China Hong Kong

I know things happen for reasons. I know that my patience was needed this past week.

As the end of Christmas break approached, I realized that I would probably not be receiving my mission call until I was back in Utah. At that point, I had decided to register for classes and hopefully find out where I would be serving before the 'add/drop' deadline. I still had my apartment contract, no job, and no idea where or when I would be going.

Saturday I flew back to Provo. I procrastinated my unpacking by checking my email and finding someone in town to hang out with that night. A girl had emailed me, interested in buying my contract, and I made plans to go to a movie with Lara and Tyler.

I emailed the girl, took a nap, and headed out to see the movie. Tyler brought a friend from his mission, Cody, and it was essentially an uneventful night.

On Sunday, Bishop Johnston checked for me online and found out that my call had been sent on the 30th of December. I was really excited because, if you do the math, three days (typical mail time, or so I thought) from the time it was sent (minus new year's day and sunday) was the next day. I went to classes, excited because I was certain the call would come and I could figure out my life from that point: no more stress, no more worrying, etc. just preparing.

But I wasn't so lucky. The call didn't come on Monday, but the girl came to look at the contract. Hayley liked it and decided she wanted to buy it. Tuesday she signed the contract, and by Wednesday morning I had cleaned my apartment, packed, and moved all my stuff to Draper. I was honestly pretty excited to go, if only to be able to hang out more with my older sister, Rachel, and also to be able to sleep in my own room.

By Thursday I convinced myself that it the mail would yet again disappoint, and I would be left without my mission call for another day. My patience was being tried and I couldn't figure out why. In all honesty I may never fully understand why. But I was doing what I needed to do to have some semblance of security despite my uncertain near future. I went to classes Thursday morning, checked the clock about every five minutes--probably more if I am honest with myself, and went down to the computer lab in the basement to work on a homework assignment with my friend Sarah.

About a half hour into our work, my phone finally rang. My mom said the letter had come and I asked her to open it. I walked out of the lab to use my phone. As mom read the first line, I heard my dad (who could see it already) say ''wow.''

I knew it was somewhere good.

I had been preparing myself to hear "Idaho Pocatello" or "Nebraska Winter Quarters" or something to that effect. But no, all I heard was China Hong Kong.

China Hong Kong.

Awesome.

Cantonese.

Intimidating.

Mission.

Possible.

So I went back to talk to Sarah. Turns out her brother is serving there right now.

I called my relief society about getting an apartment in the ward. She served in the China Hong Kong mission, and there was an open spot in her apartment, just two floors below my old apartment.

I signed up for a mandarin class (because everyone said it would probably help me since the characters are at least the same) and Tyler's friend Cody is in it.

Things like this don't just happen. I am so grateful that I am being taken care of. I feel so blessed to soon be able to be a part of the missionary work going on in China.


WOW.