Mikell's mission blog
My family will be updating this site with excerpts from emails and journal entries I send. This way as many of you as would like can read about my experiences and stay up to date, but I will be able to email quickly and not have communication consume a ton of the time I've been given to dedicate to the Lord. Thank you for your support and care!
January 15, 2014
I report to the MTC in a week, and I'm super excited! In October 2012, when the age change announcement was made by Pres. Monson, I was in a Hairspray rehearsal. It was going great: laughter, dancing, misstep, try it again, now do it while singing, etc. when a group of girls (who had been listening to conference on a radio) came running into the room. They went to our choreographer and told her what had been said. Then they announced it to the rest of us. Needless to say, it was a while before we got back to rehearsing... :) Many of the guys started realizing they could turn in their papers within months, and the girls, well, we were blown away. Suddenly, we could leave much sooner than we ever believed we would. It took me a bit to think about it. I wondered if a mission was for me, if I should go or work on schooling. After serious pondering, I felt as though both options were good! I'd never actually considered serving a mission before, but when I put that into plans for the next 5 years, suddenly everything laid out smoothly. I had been torn with a couple of paths my education could take, but it was calming to see it straighten out. It was then that I actually began building my excitement. After turning my papers in, I went to BYU for Fall semester, and came back a couple weeks later to open my call... which my parents didn't know had actually come because I wanted to surprise them (thanks Wilsons for letting me send it to your house!). When I read with my family and friends "Taiwan Taipei," I knew it was right, that I could do this with the Lord's help, I can even learn how to speak Mandarin. I am so grateful for prophets and modern revelation. I know that this gospel it true. I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and loves all His children in Taiwan. I will miss seeing my family everyday, but you know how they define missionaries (a person who leaves their family for 18 months or 2 years so others can be with theirs for eternity). I love all my family and friends who have been such important parts in my life and in getting me to where I am. I am most of all thankful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity, and for Jesus Christ from providing the way for us to live with Him and our families forever.
I report to the MTC in a week, and I'm super excited! In October 2012, when the age change announcement was made by Pres. Monson, I was in a Hairspray rehearsal. It was going great: laughter, dancing, misstep, try it again, now do it while singing, etc. when a group of girls (who had been listening to conference on a radio) came running into the room. They went to our choreographer and told her what had been said. Then they announced it to the rest of us. Needless to say, it was a while before we got back to rehearsing... :) Many of the guys started realizing they could turn in their papers within months, and the girls, well, we were blown away. Suddenly, we could leave much sooner than we ever believed we would. It took me a bit to think about it. I wondered if a mission was for me, if I should go or work on schooling. After serious pondering, I felt as though both options were good! I'd never actually considered serving a mission before, but when I put that into plans for the next 5 years, suddenly everything laid out smoothly. I had been torn with a couple of paths my education could take, but it was calming to see it straighten out. It was then that I actually began building my excitement. After turning my papers in, I went to BYU for Fall semester, and came back a couple weeks later to open my call... which my parents didn't know had actually come because I wanted to surprise them (thanks Wilsons for letting me send it to your house!). When I read with my family and friends "Taiwan Taipei," I knew it was right, that I could do this with the Lord's help, I can even learn how to speak Mandarin. I am so grateful for prophets and modern revelation. I know that this gospel it true. I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and loves all His children in Taiwan. I will miss seeing my family everyday, but you know how they define missionaries (a person who leaves their family for 18 months or 2 years so others can be with theirs for eternity). I love all my family and friends who have been such important parts in my life and in getting me to where I am. I am most of all thankful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity, and for Jesus Christ from providing the way for us to live with Him and our families forever.