One Month!!!

This is completely surreal! In less than a month I will be flying to Mexico City all by myself, embarking on the adventure of a lifetime! I keep having to ask myself, "Is this really happening?"  I am so excited and scared and nervous and anxious, all at the same time.  It is scaring me how fast the time is starting to go so I have really been stepping up my prepartion.

I got to go up shopping in Provo with my mom and sister.  It was great and I found a lot of amazing things.  My amazing Aunt Christy also took my missionary pictures while we were up there.  They turned out incredible!!!

I got to speak in another ward in my stake this past Sunday with a High Councilman who had asked me to speak with him.  I was super nervous but I think it went OK.  My topic was on conversion.  It was so perfect for me because it is something I have been struggling with for quite a while.  On preparing and giving my talk I was able to find a lot of great things that comforted and strengthened me.




As I have been reading The Book of Mormon, I found myself enjoying it more and more.  In my ward on Sunday, a sister, who is getting ready to leave on a senior couple mission with her husband to Japan, talked about she has never read The Book of Mormon like she is doing now.  She explained how she was reading it and it was like a missionary manual to her.  I completely feel the same way.  Each time I read, I find little gems and principles that I feel like are directed right and me and my preparation to serve a mission.

I love this Gospel and am so excited to go and share it.  I hope that I may be able to recognize the Spirit and constantly continue to be converted so that I can share the light and blessings with others.

52 Days To Go

     I can't believe how fast time really is going! It is still completely surreal that I will be boarding a plane for Mexico City in 52 days. I will be in the CCM (MTC in Spanish) for six weeks, and then Chicago, Illinois for the next 16 and a half months!!! I am super nervous but so excited to go out and serve the Lord by sharing the light of the Gospel.
     I just finished an amazing week at EFY, my last one. These are some of the insights and things that I learned that will be invaluable on my mission.

• 6 Step Pattern to Enlightened Faith from 1 Nephi 1
• You must be in a place where truth is taught (vs. 4)
• Act - Read and Pray (vs. 5, 11-12)
• Confirmation by Holy Ghost (vs. 7 & 12)
• Thank Him! You feel great and marvelous (vs. 14-15)
• Write down Tender Mercies of the Lord (vs. 16)
• Testify what you know to be true (vs. 18-19)
• 2 Nephi 1
• vs. 21 - be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things = it is not a competition to eternal life! We are all in this together and need to help each other come unto Christ.
• vs. 23 - AWAKE! No more being passive and floating by. We need to take action, put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the "chains" which Satan has US bound.
• Mosiah 2:9 - Open my ears that I might hear, my heart to understand, and my mind to learn the mysteries of God. In order to learn by the Spirit, I need to be listening in all of these ways.  
• Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit = what the Spirit produces. Satan does not have a fake for peace. If you are feeling peace, it is 100% from the Savior.
• Doctrine & Covenants 20:37 - Qualifications for Baptism/Conversion - This scripture is used for preparing investigators for baptism. I think that this scripture is also very applicable to personal conversion, which every person has to go through. How to become converted: humble ourselves, have a desire, have a broken heart & contrite spirit, repent of all sins, bear Christ's name, be determined to serve Him, and show by our works.
• The Savior Suffereing in Gethsemane
• What did he suffer? D&C 19:17-20 Why? For our sins? No! For our pains, afflictions, and temptations.
• How did He make it through? Mosiah 15:10 - He saw us in the Garden as He was suffering. He thought of us and did it completely for us.     
• 2 Nephi 4
• vs. 20 - The Savior can be OUR support, and lead us through our "wildernesses".
• vs. 27 - Good questions to ask ourselves: Why should we yield to sin and temptation?
• vs. 28 - Awake our souls! Don't droop or be disheartened because of sin. We need to rejoice because we don't want to give Satan any little piece in our lives.                                                    

3 Months and Counting...

I can't believe that in three months I will be entering the Mexico MTC!!! I am so excited, very  nervous, and a little scared. These are some of the things that I am doing right now to prepare:

• Reading missionary blogs
• Reading my Scriptures
• Studying Preach My Gospel

Mission Call Acceptance

I just mailed my mission call acceptance letter to the First Presidency! No turning back now :-)

Mission Call Opening

Dear Sister Meanea,
     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 Illinois Chicago Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, September 18, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Call is Here!!!

Guess what was in the mailbox today? A big white envelope to Sister Allyse Meanea from the Office of the First Presidency... Too bad I am 2,322 miles away in Washington D.C. and won't be back until Sunday to open it!