The Call

Me and my verrrrry tall littlest Brother, Michael

One of the coolest things about this whole experience is that I get to share it with my little brother! Michael is two years younger than me, and we have gone through every step of this process in tandem. His papers went in a little bit before mine, and we all waited eagerly to hear where he would be called. Then it came! Utah St. George Spanish speaking! I know it sounds odd, but I really knew, almost from the moment he first read his call, that that was where the Lord needed Michael to go. I know Michael will bring so much energy, wisdom, and love to those people he is supposed to find. Some may think it’s a little bit of a bummer that he’s not going abroad, but to us East Coasters, Utah at time seems like a foreign country ;)

The next week I waited eagerly for my call to come. And I was not the only one waiting: my roommate Maddy had also put in her papers the same time as me! Normally the calls are mailed from Salt Lake and get to Provo on Wednesdays. Michael’s had come on a Thursday, though, so I had prepared myself not to be disappointed if it came of Thursday, not Wednesday. But then on Wednesday afternoon I got a very thrilling text from Maddy. It said (and I quote) “I HAVE BOTH OUR ENVELOPES IN MY HAND.” As soon as I read it, my heart started racing. 

Maddy and I with our calls!
(picture shamelessly stolen from Maddy's blog)

After coordinating schedules with my roommates and setting up Skype with my parents, I sat down on my couch to open the letter. I got one line in and promptly exploded. ALPINE GERMAN-SPEAKING MISSION. It was everything I’d ever hoped for. For those who don’t know, I have been learning German since I was 6. I did two years in a German immersion program in elementary school. Then in middle school I picked it back up again and took it all the way through high school. Then the summer after my senior year of high school I did an exchange program for three weeks in Bavaria. Then the summer after my freshman year of college, I did a study abroad in Berlin. Safe to say I think the Lord has been preparing me my whole life for this moment. I am so excited to go to Germany/Austria/Switzerland. I love the German people. I love the countryside. I love the chocolate. And don’t even get me started on the yogurt. Oh dear goodness I can’t wait.

Later that same evening that I opened my call, we headed over to Maddy’s aunt’s house for her to open her call. She has been called to the Brazil Santa Maria Mission, reporting to the Brazil MTC in March. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty awesome. I know that as Maddy embarks on this adventure in her life, she will learn and grow so much as she teaches the people in Brazil.

So, to sum up, wherever the Lord decides to send you is where you’re supposed to be. It could be Utah, Germany, or Brazil. There are people all over the world who are waiting for the message that we, as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have to share with them.