A mission, while a wonderful, amazing opportunity, is not a requirement for women in the LDS church. In fact, I truly believe that our priority as women should be to become wives and mothers. However, since I'm not getting married any time soon, I feel that serving a mission is the most important thing I could possibly do.
I never would have planned on serving a mission. I didn't see it as a part of my life -- I've had my life planned out since I was little. I was going to go to college, get all the education I could, and then marry the man of my dreams, and then we would live happily ever after.... until one day while I was sitting in church and I thought, "Wait. I need to go on a mission."
My roommate (who is also one of my very best friends) had told me just a few days earlier that she had received her answer and she was for sure going on a mission. I was so happy and so proud of her!! It had been a question she had pondered and prayed about for a long time. It was then that I realized that I had never even prayed about it -- I had always just assumed I wouldn't go.
I pushed it out of my mind and I didn't really think about it more... until the next sunday. Our sunday school lesson was on missionary work. In that class, we watched this video about the blessings of missionary service. It was then that I again had an overwhelming feelings that I needed to start my mission papers. "But why?" I thought. I never wanted to go on a mission until that week. Suddenly it all seemed so appealing to me. All at once, I began to realize how much I could bless the lives of others by choosing to serve a mission. I could show others the incomprehensible joy that the gospel brings to my life.
I started my papers that sunday and finished them in two weeks.
I hit a few roadblocks on the way to turning in my papers. Concerns arose, doubts surfaced, and my head was swimming with confusion. But Heavenly Father was (and is) extremely patient with me. He sent me a handful of gentle reminders and confirmations that serving a mission was truly the right path for me.
When I got my call in the mail, there was no more room for doubting. As soon as I saw that big white envelope addressed to "Sister Mckensie Anna Sims," I knew I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.
Now it's three months later and I'm getting set apart as a missionary TOMORROW. Yeah, I'm freaking out. But it's excited freaking out!! :) I have changed so much in the last four months. My testimony has grown immensely, I have learned to be more patient, and I have a greater love for the scriptures than I have ever had. I understand the gospel so much more and I have come so close to Christ. There is no denying that this gospel is 110% true, and if you live the gospel to the best of your abilities, you will come to know that for yourself as well!!!
I'm excited. It's weird that six months ago I never even would have imagined myself on a mission, and this week it's becoming a reality! I'm really excited to go to Norway and to serve and love the people there. I know that's where I am supposed to be! :)
