Dear Sister Haycock:
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 Arizona Gilbert Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the Mexico Mission Training Center on Wednesday, October 15, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.
Words cannot say how grateful and honored I am to serve as a missionary for this wonderful and true church. I always had a feeling I would stay state side Spanish speaking... I just didn't want to say anything:)God truly knows what is best for each of us and I can't wait to share this with those I will teach! I must tell you that I wasn't always this excited about a mission, especially when I heard about the age change...
It all started the Summer of 2013. I had told myself that if youth conference that year went well for me then that would be my confirmation that I should serve. Youth Conference was amazing in every way! I even went to a Spanish speaking area and was able to speak what little Spanish I did know with investigators. After, I said that it wasn't enough to make me decide for sure so I said my first semester at Brigham Young University Idaho will do the trick. That first semester was not at all what I expected it to be.. I was challenged a lot and had to make some tough decisions. But I testify that with those challenges my testimony of the Great Atonement and of my Redeemer Jesus Christ, grew tremendously! I tell you now that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not just for our sins, but for our transgressions and our sorrows! The Atonement of my Savior is what got me through. I can testify that God knows us more than we or anyone else knows ourselves, He loves us and cares for our well-being! He is what got me to the point in my life today:)
So with first semester happening like it did, I was slowly being softened. I grew to see things and people as Jesus Christ would if He were there. These feelings were up and down, and I would still receive doubts about a mission. So when winter break came along I decided to just let the chips fall where they may.
My youngest sister, Grace, was baptized and confirmed a member for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the beginning of January. I was asked to talk a little about the Gift of the Holy Ghost at her baptism, and I can testify that the Spirit was there. Though my talk didn't go as planned, I later went up to bear my testimony... and that was when I officially decided to seriously consider a mission.
From there I was blessed more than I had ever been in my entire life. I was blessed with loving roommates(whom I still keep in contact with today),worthy Priesthood- holding FHE brothers, and a ward that brought peace to my soul continually. Never have I ever been more grateful for a trial than the one that I faced my first semester. I testify that God answers your prayers! No matter how small they may seem God will answer! It may not be when we want them, but it is when we need them most. Through the course of my second semester, I grew to desire to serve more and more, and with the help of my wonderful Book of Mormon teacher and classmates, I started my paperwork.
I have never felt a stronger desire to do anything then of when I decided to serve a mission. Missions are not for everyone and that is OK. But I can say that a mission will be the one of the very best things that will happen to you! I hope and pray that those of you who are considering will be like Nephi, "go and do". Don't hesitate, if you feel good about it, do it. You got this, God wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle:)