Waiting for a Mission Call

Even with the shining examples of Job, the prophets, and the Savior, we will still find it challenging to wait upon the Lord, especially when we cannot fully understand His plan and purposes for us. That understanding is most often given “line upon line, [and] precept upon precept.” -Elder Robert D. Hales; General Conference, Oct. 2011

At least I know now that what I am doing is useful for something greater than myself. I know that day by day, I am important enough to be granted the wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord as a missionary. This realization hit me today, "Sister Simons, you're going on a mission!!! You're going to be Sister Simons for a bit longer." I don't really know why its taken me so long to comprehend but maybe its because it wasn't the "right" timing yet. Understanding that I need to go on a mission

My mission papers were submitted on Wednesday morning sometime, because my Stake President interview went through on Tuesday. During my interview I honestly broke down and cried, this man who was my Stake President I had never met EVER... so I went to the temple on Tuesday morning and fasted all day. It was not an easy task, but I knew that if I was to do the work of the Lord in the future I better have started to getting prepared yesterday. I walked in to the Clarke building, being prepared for my interview and waited for about 10 minutes. while the Stake Pres. was in an interview with someone else. I spoke with a young man named Tanner, who had served his mission in Brazil and needed to have his temple recommend renewed. I told him a bit about myself, my conversion story and spoke to him about my ankle surgery, tumor removal. He was amazed that I was serving a mission and told me that he was excited for me and I would be great! (Okay... so my thought process was how, would one guy telling me that I would be great help me to be a great missionary?)

It was the faith that these people have in me, I have given myself so much negative self talk that I haven't seen it for myself. Sometimes we all go through this, I don't want to be prideful so I'm going to tell myself that I'm not good enough... ("You're lying to yourself, don't be an idiot and continue to listen to that little man downstairs!!!")

So as I continue to wait for my mission call, to see where I will be preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ I have gotten anxious. I have been waiting 2 yrs. since I joined the Church to serve a mission, now my previous and current (ankle surgery) health concerns could possible hold me back. It makes me upset that there is nothing in my power that I can do. I have to rely upon the Lord to direct me, by being patient and continuing to live everyday doing the small but simple things I will be successful and prepared. Today I spoke with my Mormon Mommy (Momma Moody) about Christmas plans, the mission stuff she told me to avoid checking the mailbox for at least 2 weeks. (If not longer if my Stake Pres. calls to tell me that they need more information about my health concerns) I was thinking to myself about how I will continue to check the mail probably everyday until it comes. Not because she told me to do this, I wanted to be a down-right deviant I just thought I want my call the second it comes.

A man in the temple today told me to read this talk from Elder Hales, I decided I would do so before I go visiting teaching. After reading this talk I then decided not only what my visiting teaching message would be about. I also learned that if I CONTINUE to be patient my call will come. Not based on my time, but based on the Lord's time and when He fells is the best time for me to receive it. It will come because my papers are in, I just have to have faith that it will be when I need to have it and to where the Lord's needs ME the most to represent His Church and to represent the 12 Apostles.

Mission Adventures

On the mission to go on a mission things have been pretty rough, recently there have been nights where I lay awake thinking about how my life would have been changed if I would or wouldn't have listened to the Spirit, which is so strongly present in my life. Though being so happy with where I'm at as helped.

Giving up being in relationships, spending money on dumb things, just understanding the presence and the knowledge as to why I'm here as all contributed to the peace that I now have with me everyday.


I made three goals after my ankle surgery and have stuck to them for the most part:
1) Attend the Temple at least once a week, but try to go twice.
2) Do more Family History work
3) Do P90x and get more in shape, eat better before I go on the mission
(Working on this one b/c of the ankle, I am now in a boot... which makes it difficult to be physically active!)

These goals have helped to make sure that throughout the trials I have been facing, it makes it easier to avoid the influences of the adversity, keep my eyes on the prize. (Mission!)

I have my Stake President interview next Tuesday and hopefully everything goes well... not because I'm a sinner, yet all the health concerns that I carried around like a heavy backpack could possibly slow me down. Praying that everything works out, it as to this point. So why would I be getting up hope now?

If you told me 2 yrs ago that I would join the "Church of the Mormons"- The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints, I would have laughed in your face called you crazy and walked away. But its been the biggest influence in every decision I've made following it and I wouldn't change a bit of my past or a but of who I've become because of the things I've endured. It hasn't been easy by a long shot, it has definitely been so worth it!!! I have the opportunity to teach those who have been searching for truth in their lives, just as I was. Even though I know I will have doors smacked in my face no matter where I'm called, I know that this gospel is true and there is one person on mission I will find and help! I was that "one" a while ago, now its my turn to give back. I have endured a tumor in my jawbone, an ankle surgery after 4 sprains... being on crutches for 6 wks. I have gone through people telling me that I just need to give up, go back to Kentucky or get married. I have endured Hell in return for nothing more than the comfort of knowing that my Savior cares, that serving a mission is something that He wants me to do at this point in my life. The adversity has thrown so much at me and those around me, I know that this is based on the simple reason that I have been fighting this fight since before my existence on earth, we can all defeat Satan and his ways.

