Called To Serve

I decided to start this blog as a good place to share experiences and stories, we are all in this life together and I feel what better way to learn then to learn from each other (not saying you'll learn anything from me).  Happy reading my friends!

After dealing with making the decision to call off my wedding, move back home and start back at square one. I began to pray long and hard to my father in heaven, I needed to know my next step. I had more options at this point in my life than Id ever had before. During my junior year of high school I had a few experiences that led me to decided that going on a mission was my ultimate goal. I  knew that I love my savior and that I love this gospel so my plan was to serve.

So here I was, single, mission age, scared and wondering why in the world the Lord wasn't just telling me what to do? I prayed and prayed but I felt that there was a major disconnect. After many long tear filled conversations with my Dad (shout out to the most amazing man on the planet) I knew I needed to make a decision. Thats when I really got stuck. Im not the best decision maker, and by that I mean I over think, over complicate and stress over something as simple as "where do you want to eat?". So trying to decide what I was going to do, a decision that could ultimately affect my entire life. But I did it I made a decision (sort of) I decided about half way through April to open and start my mission papers. It took me about a day to have them filled out, then another week to get all of my doctors appointments in and yet I still waited to hit submit.

As stared at my papers I constantly thought about why I wanted to serve and who I was serving for. Then I stared to question, why did I never get that moment, that moment when everyone knew they were supposed to serve. The AHA moment when it all becomes crystal clear and all of the fear diminished and it was replaced by that "missionary glow". So I changed my mind. I decided to stay, I'd go back to school, live my life all would be well. But I knew, in my gut all would not be well. Then I changed it again and again to the point where I could almost see my moms head spinning (sorry mom). I was a scared, nervous wreck.

I again found myself on my knees, I was torn between the completely unknown and the comfortable known. Sitting in the car parked in the driveway sobbing to my dad about how scared I was to make a decision and choose the wrong thing. He patiently reminded me that I don't need some big thing, some bug moment where the Lord slaps me upside the head with a prompting. Ive been given little special moments that can help nudge me in the right direction. He also said something that I will never forget. Just because you're scared, afraid or nervous that doesn't mean the Lord is telling you no. As I thought over and over about this conversation I began to realize how happy I got every time I thought about serving the Lord. Any time I thought about how amazing the gospel is and how it has the power to completely and utterly change a persons life. Then that was it I hit submit.

The very next Sunday I found myself sobbing in the stake presidents office as I told him about my love for the savior and this gospel (I'm a total crier sorry). 9 am the next morning I got the text saying my papers were submitted and all I had to do was wait.


On May 25th 2017 just 11 days after my papers were submitted, I finally received the letter that would change my life. Unfortunately, my Momma was partying it up in New York so I very impatiently waited until the 27th to open it. After what seemed to be the absolute longest shift at work I got home and quickly helped to get everything ready.

About 10 minutes before I was supposed to open the letter that would determine where I serve for the next 18 months I started to feel overwhelmed and nervous. Like I said I'm a total crier so the tears started to come as I saw the faces of the people who mean the world to me flood my house. As I stood in front of all of them, call in hand I had my moment. I looked at everyone in front of me and realized , I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have a perfect Savior who sacrificed his life so I can spend eternity with these people. I knew right then and there that no matter where I served whether it be Boise Idaho or Russia I'd be doing the Lords work. I'd be able to share this knowledge with everyone, they would be able to have this feeling of intense love that I was experiencing.

Shaking I began to tear open the envelope. I carefully pulled out the packet and the letter I went to cover my letter so I could read it line by line. As I flipped over my call I caught a glimpse of where I was going. But at that quick glance I read Boston, so here I am heart racing and thinking okay, Boston thats an amazing mission! Its stateside, two day amazon prime delivery and the same time zone as my family. I was good. Sobbing I started to read:

Dear Sister Vail:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Baltic Mission. 

My heart completely stopped. The Baltic Mission? Was that still in the US? Is this a fake call?
I continued on:

In addition to your assignment to share the gospel, you will be assigned to serve in the Latvia Mission Region. 

Um Latvia? Thats definitely not in the US. Maybe its still english speaking?

It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 16th. You will prepare to teach the gospel in the Latvian language. 

I was pretty sure I was going to faint at this point. Latvia? Where was that again? What the heck does Latvian even sound like? Maybe this is still a fake call? But as I looked at my mom who was too stunned to speak I knew it was true. I quickly turned to find Latvia on the map, and there it was. Nestled in between Estonia and Lithuania, and neighbors with Russia.

Over the course of the last few days Ive been constantly googling, Trying to learn everything I can about the place Ill call home for 18 months. I can tell you right now I'm extremely nervous and terrified about learning the language, But I couldn't be more excited to share this wonderful gospel and serve others.

Now, I'm grateful I never had my AHA moment because I wouldn't trade a single one of my little testimony trying, faith building moments for one big AHA moment. Im grateful for this gospel and I feel so blessed to know that I've been trusted to share my ever growing testimony with the wonderful people of Latvia.