Hello everybody! Like bishop said I am headed to the Santa
Rosa California mission on Wednesday and I am thrilled. I never thought I would
EVER be the one up here giving a farewell talk, or be the one leaving on a
mission. But here I am, and I am happy! Looking back, I have seen some things
happen in my life that without knowing it then, I think have prepared me for a
mission. Today I just wanted to share
with you about the experiences that let me to know that I should serve a
mission. After I graduated High School I moved to Thatcher to go to college. I
learned many things there. But probably the most important lesson that I
learned was that I needed to depend on heavenly father. I moved up there about
a week before all my roommates did to start work. The first thing I did was
pray to have friends and that I would find friends who were uplifting and good
people! About the 2nd night I was there, I met up with one of my
friends from hair school that was also going to be starting school with me and
we went out and met tons of people! I instantly made friends and it made my
transition from home very easy. But it didn’t stay easy. About a week later I
went with some friends to this big pond with a rope swing and went off this
rope swing into a pond, and after landing, I realized it was only about 8
inches deep in the spot that I had launched my whole body into, and I broke my
foot. It made for a rough beginning to the semester. I then had to quit my job,
and change my schedule so that I didn’t have to walk the half mile to campus
and back all day on crutches. I got a blessing and at the point I knew that I
had to have the faith to be healed and trust that Heavenly Father that he would
take care of me. He did. My testimony of
the priesthood was strengthened as I turned to him in prayer often and relied
on the power of my healing blessing to help me get better. The following
semester I moved to a different complex and I became best friends with my
roommate. I learned a lot from her. She
was always excited about the gospel and I admired that a lot. We both had
really heavy schedules, I was taking 22 credits and she was taking almost the
same amount as me, but we made a goal to go to the temple each week. The first
time we went it was awesome. There is hardly ever anyone in the Gila Valley
Temple so we became great friends with the workers. The next day we both
finished our homework and both were just like “hey. Lets go to the temple
again!” So we did. We made this a routine. I started noticing that the more we
went to the temple, the more time we found to do homework, and the better our
grades got! We would go to the temple so much and it turned into an amazing
experience. It really helped me learn the importance of temples on this earth. In the church news there was an article
written about temples, and in there the author said about the temple, “Instead of feeling like I was merely meeting
some requirement, a deadline that loomed repetitively on a self-written
checklist, I suddenly felt, in a way, free. My motivation for attending the
temple no longer came primarily from a sense of duty. Instead, I was going
because I honestly desired the peace that comes from temple service—and I found
it.” End
quote. The Gila Valley Temple became home for me. It became the place I went to if I was
stressed, if I was struggling, or if I needed to feel more at peace. Just as
Jenny Ewald said, “The comfort, the
learning, the quiet strength, and the eternal perspective that come from the
temple are blessings beyond my ability to describe.” I love that because that’s exactly what I
felt was happening to me. It was during this time in my life that I decided I
would start getting a blessing each month just to keep me on the right path
during school and my personal journey through life. In August 2012 I got a
blessing and it said that a life changing event was going to happen and that I
would be prepared for it. Two months later the mission age changed. I sort of
found it annoying as every girl in the town was talking about how they were
going on a mission. It was soon after that I began getting the dreaded
question, “Are you going on a
mission?” My immediate answer was always No!
I wasn’t planning on serving a mission. I dreamed of going to school, getting a
boyfriend, getting married, having a child, and having a worry free life.
