by small and simple things great things are brought to pass

Just a little pre-mish background info...

Growing up I always flirted with the idea of going on a mission, but never really made an effort to prepare for one. I started college at the University of Utah my freshman year preparing to go into Occupational Therapy and after that my plans did not include time for a mission. After my first semester I realized that I was not very happy at the U and started to look for other things to do. My first new idea was to go to Salt Lake Community College and become an Occupational Therapy Assistant. I took a summer course in Anatomy at the U... BIG MISTAKE (but also good). I bombed the course but also realized that OTA was not something I would want to do for the rest of my life.

I decided to change my major to elementary education, (like every other girl in Utah), and I started another fall semester at the U but also took a few classes at SLCC. I was going to stick it out at the U and apply for their elementary education program during my junior year.

Then one fateful day in October, President Monson announced the age changes for missionaries. I had a plan though! I was going to finish school in four years and I couldn't take a break from that. Nevertheless, I kept feeling like I should talk to my bishop about preparing for a mission. This was not a very exciting thought. During my freshman year of school I hadn't been very active. I was working full-time and felt the need to sleep in instead of going to church at 9AM. After moving in with my cousin in April I finally started going to church more regularly, but still felt nervous to talk to the bishop.

I finally plucked up the courage to visit my bishop AND..... after talking to him I felt like I shouldn't go on a mission. But, I had talked to him and that was what I needed to do.

Then I made yet another move in November and started to attend the Murray YSA ward. Let me just tell you, this has been my favorite ward EVER.

A few months later, in January, I started to have that little mission prompting again, and I was like, "uhm, what the? What is going on? I already tried this and I am not supposed to go!".

I had just started going to school full-time at SLCC and had been accepted to Utah State University for the fall and I was in the middle of applying to their awesome Elementary Education program. I had a great job (during school) and was not expecting any other changes.

However, I prayed about the promptings, I asked my family to pray, I reread my patriarchal blessing, and studied my scriptures. There was one day where about a thousand little things happened that practically screamed, "SHYLIE, GO ON A MISSION". OK.. Geez... so I started doing little things to prepare myself and I met with my bishop and... I started my paper work!

After that everything just seemed to fall into place. I seemed to be taken care of financially, I was accepted into USU's Elementary Ed. program and my advisor was able to help me defer till I come home, and my family of course supports me 100%.

In February I submitted my papers and my call came on Feb. 20th!!! Except I had to wait till Feb. 21st to open with my family. One whole day. That was not easy. I drove home with my envelope seat belted in the passenger seat...



My parents had a big map with guesses from family and friends as to where I would go!

I opened my call that night and was so surprised to read "Missouri St. Louis Mission"! I would never have guessed, but now I know there is no other place I would rather go and this is exactly where the Lord needs me. I was so surprised while reading it that I actually read "Louis" as Lou-ee... heh. Oops. It took a minute for everything to soak in and about five minutes after sitting there and listening to people around me talk I just started bawling. I couldn't stop! My face was bright red and I was bawling in front of everyone. It was crazy.

So, then I found out that my mission is bordering my uncles old mission that is bordering our cousins old mission that is bordering my other uncles mission! Richardsons are everywhere! But seriously.

Bah, so my mission is English speaking (thank goodness!) and I was called to go on June 19th, but then some time in March I was looking in my missionary portal and it looked like there had been a mistake with the number or days until I enter the MTC, there were too few! Oh, nope no mistake, I just wasn't told, my report date has been changed to June 5th! So happy and nervous about that. I will have less time between when I move home and when I leave! But that means I can start earlier!!

On April 13th I went through the Salt Lake City Temple with a ton of people from my family. It was so awesome and I can't wait to go through several more times before I leave.

Right now I am finishing up finals and graduating next week. I am also trying to pack and going a little crazy! I am trying to save up more money because the good financial situation I was in fell through, but I know that having that security while filling out my papers is one of the reasons I submitted and I know that everything will be taken care of. I am so excited to serve a mission!