Hello World. (copyright J-Key)

Or maybe more accurately-- Hello Mexico. Hello Belize. Hello San Salvador.

So I am going on a mission. And my lovely mother (really she is AMAZING! lets get a round of applause for Jackie please ladies and gentlemen) will be keeping up this blog to update all who are interested in what is sure to be a high-action thriller. Seriously I am guaranteeing some awesome money-in-the-bank posts and lots of lucrative compensation and awards and accolades to those who will read this.

Now that I am a liar and have secured Suzanne's and my mom's loyal readership, I'll continue. (and maaaybe my  Hawaiian father's?? That is you Alesna!)
Seeing as this is my very first blog post, I want to explain a little bit about the mission and my decision to serve.

A LDS (Mormon) mission is two years for men, and 18 months for women. What do we do on a mission??? Wow great question, because let's be honest (#ondreek) its a weird thing for a 21-year-old girl to do. But the answer is fairly simple. As a missionary, I leave everything in my current life behind. Family, friends, music, running, education, hunger games 2,  guitar, volleyball, netflix, facebook, 'Merica, boys, kissing (those last two are for you Dad. HAHA jk jk). Then for the duration of 18 months, I focus solely on teaching people about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Day in, day out. With service projects thrown in.

There is no doubt that there are a lot of pressing physical needs to be met in this world, but I believe that the single most important thing in this life is the souls of men (men=old fashioned speak for every man, woman, and child). I also believe that peace, joy, and contentment come from knowing that God the Father and Jesus Christ live and doing as they ask. I PROMISE that's true. I also promise that I would not be serving a mission and TESTIFYING to likely hundreds of people the truth of this gospel if I did not KNOW IT IS TRUE. I know it. I know it I know it I know it. Not of myself, but of the Holy Ghost.

If you're still with me and you have a question or two more...check it out ya'll.
lds.org

It ain't no thang. Only the truth. So people, if you want to know more happiness and joy and peace and light and love than you can POSSIBLY IMAGINE, take a leap. Go for the gold. Read the Book of Mormon. It is cooler than Christian Bale or Macklemore or the Iphone37, or Pike Place Market or even Provo, Ut 84604!! And those are all pretty cool things. Your life will be so much easier. What do you have to lose you know???

And finally. Why am I serving a mission? Another great inquiry because in all sincerity, it has been hard to leave. I am PSYCHED and I know I will love serving these next 18 months more than I have probably ever loved anything in my life ever (and I love a lot of things a lot. Namely my brothers Andrew Scott and Brandon David, Ed Sheeran, the final four, Café Rio, and jamming with Mix Master Nix and Crosh, and panda bears) but that doesn't mean it hasn't been difficult and frightening at times to sacrifice so many things that I love (especially the more meaningful things...like people who I love...). But the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the absolute and full truth. It is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and it is for EVERYONE. Jesus Christ lives and so does God and They love us with a love so complete and encompassing that it is beyond our mortal comprehension. They have so much joy in store for us. Seriously. So much. Sometimes the joy I feel of the gospel is overwhelming!

So while I know these things are true, I am serving a mission because I love my Savior Jesus Christ. Short and sweet. He knows me. He knows me SO well. Better than anyone else. He is in the details of my life and of yours. He sacrificed all for me...and for you. I love Him. And I know that the best way to express my gratitude and love to Him and the Father is by taking Their love to others. That is what They rejoice in. I have been called of God to do this marvelous work. How incredibly privileged I feel for this opportunity to serve the Lord and Heavenly Father with all that I am for a short 18 months. I love everyone!!! And I love the Savior and Heavenly Father! And if what I say is true, then what could possibly be more important? SO. Ya. I can't wait to take this EXCELLENT joyous news to everyone who wants to listen.

Life is good. Peace and blessings. See you in the States in March 2015.