Livin' On A Prayer

In the car, next to your bed, on the front porch, on your bike, during a morning run, at the dinner table, at church, before a test, on a hike, in the morning, at night, etc...What do all of these have in common you might ask?
  Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013, I found myself sitting in the back seat of a red Toyota Corolla driving to Salem, OR...where I would begin my mission.  I was not only tired and hungry but I was also in a new state with 2 random girls I had just barely met.
My heart was pounding.  Where was I going?  What were these 2 girls like and why weren't they talking? When am I going to eat?  In order to satisfy my hunger I opened the package that I had received and began eating some granola... This granola wasn't just any granola.  It was homemade, by my mother.

I started thinking about her.  I began to feel alone, wishing I could call her but knowing that I would have to wait for at least 5 months.  Gathering the strength to hold back the tears I said a silent prayer.  All of a sudden this overwhelming peace filled my heart.  

President Thomas S. Monson counseled, "We were not placed on this earth to walk alone. What an amazing source of power, of strength, and of comfort is available to each of us. He who knows us better than we know ourselves, He who sees the larger picture and who knows the end from the beginning, has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask."

I have a strong testimony that our Father in Heaven loves us.  That love will never end.  We are each his sons and daughters and he wants to hear from us.  He is always listening!!

3 weeks ago... I was transferred from Corvallis, OR to Etna, CA.  Talk about major culture shock.  New people, new home, new car, new companion.  The only constant on a mission and in the world for that matter, is change.  Since we live in the country, everything is so spread out.  We spend a lot of time in the car. The first few days scared me a little..  Could I really spend this much time in silence?  Then...I began to pray.  Faith replaced fear and my testimony was strengthened.  

One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is in Mosiah.  The people of Alma were being persecuted for their beliefs and were commanded to stop praying.  Verse 12-13 of chapter 24 says, "And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him, and he did know the thought of their hearts.  And it came to pass, that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage."

Heavenly Father knows our hearts.  His Son, Jesus Christ suffered for us so that we might find peace through our afflictions and one day return to live in His presence.  

So whether your driving in the car or lying down to sleep at night, I invite you to go to your Heavenly Father in prayer.  He will not always take away our trials but he will give us the strength to endure and become stronger as a result.

Introduction: When a Prophet Calls

After many nights of pondering about whether or not to do this blog, I came to the conclusion, JUST DO IT! A wise man recently said, "too much thinking and not enough acting can be bad."   So it is with our faith, "..faith without works, is dead, being alone." -James 2:17 When we choose to act on our faith, that is when we will see the fruits or desired blessings.
 About 16 months ago the prophet of our church lowered the age at which young adults could serve full-time missions. 

"Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21."   

This short announcement changed my entire life.  At the time, I was attending a cute, little community college in Mesa, AZ.  I was taking a few pre-reqs to get into the dental hygiene program while I was also working at the front desk in my dad's dental office.  You would think the plans for my life were all set.
Our Heavenly Father knows each of us individually.  He knows not only who we are right now, but who we can become.  If we will align our will with His, we will ultimately find true happiness.
After 2-3 weeks of pondering about whether or not to serve, I came to the conclusion, JUST DO IT!  I began filling out my papers and less than a month later I received a letter in the mail saying that I was called  to serve in the...
Oregon Eugene Mission.
I was so pumped! The Spirit confirmed that Oregon was where Heavenly Father needed me.  I was ready to serve!....or so I thought.
Missionary work is full of ups and downs.  Miracles and rejection, tears of joy and tears of pain, apple pie and freezer burned green beans. "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.."2 Nephi 2:11
Heavenly Father knows we will grow the most through experiencing difficulties.  As we choose to follow Jesus Christ we can build our lives on a solid foundation and overcome any obstacles that come our way.  That is why I chose to follow Christ and...
build my life upon a rock.