The Call.

The 22nd of December.

 

That was the wondrous day I peered inside that shiny black box of mine, just outside my house, and found a white envelope addressed to "Sister Courtney Dianne West".

 

That's me.

 

You know what a happy feeling is?

Holding a letter, written to you, from the first presidency.

Finding out you've been called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

And being told you will be serving that mission in London, England.

 

LONDON. ENGLAND.

 

As in...

and..

and..

 

 

....

 

Let this be an example of just how little we know & just how much Heavenly Father does know.

 

He knew I couldn't learn a language.

People tend to get upset when I say, "couldn't" because maybe I could have,

but He knew it would have been a long, train wreck of a journey.

Ergo, I'm speaking English.

 

Also, for a long time I was convinced I'd be going stateside. Only because I didn't think I was strong enough, independent enough, to be sent off to some foreign land, alone.

And the thought of stateside, it didn't upset me one bit.

Now, I'd been told the postage on your mission call envelope tells you if you're going stateside or foreign.

 "If it's foreign it will have extra papers and therefore weigh more, resulting in it costing more."

I bought into this theory.. but my envelope proved it wrong.

 

When I slid that envelope out of the mailbox and saw $1.70 opposed to $1.90 on the postage, I again was convinced I was going stateside.

 

Think about what it feels like to be fully expecting a stateside mission and read, "London, England"...

 

I  just about fell right over.

 

 

I still think I'm not strong enough to do it alone.

But that's when I remembered; there are two names on that name tag.

 

Along with a lot of loving & supportive people...

 

 

 

 

As my dear friend, Brother Braun, would often say,

"Nothing is impossible... with His help."

 

It's a strange thought, to think that in 144 days I'll be heading over to the England MTC.

 

My closest friends will happily tell you they find it hilarious that I'm going to the land of chicken, fish, and potatoes. Three of my least favorite things to consume.

 But hey, maybe I'll come back skinny, classy, and speak with very soft "R"s.

 

I know this is where I'm supposed to go.

I can feel it; someone there needs me, and it's my job to find them and teach them.

 

This church is true. Tell everyone.

 

Ta Ta, cheerio

 

London England Temple

Oh, and Merry Christmas <3



Let the wait begin

 

MISSION PAPERS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED!

 

Every soon-to-be missionary gets a little stressed out when handling their paper situation,

but I was in a major time-crunch to try and get everything submitted before I left Rexburg. 

 

Everything happens for a reason; it all works out in the end.
Just had to keep reminding myself

 

But here's why I was so caught up in it all: 

During Thanksgiving break I had my dental appointment, in which I found out I was blessed with only 3, underdeveloped wisdom teeth that will
never need to be taken out.

There's one thing I won't need to worry about before the mission. 

 I was terrified of going under and not knowing what I was saying. And being deathly afraid of pain, there's no way in heck I'd stay awake for it either. So in other words... it's just

SUCH GOOD NEWS.

Sorry world, you'll never see a "Courtney West after wisdom teeth" video on YouTube. {enter tears here}

 

 

My missionary physical was up here in Rexburg, that all went smoothly (although I'll never willingly wear nothing but a tiny paper-towel dress ever again). Thankfully, the entire office was so understanding and helpful. Also, my doctor was incredibly kind. I left wanting to bake the whole office cookies for helping me so much in my time-crunch.

*Madison Women's Health Clinic. Rexburg Idaho. I'll vouge for it up and down*

 

Side note- You can't schedule an appointment to submit your papers with the stake president until your dental and doctor paperwork has been received by your bishop. My dental was in, but I was hoping to submit my papers the very day I could (120 days before April 6th), on December 8th. My physical was on the 4th, plus I had to wait 2 days for test results. And I'll be heading home on the 14th...

 

Somehow, someway, President Riggins was able to fit me in on the 9th to submit my papers.

 

God's timing is perfect

 

I believe that one of the main reasons I was placed where I am up here in Rexburg was to meet my stake president, President Riggins. If there's one person that has influenced me the most regarding serving a mission, it's him.

He's the type of man that as soon as he speaks, you instantly feel the humility, sincerity and love in his voice. He makes everyone feel like they matter, because they do. 

