God ALWAYS Answers Prayers

     I still remember the moment when President Thomas S. Monson announced that the missionary age for girls was changed from twenty- one to nineteen in the October 2012 General Conference for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. How could I not, it was a moment that has changed me forever! When I heard those words come out of the prophet's mouth I KNEW that I was supposed to serve a mission. For the next few years I never doubted that I would one day be a full time missionary. Before I knew it there was just a few simple months before I could turn in my papers....that, my friends is when the doubt set in. I was scared out of my mind to be away from my family and the comforts that I have grown accustomed to here in Idaho. Shallow and frivolous worries came into my mind. Where was I going to get makeup, how about my eyebrows, and my hair? What if I gained a bunch of weight? These thoughts were constantly running in my mind. I had to know if my original feelings of serving had been accurate.  I prayed and I prayed and I fasted and I fasted. Eventually, I came to terms that I would just have to go on a mission regardless of God's apparent silence. Don't worry, that's not the end of the story! For those of you who don't know, God always, always, always answers prayers. One weekend in March I was able to participate in many spiritual experiences which included going on splits with the missionaries and a fireside. Looking back I can't exactly pinpoint the moment or even the place I was at when I had the thought that answered my prayers but I remember the feelings that I received more clearly than any experience I have ever had.  The thought that occurred to me was, "this is not about you, this is about those you will serve". How had I not thought about that! There were thousands of people in the world that don't know that they do matter and that they are important and I was worried about my makeup! This seemingly small piece of common knowledge completely rocked me. It truly was a message sent from God. I knew that I had to go for those who were living through the pains of life without the knowledge of how much Christ loves them. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am supposed to serve the Lord in this capacity. I know that while I will probably struggle and experience rough moments that God will guide me through them and hold me every step of the way because he loves me. The greatest and most remarkable thing is that in the near future I will help others have that same confidence in Christ's love. I cannot wait to be a servant who is wholly devoted to the Lord.