I know I am not on a mission yet, but I decided to get the ball rolling with my mission blog a little early :)

The last little while has been pretty incredible!  I am finally counting down the hours rather than the days :)  This morning I went to Alta High School's Seminary to practice teaching and it was a lot of fun to see people's reactions when I told them I would be leaving tomorrow.  I am really glad I had the chance to get a little practice in because every time you teach you learn so much more!  Initially I was a little nervous to be there because I wasn't sure if I had made the right preparations or if I was supposed to bring someone with me to be my companion.  It turned out to be really great though. I saw some people that I knew and even ended up teaching with one of the girls I went to high school with.  Everyone keeps telling me that because I am already 21 I will have a lot of responsibility to be an example to the younger sisters, but it didn't take long for me to realize, after teaching with this sweet girl, that I would be learning a lot from the younger sisters' examples.   She did an amazing job and will make a fantastic missionary.  Best of luck to you Bronte Baird!  The people of Japan are lucky to have you headed their way! :)

I can't believe I am being set apart tonight!  I have honestly been talking about serving a mission for years now and in just a few more hours it will actually be happening.  I'll finally be able to do what I have dreamed of doing for so long! I'll admit there were many reasons that made me second guess my desire to serve.  It took quite the process for me to figure out whether or not I really wanted to commit to being a missionary.  I had always worried about the way I would come across to people on a mission.  Let me tell ya, I have definitely heard my fair share of complaints about Latter-Day Saints and have always been concerned about the way people feel around me.  It is important to me to make sure I don't make others feel smothered and judged.   Living the standards of the gospel of the "Mormon" church has brought me so much happiness, true happiness.  That is all I really want to tell people, not, "you're wrong" "you're a sinner" "you need to repent and change your ways."  I hope when I am in Argentina I can be an answer to someones prayer, lend them my shoulder, and grow and learn with them.  I hear the people there are extremely loving and accepting so I am sure I will learn a lot from them. :)  In just over a month I will be able to see Argentina with my own eyes!  How cool is that?!  Ah!  So excited!  :) as great Aunt Aniene would say, going to Argentina is going to be "a grand adventure"