Clearly we all know that most of the time those plans don’t go very smoothly
and they usually don’t go the way we want them to all the time. After the
announcement in general conference I didn't think anything of it or
connect it with the words and promises from that blessing I had previously
received. The following Spring semester
came around and I wanted to go to the temple more often and get back in a
routine like I had in the past. I started the semester off walking to the
temple with my roommate and throwing the idea around of going on a
mission. I was unsure if this was a path that I should take. I wrote about it
in my journal saying that I would fast about it, but that was about as far
as I got. I never got some big answer or revelation after that point guiding me
to go. But at the same time, I never did my end of the work; I never went
back and reflected on it, and I mostly just pushed it aside for a long time. In
doctrine and Covenants section 9 verse 8 it reads, “ 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must astudy it out in yourbmind; then you must cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that
your dbosom shall eburn within you; therefore, you shallffeel that it is right.” I was waiting for something more profound to
happen so that I would KNOW that a mission was for me. It never came. Little
did I realize that I got my answer way before I had the question. I graduated
at the end of that spring semester and moved home to get a job before heading
up to BYU-Idaho for my next semester of school. My plans were to work and earn
money in Mesa for a while, then move up to Idaho in early September and
begin school. Then halfway through the summer I got fired from my job and
panicked! But within hours of being fired I rearranged my plans and had a new
plan of moving up to Idaho way early and getting a job up there & I felt
good about it. August 1st rolled a rounded and I headed up there and got moved
in. I applied at every place in Rexburg. I walked the town everyday giving
companies my resume and spent hours online filling out applications everyday. I
was beginning to get discouraged. Meanwhile, the first two weeks of being in
Idaho, one of my best friends was in the MTC and so I wrote her on
dearelder.com for free each morning. I would tell her about my scripture study,
different interviews I had, but I mostly told her about how I couldn't find a
job. She would email me each week in reply to my letters and tell me that she’s
praying for me, and that I need to just depend on Heavenly Father and keep
praying!! I interviewed at a few places
but those companies mainly just needed morning shift workers which didn't
work with my school schedule. I fasted a lot about getting a job, and spent
long nights in prayer asking Heavenly Father to guide me to a job. My
patience was definitely tested and I had to really learn the lesson of doing
all that I can, and trusting that Heavenly Father would help me out with the
rest. And he did. But first, I had to learn the lesson for myself. On LDS.org
under the topic of revelation it says, “We should be patient and trust in the Lord's timing. “ I had a hard time
doing that. I needed a job to be financial stable while attending school and I
couldn’t understand why nothing was working out. Eventually my prayers were
answered, but it was in a different way. I didn't get a job that I wanted, I
didn’t get paid as much as I would have like, and it wasn’t with a company that
I particularly was proud of, but I had a job and I had a lot of fun. I worked
with mostly LDS people and learned many lessons. I learned what it felt like to
get hit by a car on my way to work. I learned what frozen nose hairs feels like.
I learned how to ride a bike on the icy roads in the snow in -10 degrees.
Anyone who’s ever had to go through that definitely knows the struggle I’m
referring to! I had a job that I was happy at, and it was an answer to my
prayers. Since I moved up to Rexburg
about 7 weeks before school started, most of which I spent jobless until
shortly before school started, I had a lot of free time on my hands. My sister
and I were roommates and we would hang out all day. We would go on campus a
lot. Whether it was just to use the printers, turn in applications, or go
workout, we were on campus often. There is something special about campus at
BYU-Idaho. You can walk on campus and feel the spirit. It’s really amazing. President
Boyd K Packer described this perfectly. He said, “Perhaps the single greatest thing I learned from reading
the Book of Mormon is that the voice of the Spirit comes as a feeling rather than a sound. “ I definitely felt the spirit on campus often. Also I spent a
lot of time day dreaming. I wanted to get into the college Disney program and
intern at Disney world and also go on a cruise to the Bahamas before I started
my internship. I figured out my life for the next year. And I was really
pleased. I also met some awesome friends and
really learned and grew from them, and convinced them all to apply for the
internship with me! It all was going to be perfect. I was excited for my new
adventures that would take place the following year. I paid my deposit for my
housing which was about $400 nonrefundable, and I searched for my cruise to the
Bahamas. I was dead set on going. I found the best deal online. A 4 day cruise
to the Bahamas for $169. I check everyday online for about 3 weeks to make sure
that cruise was still there. Finally one day I was like “ok! Well I am going to
buy this cruise, so I cant change any of my life plans because I’m going to
reserve my spot!” Later that night I log into the cruise website, entered all
of my information, put in my debit card number and sat there for a few minutes.
