"Dear Sister Eibert: You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. You are assigned to labor in the CHILE RANCAGUA MISSION. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Chile Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 14th, 2017. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."
Last September I decided to start filling out my mission papers. I was so excited and eager. I wasn't going to tell my family what I was doing. In fact, nobody back home knew what I was doing. I planned to surprise my parents with the news when the call was in my hands ready to be opened. I was attending BYU for my first semester and my roommates all knew I was working on my papers (3 of them were also working on papers!) When a potential job opportunity popped up in late November, and after counseling with my Bishop, I put my papers on hold and decided to go for the job. In between November and early February a lot happened, some goods things and some pretty bad, and the job opportunity fell through. I didn't want to turn in mission papers just because the job didn't work out. So I waited about a month and decided to go for it. From the time I decided to finish the papers and turn them in, it only took one week to complete both medical and dental evaluations. My bishop (bless his heart!!) managed to schedule my final interview with him back to back with the stake president on the same night. From the night they were submitted to the day my call was assigned was only 2-3 days. From submitting to having my call in hand was only 9 days. Miracles upon miracles happened and tender mercies are real!!
In September, my family didn't know I was planning on turning in my papers. In March, when I actually submitted, only my parents and bishop knew. On March 23rd, 2017 I was sitting at my desk, in my pajamas because it was a Thursday and I didn't have any classes. I received an email saying I had a package. I promptly started freaking out as I was not expecting the call so soon (and they usually come on Fridays). I read my call privately with my parents over video chat, which was a sweet experience, and then surprised my siblings later that day with a Skype call. I then worked my way out, starting with roommates and friends, before I announced my call to serve on social media and what not.
Opening the call was so overwhelming and I was sobbing the whole time. Seriously, I was an absolute mess. My gut had been telling me big city stateside like Atlanta or New York and my mom was convinced I was going to Ireland, where she had served. But the Lord had different plans for me, and I'm completely okay with that. I'm so beyond excited and thrilled to serve the people of Chile! I know it's where I'm suppose to be and there are people there waiting for me to share the gospel with them. It is so cool how a place that hadn't even crossed my mind before suddenly is so important and how instantly I have so much love for the people of Chile. My heart is full. I love the Lord and I'm so looking forward to serving as a missionary!
In September, my family didn't know I was planning on turning in my papers. In March, when I actually submitted, only my parents and bishop knew. On March 23rd, 2017 I was sitting at my desk, in my pajamas because it was a Thursday and I didn't have any classes. I received an email saying I had a package. I promptly started freaking out as I was not expecting the call so soon (and they usually come on Fridays). I read my call privately with my parents over video chat, which was a sweet experience, and then surprised my siblings later that day with a Skype call. I then worked my way out, starting with roommates and friends, before I announced my call to serve on social media and what not.
Opening the call was so overwhelming and I was sobbing the whole time. Seriously, I was an absolute mess. My gut had been telling me big city stateside like Atlanta or New York and my mom was convinced I was going to Ireland, where she had served. But the Lord had different plans for me, and I'm completely okay with that. I'm so beyond excited and thrilled to serve the people of Chile! I know it's where I'm suppose to be and there are people there waiting for me to share the gospel with them. It is so cool how a place that hadn't even crossed my mind before suddenly is so important and how instantly I have so much love for the people of Chile. My heart is full. I love the Lord and I'm so looking forward to serving as a missionary!
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