Today I spoke with my mission President (President Alba). I just had some questions. He is really kind. I'm very excited to meet him and his wife. I have a picture of the both of them:
President and Sister Alba :)
HERMANA
I'm very excited, nervous too but I can't believe the time is really almost here and that my dream will finally come true. I really hope I can be a good missionary and give my best. I want to be a faithful, obedient, strong and loving missionary. Share what I know it's true with everyone that is prepared to receive this great and perfect gospel :)
This coming Saturday is my Mission Farewell (Mi Despedida) September 1st :)
Well I have to go because I have to sleep. See you :)
Hi :) 22 days till I leave. How I feel? I'm usually very thoughtful and I've been thinking a lot about the lessons :) especially about the Restoration and I've been thinking a lot about the book of Mormon. Why? Well because this is one of the first things you teach an investigator and the first impression is always very important and I want to be able to explain things in a way that people can actually understand me and feel the Holy Spirit because I will teach the investigators, but it is the Spirit who will testify them about the truth but I have to do my part by being ready to answer questions and to explain about this beautiful gospel :) I am very happy that I have the opportunity to serve a mission, I know the mission will help me in so many ways that I can't even imagine. I hope I will be strong and endure till the end of my mission and I hope I can be a good missionary :)
Hello everyone! Well this post is related to my mission. I think I will be talking about my mission a lot!
Today I want to talk about the moment I decided to serve a mission and why?
Everything started when I was 9 years old. My grandma took me to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with her. During this time, I was living in Mexico City.
I fell in love with the teachings I was learning in church especially in "primary" and I decided to get baptize. What a beautiful day that was! Sadly, because of many circumstances in my life, I stopped going to church :(
When I was 13 years old my family and I decided to move to the United States and when we got here one of the first things I told my mom was that I really wanted to start going to church again. I don't know exactly why but it was something in my heart telling me that I needed to start going again.
My mom accepted and I gained a real and strong testimony of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel when I was 15 years old :) I fell in love with the gospel so much and I considered serving a mission but it was just a small desire I had.
One of the first people who inspired me to serve a mission were the wonderful sister missionaries. They were so kind, happy and good to everyone. Their example inspired me and I just wanted to have the opportunity to serve as well. But the moment I knew without a doubt that I wanted to serve a mission was when I was in seminary and I don't remember exactly what we were learning but there was one specific day that I just felt the Spirit very strong and I knew without a doubt in my heart that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that it has the power to change lives. I knew it and I couldn't deny it because this gospel was changing my heart.
THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO SERVE A MISSION!
When I was 15 years old, I knew that I really wanted to serve the Lord. It became a goal that I really wanted to achieve.
Years passed by and I never doubted about serving a mission. I tend to be very indecisive in life but for some reason I never felt like that when it came to serving a mission.
A picture of me when I was 15 :)
When I knew for a fact that I wanted to serve a mission :) (I'm even using my little "future missionary" tag) (so cheesy haha)
The years passed by and...
THEN I TURNED 20 YEARS OLD :)
I only had to wait 1 year, I couldn't believe that after waiting 6 years I only had to wait 1 :)
but that's when real trials starting happening in my life. But even though I suffered, I never doubted about serving the Lord.
Anyway...then the process to get ready started :)
This is when I started filling out my mission application :) (March 20, 2012)
Then, I went to visit the dentist to check prices to have my wisdom teeth pulled out :) (April 3rd, 2012)
After checking a few prices, the day I finally signed so I could have my wisdom teeth removed (April 16th, 2012) THEN THE DAY OF THE SURGERY CAME :)
I was very nervous, I even got a blessing from my bishop the day before because I thought I was gonna die haha (I'm a little dramatic, whatever!!) (April 18, 2012)
During the surgery I didn't feel anything of course but after...oh my!! :) This time I only got 2 wisdom teeth out, I got the last one removed the week after. They only took out three wisdom teeth because one wisdom tooth I had it removed the year before. SO FINALLY THEY TOOK OUT THE LAST WISDOM TOOTH :)
This happened on (April 25, 2012)
and this is how I looked the day after :) haha
My chipmunk face :)
But finally the dental part was over, then I had to go and do my physical test. I don't have any pictures of that though :(
But I was finally done with the part of the application I needed to fill out :) and my bishop Enrique Jesus Campos did so too. So I went to have an interview with my Stake President Melvin Gomez :)
I was very excited because I was almost there :)
(May 20, 2012)
THEN...I TURNED 21 YEARS OLD :)
(Photo taken on June 2nd, birthday on June 3rd)
On June 8th, They send out my mission application :) and 2 weeks later I got it in the mail box :)
(June 21st, 2012)
AND THIS HAPPENED :)
I GOT CALLED TO SERVE IN SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA (SPANISH SPEAKING) AND I LEAVE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH :)
All the waiting was worth it, all I have to go through was worth it too. I still have to wait 2 months to go and serve my mission, the waiting is a little tough but God knows why :)
HERMANA KARLA CHAVEZ
SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA
(SPANISH SPEAKING)
SEPTEMBER, 2012-MARCH 2014
Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of
myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many
mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
Well, my mission call finally got here and I finally know when and where I'm going :) I seriously couldn't be happier, I've been waiting for this 6 years and it's finally here. This pictures were before I opened it. I opened the box mail at 3:50pm on Thursday June 21st, 2012 but I had to wait to open it until 9pm (same day) It was tough the waiting, it was a big temptation having it just right next to me and having to wait some hours to open it but I waited, I wanted my whole family to be there, my friends and the missionaries. It was a very special night and it is something I will never forget :)
But well, when I finally opened it...this is what I read:
I WILL SERVE IN CALIFORNIA, SANTA ROSA MISSION (SPANISH SPEAKING) and I'm leaving on SEPTEMBER 11th.
YAY!!!!!!
I am really happy, the only thing is that I have to wait like 2 more months and that will be a little tough and I'm pretty sure it might seem an eternity for me, but at the same time I am thankful because that means that I have more time to get more prepared and to spend more time with my family and friends :)
The night I opened my mission call, my family from Mexico were in facebook waiting for my mission call to be read, my uncle Benito (who is a returned missionary, the 1st one in our family) was watching me by camera and when I opened it he told me a few words that just really made me want to cry, he got emotional too and he did cry.
Well, I just want to say that I'm very happy. That I feel with a big responsibility right now and that I really want to be a good missionary and just really love the people I'm going to serve, and just do everything the Savior would do if He was in my place! :)