Now it is my time to seek out why I am here to help others, teach them the things I have learned. It will not be easy, as was the past. But definitely worth it, so much! I hope that all of you who read this blog entry will know and understand the seriousness I have behind my testimony and that you always know that Heavenly Father loves you and thinks about you everyday. There are bad things that happen within our lives, He and the Savior are there to help us seek out the positives in the mist of the chaos.

Almost there

Source: goforwardwithfaith.blogspot.com via Shantae on Pinterest

Tumor Removal Surgery

These are the pictures from my Tumor Removal Surgery. It was in Aug. 2011, performed in Rexburg, Idaho. No side effects from the surgery.

Surgery Update... and Ankle

So as many of you might remember, I sprained my left ankle in Jan. of 2010 playing Church basketball and I ended up being out for the entire season, ended up putting myself through 3 months of Physical Therapy. The Picture is from that original accident. I have been having problems with my ankle since that accident. Then last Winter I sprained my left knee snowboarding... hey, don't judge. At least I was having fun!

Anyway, I went into the Doctor's office to see why I'm still having trouble with my knee and why I happened to have sprained my ankle 4x in the last month?!?! I mean, its a logical concern. The Doc. is actually the Bro. of Dr. Brian Lee, who did my oral surgery for my tumor which I had removed. I am cacner-free, if you didn't already know that!

Sorry, I didn't update my blog since the last post. So much as being going on, between school starting. Trying to get over the idiot that I met in California (you know who he is...) and just the typical stresses I am facing with filling out my mission papers, facing Satan's influences on a daily bases. So I apologize!!!

Its kinda awesome to think about the way Nicole suggested today: "Alex, Heavenly Father is trying to turn you into a Super Human before your mission so that you can continue to fight off Satan." Is that really what it is? The reasoning behind all this pain I'm experiencing now just a preparation for fighting off those horrible influences. Is this just the beginning? Or is this the way I'm going to be tempted in every way possible? Either way, I'm strong enough. I'll make it through this trial, prevail! Just like I always do before.

I'm going to all 4 sessions of General Conference, so it should be an interesting experience staying with Andrew and his family. More updates to follow.... also I'm going to post the pictures from the Oral Surgery!

Scary Stuff

Yesterday, I went to the Dentist and while I was there, I explained to them how I started on my mission papers and they mentioned how it would be a good idea to go ahead and get the x-rays out of the way. Once they took the panoramic x-ray of my mouth the dental assistant noticed something that wasn't normal. I also received a blessing that explained how it was a tumor. However the tumor was non-cancerous and how it would have to be removed and yet I would still be able to serve my mission. I would be a great missionary for the Lord and I was a chosen daughter of our Heavenly Father. Afterward, I got home and my roommate Nicole insisted on going to the temple. Since the Rexburg, Idaho temple is currently closed for cleaning until August 16th we decided that we would drive to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Which is approx. 25 mins. from our apt. complex. However I had class at 5:00 and it was going on 3:30 already.

We left the apt. at 3:30 pulled into the Idaho Falls Temple parking lot at 4:00. Walked into the temple, did some work and walked out at 4:45, left the parking lot at 4:50. (Yes, we were only there for 45 mins.) Made it back to Rexburg, Idaho in 20 mins. I walked into my class at 5:10, still dropped off Nicole in the progress. It was the most amazing spiritual experience I have ever had while visiting the temple. I honestly don't know if it was because of how strong the spirit was, because Nicole and I both knew that were were suppose to be there, or if it was the confirmation that we also both felt that everything was going to be just fine. You are doing what you are suppose to be doing right now in this life, I approve of everything that you are doing. Continue to keep of the good work, I will continue in striving to help you in your decisions each day.


Today, we went to the BYU-Idaho health center to try and get a second opinion, however she told me to rely on the spirit and go check with my dentist who will then check with the oral surgeon who will decide whether or not I need surgery for this issue, with all of those doctors that was indeed the second opinion. I am not going to doubt Heavenly Father for a minute in this decision, honestly somehow I am always at peace when I have been in these doctors offices over the last few days. I only start questioning what I believe and the confirmations I have been given when others are doing the same, which I have learned is a part of my faith. I need to continue day in and day out to know what I know is true, that I do not need anyone else to confirm the things I know to be true. Because I have witnessed these promptings of the spirit in my heart.

Tomorrow, I will have an appointment for a CT Scan and that will determine what type of surgery will be performed. However as I am trusting in Heavenly Father I believe that it is a tumor, it is not cancerous, life will go on...

