Chyaaa, I read bloggzz.

Hola! Hollaaa! Heeelloooo! 

I read other Sister Missionary blogs.
Whatofit.

They are so inspirational. 

They remind me that it isn't about me at. all. Like 0%. Like I am the least part of the equation when it comes to missionary work. It is Heavenly Father and His child and the Savior and His brother or sister. I am the blessed one who gets to be in the middle of the most amazing, let me repeat, THE MOST AMAZING, (and beautiful and incredible and unbelievable and and and...) life change that anyone could ever, ever have. 

You could say I'm a lucky blessed girl.
Go ahead.

"You are a blessed girl."

I KNOW AND IT BLOWS MY MIND. Absolutely blowsss my mind awayyyy. I live the most beautiful life that I never deserved. 

P.s. YOU are a very blessed person, as well. Indeed. 
Go ahead, you say it to yourself. It's true! :) 


ANYWAYS. My friend Cece, who is currently in the MTC going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, wrote some beautiful words. 

"Something Elder Holland's grandson said I thought was interesting - Jesus sacrificed not only so that we could be with Him, but so that He could be with US. He wanted the joy that only comes with family. :) 

JOYCE TRAN this is for you - Elder Holland said "This is REAL LIFE. This is as real as your life is gonna get. You will never be closer to God, if you do this right. You will never be as close to the Way the Truth and the LIFE." 

He also promised us that there is nothing more important that we could be doing. By definition, this is the most important thing we will ever do. Other things might equal it in importance, but nothing will ever exceed in importance the work of salvation. This is, after all, what God spends ALL of His time doing. Everything God does is devoted to saving His children. It's incredible & humbling to be engaging with God in this His most important work - to bring about eternal life for all of His children."


MMMMMMM. 





P.S. A very big shout out to one of my besties, Ally Bjarnason for getting her mission call to COLORADO, COLORADO SPRINGS! She is going to be absolutely amazing. 

Countdown is 2 weeks, 2 days

Bipolar

When I say that I have a month left, I feel like it's a million years away and I'm like Oh my gggoooddnessss.

When I say that I have four weeks left, I feel like it's tomorrow.

Bipolar feelings. I don't know what to feel.

I am not literally Bipolar.

Countdown is 1 month, 1 day

Life can change in a second.

A lot of lessons can be learned when someone you know is hurt. 

A girl in my Stake and High School was in a terrible car accident. You should know that this girl was the most popular and beautiful girl in the school, but at the same time was a friend to all. She loves everyone, and was seriously a friend to ev.ery.one. 

She was life flighted, went into a coma, and now faces a possibility of a life time of being in a vegetable state. A lifetime, EXCEPT for the fact that she has hundreds of people praying for her, and a Father in Heaven who happens to love her more than we can understand. A miracle is underway here people, if it be God's will. It's all in God's timing. 

I was getting a little angry discussing with my mom how people could EVER complain about ANYTHING, when there was my old friend who can't even talk, look at you, or leave the hospital bed. I just thought that my old friend, out of ALL people needed the most prayers, and that no one that I know could ever feel unfortunate, because at least they can live and do.  

But, I realized something. Even though we really don't have the right to complain, because we really are given so much, it's not just my old friend that Heavenly Father cares about. 

I remember having the worst cough of my life. My roommates told me to get a Priesthood blessing, but I refused, saying that it wasn't a big deal and I could just deal with it. I thought that it wasn't important enough for a blessing. I finally gave in, and my two friends came over. In the blessing, it said that Heavenly Father cares about all of your trials, big and small. (not that we should abuse Priesthood blessings, but this was an important lesson that I needed to learn)

He cares about when you have a cough, when you don't get asked to dance, when you feel depressed after a breakup or a bad grade, and He cares about His daughter in a hospital room facing this huge trial. He's there through all of it, because He cares about all of it. 

Life is a crazy thing. Each day is such a beautiful blessing. Scrolling down Facebook after reading the news, everything honestly seemed so... stupid and pointless. Life could change in an instant. AN INSTANT. 

Who do you love that you do not show your love? What are you not doing, that you should be doing? What dreams are you not fulfilling? How many "I love yous" would you regret not saying or smiles you would regret not giving? 

Reading her posts written by her Father has brought tears to my eyes. He loves her so much. So much. For every plea and beautiful word he says to his daughter, there is another Father, her Heavenly Father, who sent His Son as the ultimate act of love for her. To die for her, so she could live. Who suffered every pain and quiet fear she faces, so that He, our Savior, could face them with her. Right beside her. 

It's the same for you and I.

How grateful I am for Him and for this life.  

Let's be reals

My insides have been bubbly. Like the kind of bubbly that makes you THINK and think reaaal hard, not the other kind of bubbly. 

