Monday, December 31, 2012
Hermanas Rock!
My daughter. What an amazing young woman. She has made the choice to be a missionary for the next year and a half, serving the people in the Tempe, Arizona mission of the LDS church. That is a big deal. A very big deal. As a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you devote yourself, full-time, 24/7, to the people to whom you are sent to serve. You have no outside worries of the world - - no bills to worry about, no school papers to write, none of that. Nothing to distract you from the work you are sent to do.
What is that work? That work is to teach people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, Jesus Christ loves everyone . . . not just me :) And so he wants everyone to hear His gospel and then decide for themselves whether or not to accept His teachings. Contrary to popular belief, missionaries do not convert people. They don't have magic dust that they sprinkle on people in order to brainwash them into believing something they don't want to believe. They don't. Honest. They just teach. The Holy Ghost, a/k/a Spirit, converts. Have you ever been touched as you've watched the kindness of others? Have you ever looked at your family and felt that warm feeling in your bosom? That, my friends, is the spirit, testifying to your heart of goodness, of love. I know this because I have felt it.
Our daughter leaves on February 13 for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, where she will learn Spanish. And then she will go to Tempe, Arizona where her 18 month mission really begins. And, to be honest, that is where she will really learn to speak Spanish. We will speak with her on Mothers Day and on Christmas, but will not see her until August 2014, when her mission will end. And, believe it or not, I will not worry about her. Not one bit. I know she will be in good hands, and she will be well taken care of.
She will have many experiences that will become a part of who she is. She will touch many lives, and many lives will touch her. Her life will never be the same - - it will be so much more than she ever dreamed it could be.
My daughter. What an amazing woman.
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Judy, that gave me chills to read. Your daughter will leave to begin her mission on Feb. 13, our youngest daughter's birthday. I would find it so very hard not to see our daughters for such a long time.
ReplyDeleteShe is amazing, and so are you!
Monti
Thanks, Monti. My son went to Bulgaria for two years and it is amazing how fast the time goes. And it is also amazing how much he and we, his family, were blessed because of his willingness to serve. I will miss my daughter, for sure, because we are best friends. But I am so happy she made this decision!
DeleteBlessings for your daughter as she begins her missionary work!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth.
ReplyDeleteGod bless your daughter, Judy, and her wonderful mother. What a wonderful commitment to look forward to this upcoming New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kelly! We are looking forward to a great year - - hope you have a wonderful New Year!!
DeleteYour daughter sounds like a wonderful person - just like you!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Did you come back to life??! Happy New Year!
DeleteHow wonderful! It takes a very special person to be a missionary. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Same to you!!
DeleteShe'll get her mail. She can eat most of the food. She will understand the money system. The phones will work. She won't have to get a zillion shots. Hurray for Tempe, Arizona!
ReplyDeleteRemember the gamma gobulin shot?!! yuk.
DeleteSounds great! :) Were you a missionary too when you were her age? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a requirement of the LDS Church to devote some time to mission work? That's so great that she doesn't have to leave the USA though. Bulgaria....so far away for your son!! :) Will you be able to visit her?
ReplyDeleteYes, I served in Venezuela, but I was older than her (I joined the church in my 20s). But, no, it is definitely not a requirement to serve a mission. The young men are encouraged to prepare themselves to serve a mission, but they are not required to. And more and more young women are serving missions as well. It takes a lot of young men and women to reach EVERYONE! lol
DeleteAnd, no, we won't be able to visit her! But we'll email once a week and talk on Mothers Day and Christmas. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!!
I can't help but believe this has to be a wonderful experience of a lifetime for a young person! Your daughter is to be commended for understanding what is truly important in life and for chosing to serve. It won't be easy, but it will be so very rewarding. I hope you will keep us all posted on how it goes! Are cellphones and texting not part of this? Wow!
ReplyDeleteNo cellphones, no texting. Well, they'll have a cellphone to use for missionary purposes only :)
Deletevery hard for me to truly grasp
ReplyDeletecongratulations to all of you
and super wishes to your daughter
Yeah, I can see how it would be hard to understand or grasp for a lot of people. Hopefully, if you haven't already, you will have an opportunity to meet an LDS missionary - - just to see how very special they are!!
DeleteDoing something like that is a huge commitment, good for her!
ReplyDeleteShe is awesome - too bad she's not going to Australia :)
DeleteIn order to do something like this a person must feel CALLED. You have experienced this before with your son, and saw the blessings it reaped. I am not at all surprised that you are not worried. Congratulations:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin - you are so right in everything you said.
DeleteWow. That's a big deal. Wishing all the best to your daughter on such a worthy endeavor.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much :)
DeleteThis is amazing. I'm sure it took alot of strength and faith to take up a satisfying yet difficult task like this. Good luck to her!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great opportunity for your daughter! I wish her lots of luck!
ReplyDeletethanks Bee!
DeleteCongrats on your daughter's decision!! Great blog. Happy New Year!!
ReplyDelete~Keith
Thank you Keith!
DeleteMy God be with her and teach her wonderful things.
ReplyDeleteOh! What a wonderful decision! May her (and your) year be filled with blessings!
ReplyDeleteThis is such great news, Judy! My mission was a hundred, okay, 23, years ago, but it affects my life everyday. (Not counting the fact that I met my husband there.)
ReplyDeleteI love that you shared your testimony and explained so well that it is the spirit that converts people. Your daughter obviously has had an amazing example all these years.
My mission was more like a ZILLION years ago :) Our son went to Bulgaria a couple of years ago, but it's so different sending my daughter out - - even though she'll be so much closer than he was! I am so happy she's going, but I am already starting to miss her :(
DeleteGood for her! And good for you and her dad for raising such a compassionate young person. It would be so hard for me as a kid to have left my parents and any connection with them for that length of time! ANd it would tear me up to have my own kids be out of communication with me for such a long time now! Her faith (and yours) must be amazingly strong.
ReplyDeleteI concur! Your daughter IS an AMAZING woman! Yay her and yay you Judy! You must be so proud and I'm proud for you. :) What a wonderful, wonderful journey for her and those she serves. Wow. I really think this is my favorite post.. Such great, great news.. I am so happy for you and for your daughter. Blessings abound! :) Hugs, hugs, hugs!
ReplyDelete