Wow!! I really don't know how to do this whole blog thing! But here goes nothing! Exactly one week from now i will be in the Argentina MTC and will offically be Hermana Ross. Crazy! If I could describe my feelings right now i would say anxious. Anxious to be there, anxious about getting on a plane and flying to a country where i don't know the language, and anxious about leaving my family and life here. But I know this is what i'm supposed to be doing! I wanted to start out this blog with how i decided to go on a mission, and the amazing experiences and blessings that have come from the decision to serve.
A little over a year ago I was sitting in my apartment at Snow College with three of my very dear friends and roommates. We were to graduate in April with our associates degrees and were talking about what we would be doing the next fall. What university would we all go to? All three of my friends had decided to attend Utah State, and with all my heart i wanted to do the same. I knew though that this was something I would have to pray about. If i was to go to Utah State i was facing the possibility of not finding a job, and having to take out student loans. My other option was moving back home where I had been offered a job that would be good experience for my major, and attending the university near my home town. Of course being a normal 19 year old girl, I didn't necessarily find moving back home appealing after spending the previous two years living away from home. So I decided to pray about it and received the answer that i needed to move back home. I was angry! I didn't quite understand why my Heavenly Father would tell me to go back home when i could stay with my friends and enjoy another new experience. I was so frustrated and disappointed, but I decided that I really was supposed to move home.
Well if anyone knows me, they know I am as stubborn as a mule! I didn't come home without letting everyone know home was not where i wanted to be! I told my friends I hated the university i was attending, and I was not exactly someone people wanted to be around. My mother and father were becoming frustrated with me, and my negative attitude around the house, and I didn't have any confidence. I felt like I was at a stand still in my life. I wasn't reading my scriptures, I wasn't going anywhere with my education, and I wasn't willing to give home a try. In my mind I kept thinking, "Well God if this is what you wanted me to do, I'll do it. But not willingly!" It was really quite stupid of me! I wasn't accomplishing anything by acting that way!
Well now lets fast forward to about October, 2012! Twenty years old now, sitting down in sweat pants, a t-shirt, and had just pulled my wet hair up into a bun. With my mom by my side I began to watch General conference. I began watching without any real expectation of conference. I wasn't as angry at this point, but i still didn't quite feel like i was accomplishing what i was supposed to with my life. Well on this special occassion an announcement was made, lowering the ages that missionaries were able to turn in their mission papers. I sat there in absolute shock. In that moment the spirit told me that this announcement was for me. That this great and marvelous work that was about to come forth among the children of men, was something I would have a chance to be a part of. It was almost a slap to the face. Ha ha a really good slap to the face where my Heavenly Father was saying "Tiffany! See what being a good and patient daughter does for you? This is why i needed you home!" Did I really just refer to Heavenly Father slapping my face? Wow that's weird! And i am not going to change it because I don't know else to word it. But i know that if I hadn't of listened to my Heavenly Father, I wouldn't of had the means to be able to go on a mission right now! That by being home, I didn't have to go into any debt, and i was able to enjoy working and saving for my mission. And when I opened my call to see those words "Dear Sister Ross,You have been herby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" I knew that God had some great plans for me. I know that probably sounds very cheesy. But I know that this truly is an amazing work! I am so grateful and blessed that i even have a chance to be a part of it. I look forward to being very humbled and tested and tried while serving in Paraguay. I know that through trials, I can become closer to Christ. I'm not perfect! So very far from perfect actually! But I want my friends and family to know that this is what i want to do, and that I have a great testimony of God answering prayers. Even if it isn't what we want to hear, or what we want to do. I know he does hear and answer us! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! See you in 18 months!
P.S. My mom or sister or some type of family member will try to post some letters on here. Hopefully...... Haha
