Mission Call

People have been clamoring for me to update my blog, so here goes! I couldn't think of what to write about until I realized that I hadn't written a post about the mission call yet... Woops.
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I have been called to the Czech Prague mission. I leave December 16th and I will be speaking Czech! My mission covers both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, so there's a good chance that I will spend some time in Slovakia as well.

I got my call around 3:00 PM on Wednesday, 26th of August just 9 days after my Stake President had submitted the papers to the First Presidency. I wasn't expecting it until the week after, so this was quite a shock! As soon as I got it, Olivia, Joseph and Scott just wanted me to open right then and there! I told them that I would wait until the parents got home. (At the time, I didn't realize that they wouldn't be home until 8:45 or later that night! I know it was just over 5 hours, but man it was killing me!)

I spent the next hour or so inviting my brothers and sisters, grandparents, and some other family members to come to the house at 9, which is when I decided I would open my call.

Grandma Peterson

Grandma Jensen

Grandpa Peterson, Daryl (cousin), Olivia (sis-in-law)

Most everyone was there by 9, but we were still waiting for my brothers and sister to get back home. So we talked for 15 minutes or so, and when Scott finally walked in the door, we were pretty anxious.

Scott (Can you tell it runs in the family?)

I had made a decision beforehand that I would open my call alone, in the privacy of my room, and then come up to tell everyone else. I wanted a minute or two to adjust and feel the Spirit that was present when I opened the call and to just share this moment with my Father in Heaven and my dad, Kevin, who I know is up there watching me and is proud of the choices I am making.

So, before I went downstairs we went around the room and had everyone say their guess as to where I would be going. A few said Florida, some said Brazil/Mexico/Peru/etc., some others said Africa, my parents both guessed Canada, others said Sweden/Germany/East Europe and pretty much everyone joked, "Boise, Idaho" (I hadn't heard that one before!)

Once I was down in my room, I knelt down and said a prayer asking for the Spirit to be present and to confirm that this call truly came from the Lord. By this time, my hands were literally shaking with anticipation. I got up and sat down on the chair. Grabbed the envelope and slid the letter opener across the top of the envelope. (I remember thinking, "Uh oh, what if this isn't my call? What if they are just asking for more information or something?!?) When I saw the call packet, I knew that this was it. My call. This moment, 19 years coming, was finally here! I turned over the envelope and read the letter.

"Dear Elder Peterson,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Czech Prague Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months."

Whoah. Czech Prague? Czech Prague?!? CZECH PRAGUE?!? NO WAY! I had to read the letter 3 or 4 more times to make sure that I had read what I had read!

I immediately grabbed the call and ran up the stairs to tell the family gathered around. The feeling in the room was electric! As soon as I read the first few lines, the room erupted in cheers! Hugs all around! I must have smiled for an hour straight! The bishop wanted to know right away when I opened my call, so I called him. Then I called a few other people that night, but it was getting fairly late, so I decided to call everyone else the next day. I had planned to call all my Aunts and Uncles that night and tell them personally first, but I found out that right when I opened my call, my mom and sister had texted everyone in the family en masse! Haha, so much for being the first to tell them. :) That's okay though. I still gave them a call, and I can't blame my sister or mom. They were just so excited!

The call!

And ya. That was the night I opened my call! Sorry, it's kinda long again. I swear, I never plan to make these blog posts this long! It just kinda happens. :) So, hurrah if you made it through to the end. I will write another short post sometime soon I hope. Have a great day!


P.S. This is a picture of my little niece - Lola Monroe Elgan, just a few weeks old when I opened my call. She's going to be so big when I get back!

Lola and I

Also, thanks Brein for taking these pictures! You're great! :)