Called to Serve! *On Hiatus*

Such a special occasion as this deserves my "Mad Graphix Skillz" (or lack thereof, *thank you MS Paint*) so I made up a stylized version of the missionary nametag for an On Hiatus banner.

Anyway, in a few short hours, I will be leaving for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, where I will be spending some weeks learning to preach the gospel and serve others while in Jacksonville, Florida.  After that, I'll travel to Florida where I will be assigned an area in my mission.

If you are on my "Mission Flist" (which is basically my regular flist, since nobody asked to be excluded from the special list), you will see posted LJ updates from me on my mission via my sister, adjie1026.  I've set it up so she has my LJ password and when I write her, I will include a paragraph or two for her to post here.  So, you guys won't be totally left out of what I'm doing.  If you're not on the Mission Flist, well, you'll probably have to hit my parents up for my mission address and snail-mail me (or just wait until I come home in August-September 2009 ^_^)

Last of all, I want to share with you all why I am putting my life on hold for 18 months while I serve the Lord: this gospel has been with me through my whole life.  I've learned the lessons and the scripture stories since I was very young.  But it took growing up and moving away from home before I really felt like I knew what I'd been taught was true.  My parents, leaders, teachers - wonderful though they were and are - could not put into my heart what the Spirit did.  The Spirit taught me the things that I'm now going to go teach the people in Florida:  Jesus Christ died for our sins; He rose again on the third day and lives today;  this is Christ's church and He stands at the head;  we have a loving Father in Heaven who looks out for each of us;  He knows us personally and knows our strengths and weaknesses;  He desires all His children to return to Him; The Book of Mormon stands as a witness with the Bible of the teachings of Christ and His disciples; Joseph Smith was called to restore Christ's church as it was organized in ancient times before apostasy took the fulness of the gospel away from the earth; President Thomas S. Monson has been called of God to lead and direct this church in the way that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want it led.  These things, and many more, are the reasons I am going on a mission.

I have been greatly blessed, not the least of my blessings has been my friends (in real life and online) that have been with me through so much.  I am grateful that you have been willing to share in this chapter of my life and I hope I do you all proud (or well-pleased, if you'd prefer ^_^).

True to the faith that our parents have cherished
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished
To God's command, Soul, heart and hand
Faithful and true we will ever stand
("True to the Faith" Hymns #254)