Small and Simple things

Big changes are coming in my life. I am about to serve a mission, and leave everything I know behind. But I realized today that every time I have a major change in my life approach, the Lord has given me little blessings to help me know how to handle the change. This month has been FULL of those.

Today I had a conversation with a couple of the students in the Summer Program that I'm a councilor for approach me about my religion. They flat out told me that they are interested in the LDS church. They had very good points too. For example: They felt as if their religion was just there for them. It is only as tangible as their gender, or their hair color. It's there, but they don't pay a whole lot of attention to it. I have noticed this with a lot of people. They claim to be Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, etc. but never go to church, or don't live by the actual standards of their religion. It only goes skin deep.

But these specific students really want something more than that! I respect them so much for coming up to me and expressing their interest. I hope that I said the right things, and had a good impact on them. But I think it had more of an impact on me.

I walked away from that conversation feeling SO good about my decision to serve a mission. I've been a little nervous about talking to people about something that is as dear to my heart as my faith. But it was actually strengthening! I was able to express my love for the LDS religion and how important it is to me. They could see that and I hope it sparked something new inside them.

I am so lucky that the Lord cares enough about me and my confidence about serving a mission, to offer me experiences like these to strengthen me. I know that everything will work out just fine, and that the Lord really follows through with his promises: "As you serve with all your heart, might and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized." (this is in my mission call letter)

I can't wait to have experiences like this all the time for the next 18 months! I am so blessed!

Body Image

I recently had a conversation with my girls that gave me a little insight to something of my own.

One of them was feeling particularly bad about her appearance that day, and started telling me about her life and family and why she has such a hard time. Keep in mind, she is a beautiful girl! I never would have thought she had self-esteem issues. When she finished venting about all this, words came into my mouth that I KNOW aren't my own. This is basically what was said:

The feeling of being ugly, or too fat, or too tall or too short, or too skinny all come from the Devil. He can't have a body, and NEVER will. He is so completely jealous of this great gift that the Lord has given us. And if he can get us to hate it, and wish that we had something else, then he feels like he has won.

The instant those words left my lips, I felt like it was a slap in the face! How many times have I said those very words: I'm too tall (compared to most girls), I'm too heavy, my hair's too thin, etc.? But after hearing these words come out of my mouth, I gained a resolve to think more positively about my looks.

I hope this is as inspirational to you as it is to me. It was pretty life changing for us that day.

June

So for this whole month I am living in Orem an am a councilor for a summer camp at UVU. It's such a stressful job. But seriously the most rewarding job I've ever had. I feel like I'm really making a difference and helping these amazing students. (not like they need much help though, they're seriously awesome)

I basically work all day long though. I take them to school at 6:50(ish) am

we are there untill about 9pm or later. It's hard having no free time. But I get free room and board, so I get to pocket everything I make so I can pay for a mission.

We're on week 3 of a 4 week program. It's crazy that it's half way over! The time really has flown by so fast!

This is Lupi, one of my girls. I'm in charge of 9 girls in 2 different apartments. It's awesome! I love them all! I'll work on getting more pictures!

Also, I purchased a dress for my mission. I got really excited Friday because it was the 2 month mark from when I enter the MTC! So I got a dress :) It's way cute... See!!

I like it a lot!!

My grandparents are amazing and are going to help me get some more clothes because lets face it! I'm really broke.

I got in touch with a girl who served in the Rapid City mission, and she's been helping me prepare for it SO much! She's been such a blessing to me :)

I really can't wait to get out there and "Serve the WORLD!!"- Emily Houston

Well, that's about it with my life so far this month! I just am super happy and can't wait to spend all my time for 18 months doing what the Lord wants me to do; Bring them closer to Him.

P.S this is a really great album! If you like more indie Rock, you should check it out!

http://hello-somebody.com/music/

Mission Call!

I got my mission call on Thursday!! But since I am a camp councilor at UVU for Upward Bound, I couldn't open it till Saturday. So my wonderful aunt Maria offered to drive me 2 hours one way to take me home and open it, then come back a couple of hours later.
I am going to the South Dakota, Rapid City mission. This is a HUGE area spanning across All of north and South Dakota, parts of Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. So there is a TON of work to be done and I'm so honored that the Lord has given me this opportunity to get the work moving along in the mid-west United States. It's only an hour and a half plane ride away from home so I will be able to visit as often as I can afford. A one way ticket there costs around $300 so I'm so lucky! Plus my Grandpa's sister and her family lives in that mission. I had the distinct feeling that wherever I go I will have a family connection to the place.

There is a Facebook group for this mission and I looked it up and joined it. The description is: The place we never thought we would go.

But I have to disagree with that. I had North Dakota and Montana in mind all week long. I know the Lord was preparing me to be called to a "not so glamorous" mission. But I am not sad in the least!! I know that I will be a tool in his hands no matter where I go.

My dad's comment after I opened my call was "well, It might as well be Siberia!" Because it's so cold there. I looked up their weather trends online and it never gets above 85 or something like that! Kind of crazy, but Still I'm way excited!

My mom called it when she said I will be serving the Native Americans. Because the Sioux tribe is in South Dakota. One of my girls in Upward Bound belongs to that tribe and was excited when I told her I was called there.

I am so ready for this new chapter of my life!

PS I leave August 17th! I won't get home from summer camp till July 1 so I will only have a month to prepare!! but I will love every minute of it!!