I will continue to update my blog as much as I can. However I do not know how much time I will have, how much rest I will need over the next week or so.

100 things to keep in mind!

1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds

2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired

3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly

4. Stick to your budget

5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare

6. Balance your checkbook

7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.

8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them.

9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years

10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others

11. Stay home this Saturday, and finish off that nagging chore that you need to finish

12. Kiss and make up

13. Make a weekly menu, and shop for only those items at the market

14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, and try it for a month

15. Fill up your gas tank when it’s half full

16. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad or mad

17. Pay your bills on time

18. Get an annual physical examination

19. Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day.

20. For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are

21. Give away clothes that haven’t been worn in two years

22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair, and can’t be mended

23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is.

24. Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities

25. Tell the truth

26. Don’t cheat

27. Don’t steal

28. If you’re holding on to a ridiculous grudge, let it go

29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn’t become too large a chore

30. Do your best at work, or at school

31. Don’t eat when you aren’t hungry

32. Eat when you are hungry

33. Be yourself

34. Say no un-apologetically

35. Cook simple meals

36. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses

37. Pay off your car before buying a new one

38. Organise your desk at the office

39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clocks spring forward, and again when they fall back

40. Organize your important paperwork

41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on holiday

42. Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers

43. Have white sheets and white towels in children’s rooms/bathrooms, because they’re easily bleached

44. Spend your time with nice people

45. Avoid drama

46. Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving

47. Turn off the television/video games/computer; they’re time consumers

48. Don’t engage in office politics

49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs

50. Do the dishes right after dinner

51. Never go to sleep angry

52. Ask nicely for what you need and want

53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart

54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger

55. Leave work at work

56. Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy

57. Don’t envy others

58. Have your oil changed

59. Take vitamin C BEFORE you catch a cold

60. Don’t work more than 8 hours per day

61. Weed your garden weekly

62. Wash your car weekly

63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, and do one room at a time

64. You don’t need to be best friends with work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships

65. Don’t drink and drive EVER!

66. Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each.

67. Be friendly with your neighbors

68. Return emails and phone messages promptly

69. Schedule in free time

70. Don’t procrastinate

71. Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it

72. Be more flexible when you’re able to be

73. Forgive and forget. End of story.

74. Break the consumerism habit…put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity

75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won’t also have holiday pounds to lose

76. Take care of any health issues or concerns

77. Have your tires rotated

78. Have your brakes checked

79. Have your eyes checked

80. Don’t let your imagination run away with you

81. Let go of perfection in others

82. Let go of perfection in yourself

83. Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves

84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work

85. Have an alloted amount of worry time per day/week, that you strictly abide by

86. Drink more water

87. Eat more salmon

88. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill

89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style

90. Finish what you start

91. Wear classic clothes and shoes that never go out of style

92. Create a daily routine

93. Have a 1, 5, 10 and 20 year plan for your financial and life goals

94. Slow down

95. Eat out less often

96. When you ask your husband (boyfriend) which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked rather than focusing on why he didn’t like the other one

97. Allow your children to grow up... when and if you have children.

98. Clean out your garage, and donate anything that hasn’t been used in the past year

99. Stretch every day

100. If a relationship is over, let it go

Getting a non-existing ticket

On Memorial Day I got a ticket for running a stop sign that I never even saw, well... I got a phone call last week asking me if I paid $68 to Jefferson County Court and why. . . apparently the police officer never turned in his side of the ticket and b/c of that they dismissed it! O Yeah, that's right... it's like it never happened, I just can't go running anymore stop signs.

Today...

All my good friends have either left for the mission and won't be back in Rexburg for 2 yrs. or they are working at Disney, or in a relationship... these are all wonderful things... I'm just sad and kinda jealous of all you. So I'm just happy that I have 7 months and 11 days until I can submit my papers and I know that Satan is going to throw everything he can throws me and I am going to do everything I can do to fight back. I will succeed, because I have faith in that.

I am going to keep my chin AND not let anything get me down. :)

I found this on Stumbleupon.com

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1FZn9F/phocks.org/stumble/girlsarelike.php/

Girls are like
apples on trees. The best
ones are at the top of the tree.
The boys don't want to reach for
the good ones because they are afraid
of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they
just get the rotten apples from the ground
that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples
at the top think something is wrong with
them, when in reality, they're amazing.
They just have to wait for the right
boy to come along, the one
who's brave enough
to climb
all the way
to the top
of the tree.

The PLAN

I have an awesome plan that I am very excited about... B.S. in Sociology or Social Work and then applying to Grad. School... I found out that UK (University of Kentucky) doesn't require those trying to get a MSW to take the GRE! Yeah, I have a while 'til this can actually happen, they might change their requirements, but hey I have dreams and they are reachable and if I believe that I can do... then what can possibly stop me!