Called to Serve

Well, I'm officially as bad at keeping a blog as I am at keeping a journal.  Except not quite.  I'm telling my blog about my mission call before I tell my journal......  And I got it almost a month ago. 
Anyway, after months of trying to get my papers submitted, they finally were.  And I received my mission call.  I was riding around on a scooter, playing with my little brother on the driveway when the mail-lady came.  She said, "Your mission call is here!"  I was so excited!  And my whole family was home so I didn't have to wait to read it!   It read as follows:

"Dear Elder Lofthouse:  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 California Fresno Mission ... You should report ot eh Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."

Now, most of you who are reading this probably already knew about that.  The reason I'm writing the news again is because part of my online Pre-MTC training was starting a mormon.org profile.  I was able to post  a link to this blog and I'm hoping that eventually others not of our faith will be reading it.  Since a mission is where I'll be for the next two years, I think it's a good idea to post about it.  And maybe I'll have my mom take over this blog when I leave and post the e-mails and letters I send.  I have a few friends who have done that. 

In preparing for a mission, I have felt stress, worry, excitement, and joy.  I've mostly been worrying about learning a new language.  I know that I could be an effective missionary right from the start if I were speaking English.  But now I have to learn to express myself in a different language before I'll be an effective tool in God's hands.  I also have to get an extension on my Driver's License, get a couple new immunizations, fill out some forms my Mission President sent me, purchase a bicycle, become familiar with Preach My Gospel like I'm familiar with the Book of Mormon, attend the temple as often as possible, and try to continue focusing on mission preparation even when I'm just tired of it.  There is so much to do, and I'm grateful for the two months I have to prepare.  However, as I've tried to do all these things and spend my time wisely, I have felt an increase of the Spirit in my life.  I know that the language will come, I know that God will help me complete all the things I need to, and I know that as I exercise faith in Him, I will be able to work miracles in His name.

I am so excited for this opportunity to serve!  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's church and kingdom on the earth today.  I know that He has called me to serve a mission in Fresno California for specific reasons.  There are people there who are being prepared to hear the gospel from me.  He loves each and everyone of us more than we can comprehend.  Whatever mistakes we make in life, they can be made right through the Atonement of Christ.  He never gives up on us.  Pray everyday to Him to have your testimony strengthened and live the commandments all the time.  You will be blessed.