I had this feeling that I shouldn’t book the cruise. I pondered about that
feeling for a few minutes thinking to myself “well, if this doesn’t feel right
Heavenly Father, then am I still going to do my internship? It’s all happening
in Florida…” Once again my patience was tested as I tried to figure out how
much longer I needed to wait until I booked this cruise. Life went on by the
cruise was on the back of my mind everyday. I went to meet with the bishop after the
semester started and I got a calling. I was called to serve as a ward
missionary. I was honestly a little disappointed! I specifically told them that
I needed a calling that dealt with food. Either the meals after church, or Family
night meals on Monday night. SOMETHING. But nope, ward missionary it was. And
to add to the disappointment I was over the Italian indexing. ITALIAN. I don’t
know Italian. I barely like Italian food either. I downloaded my first batch of
Italian names. I couldn’t read one thing on there! There are 15 names per batch
and it took me over 6 hours to fill out half a batch. I definitely didn’t have
time like that to spend indexing. I
don’t know if any of you have tried a bath of Italian indexing, but they aren’t
really easy! But, I knew it was my calling and that I needed to do it. I prayed
and told heavenly father that this needed to start making sense to me really
fast, or else I was going to give up. I stuck to it and eventually I could do a
whole batch in less than 2 hours. I thought it was such an accomplishment. I
went to our indexing meeting and shared the good news with everybody. Then I
heard some girl say “I can do it in like 30 minutes.” I was like no way. I have
to step it up and be faster than her. That week I got my times down and was
able to do a batch in less then 1 hour. Then 30 minutes. Eventually I made it
down to less than 20 minutes a batch. I was officially a pro. I would report my
indexed names to a girl in my ward and she would give everyone’s numbers to the
bishopric. Me and that girl started to become really great friends. I learned
to trust her, and she became someone that I could talk to about many things and
someone that I could turn to for advice. One day we were talking and I was telling
her about my Disney Internship which I was scheduled to attend this upcoming
April, and about how I was so excited and that it was going to be THE BEST
THING OF MY LIFE. She, being the wonderful return missionary that she is, said
something like, “Kinsie. That’s not the best thing. Remember the good better
best talk? I think that would rank on the ‘Good’ part of the scale.” After a
few talks about missions and her wonderful uplifting spiritual conversations we
would have, a thought crossed my mind that maybe, just MAYBE, I could go on a
mission and be a successful missionary. I eventually found myself visiting her
apartment often in hopes that she would tell me more stories about her mission!
And she did. I looked forward to talking to her more and more because I loved
hearing her stories and feeling the spirit. Finally I decided I was going to do
it. I was going to serve a mission. That night I prayed a lot about serving a
mission. One late night on November 3rd,
after having another inspiring talk about her about how awesome her mission
was, I went home and prayed. I felt prompted to read my patriarchal blessing.
I’ve read my patriarchal blessing every Sunday since I received it. I’m to the
point where I basically have it memorized. But that night, so many more things
stood out to me. As I read those sentences and paragraphs in my blessing they
basically screamed out GO ON A MISSION.
I never really saw that in my blessing before until that night. I was
still nervous about it though so I turned to the scriptures. Of course, that
gave me so much more comfort and peace and the scripture that I randomly turned
to and read was about missionary work. It was no coincidence to me. But before
I made my decision permanent I decided it would be best to take it to the
temple and ponder it a little more. I knew that in the temple I would probably
get the same yes answer again, so without hesitation on November 4th
I called and scheduled my dental exam and shots. Monday the 4th
seemed to just drag on ever so slowly. It meant that I had to wait a whole day
to go to the temple, since it wasn’t open on Monday. Meanwhile, I scheduled to
meet with the bishop and had an appointment to talk with him about started my
papers and it was scheduled for a few hours after my Tuesday afternoon temple
trip. Finally Tuesday came around and I went to the temple. As I sat in the
baptistery (explain the Rexburg temple) there were no scriptures
for me to read. So, I did that obnoxious thing where I read over the shoulder
of the girl next to me, because she was reading the book or Mormon. She was in
Alma 32. So I started with verse 1 which reads, “And it came to pass that they
did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering
into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the
word in their streets.” This was an answer to me. Missionary work. That’s my
answer. I need to become a missionary. This is real. I was going to prepare for
a mission! So that night I met with the bishop, unfortunately he couldn’t open
my mission papers without talking with previous bishops who were both out of
town so I had to wait a few days to start my papers. Meanwhile I prayed and
told Heavenly Father that if a mission is what I need to do, that I need to
have time to get all of my paper work and appointments finished, while working
30-35 hours a week and going to school full time with loads and loads of
homework on the side. I don’t know how it all worked out so well, but it did.