 

President Riggin's preparation advice to any soon-to-be missionary is simple, but profound.

1) Prayer. Begin praying now for the people you meet and teach on your mission. Pray that as you open your call, you will instantly feel love for those people. Pray to have your heart softened.  Pray that they will recognize you and notice something different about you, that they will be willing to listen.

2) Read. "Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!" by Elder Russel M. Nelson and prepare to be that type of missionary. Study it, know how to help and serve with "the sole hope of making life better for other people".

3) Temple. Spend a solid week studying just about the temple. Read "Preparing to enter the holy temple". As soon as you get your call, meet with your bishop, meet with your stake president, get your temple recommend and go- OFTEN.

4) Mission Prep. Go through Preach My Gospel and create a scripture chain for every lesson. Along with that, create a margin of topics and questions that people might ask, with scriptures that support them.

 

"If you do these things, I promise you won't go into the field as a greenie."

I like that promise. Challenge accepted.

 

Now for the wait...

The ideal situation would be for my call to come in two weeks, which would be a few days after Christmas.

Some friends are leaving early January on their missions, some are going back up to school after break... I want them all there when I open it! Which might be selfish, but we'll see what happens.

Also, I might just want a Christmas tree in the background of my "opening the call" video.
I think it'd add a nice touch.

Doctrine & Covenants 4:3-4

 

 



 

 

 

 





The Announcement

It's funny, how quickly life can change.

One moment you think you've got it all figured out, and in a matter of seconds...

everything changes.

 

If you would have asked me a month ago what my plans were for the next two years

I would have told you about going to Ukraine to teach children English this winter. Or about next summer, working in Walt Disney World. I would finish general ed at BYUI, then work on progressing in photography, and go into Health Science to someday be an Ultra Sound tech.

 

Just when you think you've got it all planned out,

 our prophet speaks and shows you just how blind you'd been the entire time.

....

 

We'd gotten up way before the sun that first morning of October General Conference, 2012. Leah Burnett, Heather Dockstader and I didn't have tickets yet, but by being the first (literally) people in the stand-by line, we were praying we'd be able to get in. This was my very first time to general conference. I remember how badly I just wanted to see President Monson with my own eyes... As they dismissed us from the line to wait in the tabernacle, everything began to sink in.

 

We were possibly minutes away from being in the same room as our very prophet.

We sat there for what seemed like forever, waiting for the okay to head over to the conference center. With us still in the tabernacle, conference began. The opening song, the prayer, and there we sat, thinking maybe all of our efforts were for nothing.

 

Just as the disappointment began to sink in, a man walked up to our bench, slowly gestured with his hands to the door and softly said,

 "Enjoy conference, Sisters."

That, we would.

 

As we anxiously rushed in, tears already flowing down our faces in gratitude, the prophet was speaking. Instantly, the spirit was overwhelming. While trying to find our seats and get settled in, we heard a sort of commotion from the audience that we didn't understand. As we sat down, Brother Burnett leaned over to the three of us. With wide, glowing eyes he said,

"We just missed it.The prophet has just announced that young men may serve missions at age 18. Young women can now serve at age 19."

 

I can't remember a single talk after the announcement that morning. Heather, Leah and I just held each other and sobbed. We knew. I knew. This is what I would be doing for the next 18 months. This is what Heavenly Father wants, needs, me to do. Along with many others, we have all decided to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 

 

Everything makes sense now.

This church is so true, I know with all my heart that it is. Our Father in Heaven knows and loves every single one of his children. Our minds are so limited, but he knows all. That is why we must trust in him, with a "perfect brightness of hope". I know he will lead us to wherever we're supposed to go in life. What ever we're meant to do. He knows me just as well as he knows you. I know Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God. I know that just as he knelt down in the sacred grove and received an answer, we can too. Heavenly Father answers our prayers. The Book of Mormon is true. I've read it, and I've felt its power.

 "Where much is given, much is required" I know the truth, I've seen it change my life. I want to I need to share this knowledge with everyone I can. 

 

This is the beginning of my story as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 

2 Nephi 31:20

 

Soon to be, Sister West