I was sitting in a normal Church meeting one Sunday in November when unprompted, the thought of going on a mission came to mind. I've dismissed it before as just thoughts and not promptings, and it was the same this time but instead of dropping it, I let my mind wander to how different my life could be in six months if I decided to serve a mission. I'd probably have a mission call and potentially be in the MTC (mission training center) already, having gone through the temple to take out my endowments and say goodbye to all family and friends for a year and a half. I asked myself if that scared me, to change my life so drastically for something I believed in, and remembered that I have absolutely nothing to be afraid of. My testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is so solid and thorough that I actually would give up everything for it, and so I made the decision that it was finally time. For the rest of the meeting I plotted in my head how the next few months would pan out, and as soon as the meeting ended rushed to the bishop's office to tell him about my plans :) And now I'm a few days away from finding out when and where I will serve for the next 18 months after I return to the States!
This list is a bit unedited but it's very honest, and hopefully not offensive in any way. If offense is taken, understand that it was unintended:
1. I feel 100% like this is the right thing for me to do at the right time. Yes we should always strive at every moment to better ourselves, but I do believe in a sense of timing, and that certain things can be much better at specific times. For instance, I would not have ever done this last year. I've grown up with no desire to ever serve a mission but also with a self-assurance that if I ever felt the desire and/or call within me to go, I would drop everything without hesitation and do so.
2. I want to do service on a bigger scale, I'm ready to give back, and what better way?
3. Because I can; I've been preparing by working in different situations with completely different kinds of people this whole year; I know how to stay motivated and positive, and I have the means to take care of myself for 18 months without working. And I'm still in my younger 20s :)
4. Because it's a really good experience, growing up for me and helping others to learn; a really good lesson for me in humility, faith, and obedience, and for me to love and serve my companions and people in the area I'm sent.
5. I can help people with my previous experience and study to have a more fuller understanding of the world around them and how God's presence and love is in everything. There are people out there I can influence and help find the Gospel that might not have been able to find it otherwise.
6. Because it just feels so right that I can't even express it.
And it's weird, this service thing. I've never wanted more to help people out, to help them to feel happier, to do them favors and even go across the world to do humanitarian aid, to love my family more (I call them all the time now), and to get to know people better and listen to their stories and just love and love and love. It makes me want to burst!
7. Because I've learned so much this year and in years and jobs prior; I've learned how to live by myself and be lonely, but also what working hard means, and how to work with different attitudes and cultures without changing my standards, and I've learned more about real life, while sort of not living in it. Is my life ever going to be "real" anyway? It doesn't have to be. I like getting paid for hugs.
So there you have it :) Jennifer Lauren Hollingshead is going on a mission.
