My Call to Serve

On July 30th I opened a letter that changed my life.

"Dear Sister Hall, 

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Tennessee Knoxville mission. It is anticipated you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Tuesday, November 22, 2016. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president."

Reading those words, a thousand thoughts rushed through my head and my emotions were swirling. I had been looking forward to this day for as long as I could remember. I was so grateful for the love and support I felt from my friends and family who were there to experience such an exciting day with me. I had just returned from a trip in Alaska that morning and could not wait to open it, so we had people over within hours of flying in. I had very limited service in Alaska so it was up to my mom and Sydney Jones to spread the word. The amount of people that showed up to support and experience such an exciting day with me amazed me! I am so grateful for the family I have and my ward members and friends who surround me with so much love and support. 

People had asked over and over where I wanted to go. My response was always "I'm open to wherever because I think anywhere you go is foreign."

In the back of my mind I kind of thought I'd end up foreign but truly I was ok to serve wherever the Lord called me. He called me to about as foreign as you could get still being stateside! The South had never entered my mind. BUT it was interesting to feel that even though I was involved in a lot of excitement and congratulations and joy around me, I wasn't feeling what I expected to feel. Reading Tennessee Knoxville brought a big smile and a load of shock, my mind was saying "WHAAAAAAAAT?!?!" my heart was saying, "Oh my goodness we finally have a name and a place to go do what we've always wanted to do!" My stake president President Sargent in one of my prep interviews counseled and warned me that there was a chance that I might not have an immediate overwhelming peace and acceptance of my call. I remember sitting across from him thinking "No, I'm sure I will!" But he was right. It has taken me quite some time to feel good and content. Not that I was discontent, it's really hard to put into words my process of accepting my call. I will say though that reading Mexico MTC and Spanish helped make it all come together and feel more complete. Also 22 has always been my lucky/favorite number so the fact that I leave on November 22 is exciting. I know that my call is perfect for me because it was assigned through revelation by someone who knows and understands and loves me PERFECTLY! I know that there are people in Knoxville that need to be taught and influenced by Hermana Hall and I know that I will be taught and influenced by so very many people! 

I am called to serve and so grateful for the opportunity to embark on a journey to teach, and love, and serve as Christ would. Because that's what life is all about, helping each other back home to the God that gave us life.