A most wonderful day!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Saturday was a wonderful day!  Kristi and I got up early and went to the temple in Taipei, and that is always a wonderful thing.  We did a bit of souvenir shopping at Chang Kai-Shek Memorial.  We got home from Taipei at around 5:30pm.

After coming up the stairs, we passed the kitchen and Erin informed me that I had mail on my bed.  Could it be!?  Could it be!?  I hurried to my room to find a large envelope on my bed!  That was the most beautiful piece of mail have ever seen!  It was from the Church, of course.  I just had to admire it.  All of the sudden, I felt scared.  I wasn't ready to open it.  I had to feel ready.  Whatever it said in the envelope would change my life and I had to feel ready.  I cleaned my room and went to the lounge to say a private prayer.  The Spirit confirmed to me that whatever the call was, it would be the best for me.

I was driving my roommates nuts with the waiting, but I wanted all of my roommates to be here.  Whitney was absent.  She finally came home close to 6:30pm.  Then I skyped my family, so they could "be there."  I felt a little bad because it was in the middle of the night for them. I don't think they minded, especially for this reason. It had been one day short of seven weeks since I handed over my papers to the Stake President.  It felt like an eternity, but now it is finally here.  My family was on skype and all my roommates were in the room, plus Randy.  Lien filmed the joyous moment.  I openned the envelope and pulled out the letter.  I wanted to read the letter and not cheat and read ahead.  I quickly covered the letter with the other booklet in the envelope.  I read the letter line by line.  (This play-by-play is for those who can't get the video to work.)

"Dear Sister Yancey:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."  Me!  A missionary!  The tears started to flow and the Spirit enveloped me with its warmth.  "You are assigned to labor in the"....

New York New York North Mission!!!!!!

I couldn't believe it!  I still can't believe it.  New York!  Me a missionary in New York!  Everyone screamed when I read it.  The Spirit told me that that is the best place for me and that is where I am needed.  I continued reading:

"It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.  You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, February 16, 2011."  In two months!  That is just so perfect!  But wait, it gets better!  I wasn't expecting this next part.  "You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Mandarin Chinese language."  Are you kidding me!?  Everyone screamed again of course.  That was the cherry on top of the most delicious sundae!  I am so excited!  I am going to New York and I get to learn Chinese!!!