St. Peterburg Russia!! :)

Wednesday my mission call (finally) arrived!

It took longer than I hoped, but it is here now and I am so grateful for it!:)

Wednesday night I opened the big white letter.

"Dear Sister Stone:

"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
You are assigned to labor in the Russia St. Petersburg Mission...

"You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, March 13, 2013.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Russian Language...."

I got this picture from the video-this is the very second I (accidentally!) read ahead and saw where I was going... :)

Another Stone is going to Russia, and this time it's ME-Sister Stone!! :) My oldest brother went to Moscow, Russia.  Now I'm going to St. Petersburg!
I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity! I can't wait until March comes! :)

Here's the video of me opening the call! :)

The Month of Thanks

It is November. The month of Thanksgiving. I haven't been doing the days of thanks like everyone else has. I would need MUCH more than just 30 days!! :) I just want to share some of the most important things in my life that I am extremely thankful for.
1. My Family. Without fail, my family has ALWAYS been there for me in times I am most in need of love and support. Whether it has been in sports, schools, going to Uganda, deciding to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints, etc. They have always been there for me and I know that they will continually always be there for me (which is why my sister is secretly hoping I get my mission call stateside so she can take care of me by sending me care packages full of goodness). :)

2. Friends. Where ever I have been and where ever I will go, I know that I will always be able to make new friends and create long-lasting friendships.  The friends I have now are amazing.  Friends from Elementary School, High School, College, Uganda-they all are super great friends and I know we will always be friends.

"I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light." -Helen Keller

3. My trip to Uganda. This experience provided me with so many opportunities to help in Uganda and also to help myself. I grew so much while I was there. I continued to grow once I arrived back home. The memories made will always be cherished and the friends I made will always have a special place in my heart. I grew to love the people so much. I will go back, and when I do I plan to visit every friend I made. :) I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to go. Uganda is my second home, I miss it so much.

4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In my hectic life of constant changes, there is one thing that never changes. That is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is always there for me, the teachings and principles of the gospel are the same world wide. When I was in Uganda I noticed this even more than ever. Even though I was MILES and MILES away from my ward in Utah, when I went to church in Jinja, I felt at home. I felt the spirit, I was learning about the same things I would have been learning about if I were still in Utah. Nothing was different. It was a little harder to understand the Ugandan's English because of their accent, but it was still so great. I love the church and I have no idea where I would be without it.

5. Having the opportunity to serve a LDS Mission. A month ago, President Thomas S. Monson announced, "Today, I'm pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19 instead of 21." I immediately started my papers, and I should have my mission call by this Wednesday - it is in the mail! For years and years I have wanted to serve a mission. My best friend and I, each year at our birthday, we would say, "Only 5 (or however many years it was until we were 21) to go!" I turned 20 the day before the announcement; with it, I received the familiar sentence, "Only 1 more year to go!!" Next day comes along-JK Dawg! I'm going now!! :) I can't wait until I go on the Lord's mission. I can't wait until I get my call (it is KILLING me!)! :)

I know because it is Thanksgiving this month, that that is why we tell the world what we are thankful for, but I think we should always express our thanks for everything we have-not matter if it is November, February, or July. Each day brings a miracle and a reason to be thankful. :)

"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow." -Edward Sandford Martin

I made a video of my experience in Uganda. Three months summed up in about 12 minutes. Go here to watch: http://myadventureinlugazi.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-adventure-in-lugazi_11.html

:)

SNOW!! :)

Yesterday was the first REAL snow of the year for Provo and surrounding areas.  It started while I was in class (at 10am)

The snow that had accumulated at 11:30am when I got home from class.

and didn't stop until after I went to bed (12am). It was snowing non-stop!

Two hours later-TONS of snow and STILL snowing!

I don't know when it stopped during the night, but when I woke up, I woke up to more of a winter wonderland! SO. MUCH. SNOW!

St. George never gets this much snow! It is crazy! Hopefully I will survive!:)
Yesterday, the snow was just so tempting to go play in...so I did.

I dropped my homework and went outside with my roommates and played in the snow! Sarah snowboarded down our intsy bitsy hill, 

and I made snowmen

snow angels, and caught snowflakes!!:)

It is beautiful!

Hiding from Sarah so she couldn't throw a snowball at me. She still did. But the tree saved me! :) it was a large snowball.

I love the parts of snowfields that are untouched by human hands and feet. It's just perfectly even all across and sooooo...perfect! :)
I love snow! Although I know I will be wishing it will be gone soon...but for the moment-I love it. :)
And on an even brighter note! My bishop told me yesterday that my mission call has been ASSIGNED!!!! IT IS IN THE MAIL!!!!!!!! :) :) :) I. Can't. Wait. 4 more days!! :)

The weekend that changed my life!

Almost exactly one month ago my life completely changed.
October 5th I turned 20. With that birthday, these were my thoughts, "Only 1 more year to go until I can serve a mission!"
October 6th came.  First session of conference.  The Prophet got up to welcome us to the 182nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  I just realized that I labeled the date in my journal wrong...it's supposed to say October 7, 2012. Oops. :)

This news that President Thomas S. Monson shared changed my life that morning.

Makes me cry each time! :)

I'm going on a mission.
I immediately set up an appointment with my bishop to start my papers.  I completed them the same day except for the dental and doctor stuff.

 The snacks along the way made it even better - Thank you Amelia and Jon for the delicious birthday gift!

I was finally able to have my stake interview this past Thursday (they have been REALLY backed up so it has taken forever).  They let me push the 'SUBMIT' button that would send my paperwork to the mission headquarters in Salt Lake where they would immediately start processing the paperwork.
This coming Friday my mission call should be assigned.  The following Wednesday, my call should be in my mailbox.

This is the picture that will show up on the wall when they look at my papers!

 This is the face that the Prophet will see. :)

So far there has been a couple of my friends who have received their mission calls already. I am so excited for them!
Shayna- Buenos Aires, Argentina North Mission. Spanish speaking. Enters the MTC January 16, 2013
Kara M.- Hungary Budapest Mission. Hungarian Speaking. Enters the MTC January 23, 2013
Sadie- Norway Oslo Mission. Norwegian Speaking. Enters the MTC January 23, 2013
Shayne- Australia Perth Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC March 13, 2013
Kara T.- England Manchester Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC January 31, 2013
Saya- Nagoya Japan Mission. Japanese Speaking. Enters the MTC January 9, 2013
Amanda- England Manchester Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC January 31, 2013
Kelcie- Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission. English Speaking. Enters the MTC February 6, 2013
Andrew- Texas Dallas Mission. Spanish Speaking. Enters the MTC January 9, 2013

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that has arisen so I can serve my Lord.  I am going on the Lord's mission and I can't wait to know where I have been called to serve Him.
1 1/2 more weeks. Can't wait.
:)

Quote of the day!:)
" I hope they call me on a mission
When I have grown a foot or two.
I hope by then I will be ready
To teach and preach and work as missionaries do.

I hope that I can share the gospel
With those who want to know the truth.
I want to be a missionary
And serve and help the Lord while I am in my youth."
- Newel Kay Brown