about the time i finished my mission papers and sent them in, i decided to make a list of reasons why i was doing this. going on a mission is hard and it was a big step for me so i wanted to be sure that i knew for myself why i was making this choice. the list went like this:

1. to show The Lord that i have faith in Him and to prove that faith.

2. because i love the gospel and i want to let it bless other people's lives like it has mine.

3. because i can't imagine an eternity without my family, others should be able to know that families are forever too.

4. because it will be hard. i know my testimony and faith will increase.

5. because i feel like it will prepare me to be the best mother i can be to teach my future children.

6. because i need to learn how to be happy and the best way to do that is to serve others. that's a quality i want to master.

7. because it will take me out of my comfort zone and get me to stop thinking about myself which will help me throughout my life. in essence, it will change my life and my habits.

8. because it will teach me how to receive revelation and how to feel promptings from the Spirit and act on them.

9. because it will teach me how to learn and how to better study the scriptures.

10. because i LOVE my Heavenly Father, i LOVE my Savior, i LOVE the gospel and i LOVE the people I will be serving.

looking back on that list, a few points have changed i think. my list has come down to this:

1. i KNOW this church is true.

2. the Lord has work for me to do. it is my DUTY to share the gospel simply because i'm blessed to have it in my life.

3. because i LOVE my Heavenly Father, i LOVE my Savior, i LOVE the gospel and i LOVE the people of the dominican republic.

the first list was actually pretty selfish. it has a lot of points about things i want my mission to benefit me with. they're not necessarily wrong, but now i see that those are NOT the REASONS i'm serving a mission. i'm not serving so that i will come back better. i'm serving to bring the gospel to those who are ready to hear it; to help them be better. 

i'm sure the things in my first list will happen if i work hard. i'll be a better studier, a better server, a better future mom. but that's not my goal anymore. my goal is to help the people i teach become those things.

THE LORD DOES NOT CALL THE QUALIFIED. HE QUALIFIES THE CALLED.