazil - the food, people, beauty - and then we started talking about the increase in missionary numbers of the last few months. At this point, I completely lost it. I was so incredibly excited I couldn't hold it in anymore. I cried longer than 8 seconds and though I was slightly mortified to be crying in a restaurant where servers are constantly coming by - the joy I felt in that moment was immeasurable. It was almost like the Lord was letting me feel a glimpse of Brazil. Almost like I was there. And I can't even explain that kind of joy. 

Maybe I was just a bit overjoyed to be eating real food again too. Either way - pure joy.

The journey it's been in learning more about Porto Alegre and Brazil and truly learning for myself that Brazil is where the Lord needs me has been an incredible one. The joy I've felt in knowing for myself that my mission call is a call from the Lord has been unlike any other joy. It's been incredible and like I said, I can't imagine how I could have thought it could be anywhere else. I am SO excited for Brazil. I'm already so in love with it. 

Who could ask for more?

Brazil Porto Alegre North

Dear Sister King:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Brazil Porto Alegre North Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You should report to the Brazil Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Portuguese language

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

 Opening the mailbox

 So so happy it was there!

So happy!! But so nervous!!!

Em and Amy and Bear came down, and Aaron and Paigey and the Hills came over!!

And of course my roommies were there. So great. And the whole family, including Katelyn, was on a Google Hangout!

Opening that call was SO scary. It took me forever to actually open it, I was SO nervous! I hadn't eaten all day cuz my nerves were so bad... ahhh! Those were the hardest two weeks of my life.

I was really in shock for a while. I wasn't expecting Brazil at all, which was weird because so many people from Sequim have gone to Brazil, and most of all, Aaron went to Brazil!! He was SO excited and I definitely was too - I just was in a bit of shock. haha PORTUGUESE!!! 

After everyone went home, Aaron took me out to dinner which was so nice. We got Chinese food. Duh... what else after a call to Brazil? hahah it was Panda Express which is both of our favorites. Or, one of them. Anyways, we talked about Brazil all night long. Not literally. But I got SO excited! Now that it's been a while, I can't even believe I didn't know all along it was Brazil. It's always been Brazil. Brazil is right, and I cannot wait to get there! I am so excited to learn Portuguese and I am so lucky to have a brother who served there and can answer all my questions! Almost exactly 4 months until I leave! I CANNOT WAIT!!!!

Tomorrow it Comes

Whelp - I'd just like to say that I'm probably the least patient person on the face of the planet. haha I mean, I haven't exactly had any choice but to wait. But it has been SO HARD. It's honestly been some of my hardest weeks ever - just waiting and waiting. It's only been two and a half weeks but it feels like a century has passed. Though, we all know I exaggerate.

My call comes tomorrow. I can't even believe the day has almost come! I began to wonder if my call would ever make it. Pathetic - I know. Some girls wait months for these calls!! I don't know how they do it. I'm so glad I've only had to wait two and a half weeks. But now that the day is almost here, I can't really figure out how to react! 

I'm SO beyond excited I can't even express it. But, I'm also slightly terrified. Tomorrow, I will hold in my hands the document which will tell me where I will spend the next 18 months of my life... Big deal much? ...Chyeah... I guess it's just weird lying here knowing that tomorrow will be a day which will ultimately change my life. It will be a day I remember for the rest of my life. And... it's the day I've been waiting for for my whole life.

I know that the Lord has my best interest at heart and that he won't send me somewhere that I wont fall in love with. In fact, I know I'll be instantly in love with wherever I'm sent. So, why is it still so scary? I am more scared right now than I think I've ever been in my life. But, with faith in the Lord, I'll be okay. With faith in the Lord, the most unexpected mission call will be the happiest call in the world.

Next time I blog, I'll have my call. I can stop being scared and let myself be fully excited because I know this is where I'm supposed to be in my life. I know I'm supposed to serve a mission and I know the Lord has directed my call. It's scary because it's unknown - but it's not scary because the Lord knows what he's doing. 

Now think of your elephants and let yourself sleep.