nebraska

I am going to be a sister missionary.

And I could not be more excited about it.

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For the last 4 weeks, I have obsessively checked the mail every day at 10am and then again at 2pm. I was anxiously (& maybe kinda impatiently) waiting for my mission call to come. Where the heck was it!? About a week or so after it was supposed to come, I got an email from my stake president.

"...I forgot to submit your papers when I was supposed to.." 

Wait. What?

I read this email on a Friday while I was sitting in my Web Design and Development class, and I tried my best to not cry. I watched the clock tick away, closer to the hour, and didn't even pay attention to what the teacher was saying at all. When the teacher ended the class, I bolted for the door and fumbled with my phone to call my mom as tears started to surface.

Side-note: I LOVE MY MOM SO MUCH.

I walked back to my apartment, phone pushed up close to my face, and wiped away tears as I talked to my mom. Honestly at this point, I just figured my call wasn't coming. A little dramatic, I know, but what's new.

So I waited. I waited for 2 more weeks. I got really good at waiting!

This last Friday, I kept my hopes pretty low. I just kept doubting it would come. And then... guys this was a moment I wish I had on camera because I'm sure I looked like a lunatic. I opened up the mailbox and about lost it completely when I saw that white envelope smashed into that small little mailbox. I ripped it out and actually ran back to my apartment with, I'm sure, the most ridiculous smile on my face. At this moment, I had forgotten I was barefoot in my pajamas with no makeup on and it was late afternoon. I clearly didn't care.

I called my mom, my grandparents, my friends... we huddled around my computer in my little apartment... and I opened my call.

I tried my hardest not to peek as I was reading the first few lines of my call. I got choked up when I read that I had been called to serve as a missionary. It just kind of put things into perspective. But then I cheated and looked down and saw where I was serving. I laughed. 

"You are assigned to labor in the Nebraska Omaha Mission." 

Hahaha what?

Honestly, I was disappointed for like .2 seconds. Obviously most people would love to travel outside of the country. But then I was like, "What the heck, Brie be serious. You are so excited right now."

Disappointment hardly lasted at all.

And then I read that I was going to be speaking SPANISH. And I would be going to the Mexico MTC for 6 weeks. I am going to be fluent in Spanish! I love that language so much - I took 5 years of it growing up. I am so grateful that I am going to be speaking another language. So so grateful.

So then... the investigation started. I went on Facebook and actually found my mission's page. So many people started messaging me and adding me, telling me all sorts of awesome things.

...bring lots of boots and sweaters...

...you'll be serving in Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, and Kansas too...

...the people are AMAZING...

...they only send the BEST missionaries here...

I was obviously pumped at this point. Heavenly Father quickly answered my prayers, and He guided people to me who I really needed to hear from. Just today at church, I found out about two more people who were called to my mission. A friend of mine is also going to be in the Mexico MTC the same time I will be! It's just amazing. I'm not alone.

I am so sure about this next part in my life. I am so aware of Heavenly Father's hand working in my life right now. I know that I am going to be tested and tried over and over again these next two years as I prepare and then serve. I know that throughout all of it, I am never alone. I have friends everywhere, my family always with me, and my Savior and Heavenly Father.

Ah. Life is just good. It's so good. I am so grateful, and I can not waaiiit to meet and serve and love the people of the Nebraska Omaha Mission.