I was working an afternoon shift (from 2-10 pm) at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab of Provo, and it was a typical busy day, which helped keep my mind off the fact that I would have to wait another whole week to receive my call. At one point I checked my phone, and saw that I had several missed phone calls from family members and also some text messages. One text came from my sister, Alyssa, which said 'your mission call is here!' I, naturally, assumed this a joke and sent her a reply text saying 'haha very funny' (or something like that). Eventually, I figured out that this was NOT a joke, and knew that I wouldn't be able to wait until my shift was over to open it. After much effort and freaking out, I convinced my family to come down to southwest Provo to bring me my call and watch me open it. In the meantime, I announced to all my patients (who were also dear friends of mine) that my call had arrived and that my family was coming over right now to watch me open it. They were just as excited as I was, as they all had known for months that I was going.
When my family arrived, a small crowd gathered in the hallway, and I led us to an employee break room so that we wouldn't block the old-people traffic (it's already hard enough for some of them to get around without having to make their way through a maze of people!). My whole family was there, and also Alicia and Daresa Sneddon, and several fellow employees and patients. It was a really great experience, being among the people who I loved most, and spent most of my time with. I opened the envelope, and my eyes frantically searched for the place I would be serving. I saw Bahia Blanca Argentina Mission and was excited immediately! My mom served there, and I secretly really wanted to go to South or Central America. I made myself calm down, though, and read the whole letter out loud. I pronounced Bahia wrong (even though I had taken four years of spanish classes in high school...) and my little sister corrected me! (She was in a high school spanish class at the time....smarty pants)
I love the story of getting my mission call, it was one of the best moments of my life. Now my little sister Alyssa is expecting her call tomorrow (hopefully)! I can't believe that she's old enough to serve, but I am extremely excited for her. I know it will be one of the greatest moments of her life, and that she will love her mission as much as I did. Good luck tomorrow Alyssa!!
