Thursday, September 13, 2012

Called to Serve

Dear Sister Giossi,

You are herby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the El Salvador San Slavador Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

Words cannot express my excitement when I read those words. I'd been thinking about serving a mission for years. I'd heard countless others receive their mission calls to cool and exotic places. I'd spent hours at doctors appointments and filling out paper work and suddenly it was real; I finally knew where I was headed. In the weeks leading up to receiving my call, my family had discussed everywhere from Temple Square, to Jamaica, to Taiwan...but never the tiny country of El Salvador. Yet, as soon as I read it a huge smile broke out and I was filled with joy.

Because my experiences with the missionaries who taught me the Gospel is so meaningful to me (and those young men are so dear to me) I have felt like a mission was for me for a long time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ  with others and watch it change their lives. I cannot wait to build relationships with people and help them in their spiritual growth. Of course I am also excited to learn Spanish...and speak like a total "gringa"

My Mom and Dad will be updating this blog with letters, emails and pictures I send them over the next 18 months. I would love for you to share in my experiences and maybe have your faith increased by the stories of the people of El Salvador (from what I heard they are pretty amazing...but maybe I'm a bit bias).

Love in Christ,
Victoria