On the
6th I got my mission dental exam.
At 11pm
the night of the 7th my papers were officially opened and I started
them the next morning.
On the
8th I got my immunizations
On the
9th I had all of my information online completed
On the
10th I had my friend take some cute pictures for my mission
On the
11th I completed my medical paperwork and doctor visits
On the
12th I got 2 cavities filled and my dentist signed my dental work
off, then later that night I took all my papers to the bishops and he entered
some stuff and turned it into the stake president.
Then I
had to wait until the 19th to meet with the stake president. That
was the longest 7 days of my life. He pushed submit on my papers after my last
interview and I went home and celebrated. I didn’t really tell many people,
except a couple roommates and my parents. After that I called home to tell all
of my siblings that I was going on a mission.
On the
22nd my call was assigned which meant it was going to be mailed out
just a few short days later!! This was definitely the longest but fastest 3 and
a half weeks ever. But the fun doesn’t stop there. I waited at the mail box all
morning the day after thanksgiving and the mail man showed up and gave me my
mission call. I carried that thing around ALL DAY. We went to Idaho Falls to go
shopping, and to red robin to celebrate. Because it was thanksgiving there was
only like 8 people in Rexburg during the break. I decided I was going to wait
til Sunday night to open my mission call. That idea didn’t last. My family here
in Arizona was having a party for my grandma and my dad suggested we skype
during the party and open it. THE PARTY WAS AT SEVEN PM. SEVEN! After carrying
it around all day I couldn’t wait til seven, so, I decided to steam it open. I
took a pot and a butter knife over to my friends empty apartment (because
nobody locks their doors in Rexburg!) and started steaming it. I should have
thoroughly watched the YouTube video because for some reason it wasn’t working.
So I left it on the pot of boiling water and my sister turned their shower on
thinking that maybe I could just stand in the bathroom with it and that the
steam and heat would make it open faster. Meanwhile, as I come out of the
bathroom I smell something burning. It was my mission call. Sitting on top of a
pan of boiling water with a little flame and some smoke. I had lit the envelope
with my mission call it in on fire. I knew there would be no explain this to my
dad so I had to fix it! I had to cover it. I had to do something! But before I
fixed the problem, I HAD to look and see where I was called. Because the Lord
had prepared me all semester with doing Italian indexing, I KNEW that I would
get called to Italy. I just knew it. I also had become the #1 Italian indexer
at BYU-Idaho and I just figured that was Heavenly Fathers way of hinting me.
Boy was I a little off on my assumption! I opened it up and read that I was
being called to California. I cannot even explain the comfort that I received
knowing that I didn’t have to go to Italy. At that moment I realized I was
happy that I didn’t have to leave the country, and I was happy that I didn’t
have to learn a language. It was one of
those “Yep, California is where I am supposed to be going” feelings. Some of
you who have been on missions know the “feeling” I am referring too! I knew it
was right for me, and that California is where I needed to go teach the gospel
to His people. I didn’t look at anything
else in the envelope because I semi-felt guilty for opening it early, and for
burning it on fire a little bit! Now it was time for Operation “get this mission
call looking normal for Skype in 3 hours!!!” We were able to make it look new
again by gluing copy paper down to the large flat back and creating a new
envelope flap with a 2nd piece of paper. It looked excellent after that.
That night I opened it on Skype with my family and did a pretty good job of
looking surprise if I say so myself! I figured over the pulpit was the best way
to tell them all so this is news for most of them! It was a really fun experience discovering
that I would be serving a mission and teaching others about the gospel.
I hope
that I can change people’s lives as much as the gospel has changed mine. I have
a testimony of this church and I love this gospel.
And I
am grateful for all of the ward members who help strengthen my testimony
through their talks and sharing their testimony during fast Sundays, and for my
friends and family who have supported me thru out my life.
I know
that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.
I know
that Joseph Smith was a true prophet.
And I
am so excited to teach the people in California about the gospel and to share
my testimony with them that Christ lives and love each and every one of us!
And I say these things in the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen!
Afterwards
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