Something that REALLY REALLY annoyed me was when people would throw others under the bus or point fingers at others pointing out their flaws. Like hellooooo no one is perfect. AT THE SAME TIME I would always look at missionaries or prospective missionaries who are chumps and be like "What are they doing with their lives?! How do they expect to preach the gospel if they aren't living it?" And today it finally clicked. 

I'm a chump. 

LIKE HEELLLOOOOOO. I'm not perfect, no one is perfect. Perfection isn't a qualification to serve a mission, and I am so grateful for that because shooooot I would never be allowed to serve. Realizing how much I have to learn has been overwhelming and like "OH MY GOODNESS TIME IS RUNNING OUT" freaking outness, but deep down I have that desire to serve SO BAD, and I know that if I try my best, Jesus Christ will make me my best. Most missionaries have the desire, so baaasically I realized I'm a hypocrite, that I need to get over myself because I'm a chump, and we ALL, every last one, need Christ. 

Countdown is 1 month, 4 weeks

Nasty vids and amazing vids

I watched a few videos of protesters yelling at people who attended the Hill Cumorah Pageant. (which was a mistake, because they are all so negative and hurtful which does nothing for me or anyone) One had a guy chasing after this family and yelled at them saying "How do you think you're getting into Heaven?" and yelling "Liar," over and over and over. 

How is there so much hate in the world? It makes me so sad for him. 

What if everything we say is actually true?

Then I watched this and it made everything better, because I know that it actually happened. 

Joseph Smith did see God, the Father, and His Son. He did translate the Book of Mormon. He was a prophet of God. I'm not going on a mission to waste my time, to lie, to argue, or to force my opinions people. I am going to invite them to come to Christ. I am going on a mission, because I love them and I want them to know the truth as deeply as I know it. I know that this is the true gospel once again restored to the earth and that Jesus Christ is at the Head of it. There are so many lies and hate, but I know that what I say is true. I hardly take anything seriously, but I take this gospel seriously, because I know that it is true and that it is the source of my happiness. I have so much happiness it is CRAZY! The gospel is good, and it's true, and it's beautiful. I prayed about it, and I know. I know. I have felt it so deep. How grateful I am to have the opportunity to bring others to it to be as happy as I am. 

Countdown is 2 months EXACTLY

Quite possibly the craziest moment of my entire life.

I'll just show you this picture. 

I was seriously going crazy for an hour. 

And the rest of the day if we're being honneessst. 

These are my notes for Elder Cook's talk. It was amazing for the few seconds I could focus. Don't judge me, I JUST COULDN'T DO IT I WAS FREAKING OUUUTTTT


During Elder Nelson's talk, I started to cry BECAUSE it just really hit me how blessed I am and I'm extra emotional this past year. Just a side note, I am almost 21. I will be one of the last elderly ladies (haha jusssttkidding). I thought I was going to be the youngest sister.. who knew. haha

But here is why I cried for reals. 

Someone asked if I would have gone if they made the announcement when I was 19. I really would have in a heartbeat, but not for one second did I feel bitter or mad that they didn't. I could have been home by now, and in school, meeting the friends that I love for the first time, but I know that I am supposed to serve NOW. Not two years ago, not any later, but right now. 

Looking back I am amazed at the perfection in the Lord's plan and how He has been preparing me with those two years that I had. EFY was an experience that I needed to have. BYU-Idaho was the best experience and mission prep I could have asked for in a trillion ways. The Lord knew that there was some fixing to be done in me. The people I met are so close to my wittle heart, and helped mold me for the better. I just can't grasp it. I am left speechless. Now, even though most of my friends won't be at school when I come back, and even though I have to leave my other wants behind, I feel so ready to serve with my Savior and for Him and for everyone I meet with everything that I have. Don't go before you are ready, whatever age that would be. 

I am not perfect, but I know my Savior and have a stronger relationship with Him than when I was 19, and I know what He can do for me. 

The youth I met at EFY, the youth that I LOVE, are absolutely incredible and ready for this. They blow me away with their conversion and their examples of righteousness. I can't wait to serve with them. That's really weird too, BUT AMAZING AT THE SAME TIME. What a privilege it is to serve with such amazing people. 

"God is hastening his work, and he needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light, and the truth, and the hope, and the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an often dark and fearful world... This announcement... is not about you [young people]. It's about the sweet and pure message you are being asked to bear and the ever greater numbers God needs to bear it. ” -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

This church is so true. 




Some of my favorites :) These are from my notes, so they aren't exact!

"Go to the rescue to the lost, the least, and the last." -Elder Robert C. Gay

"My testimony is my soul's greatest treasure." -Elder Robert C. Gay

"Jesus Christ... I can't see it. Instead, I see Him purposefully living each day. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He gave them the precious gift of His time." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Don't be the boy who dipped his toe in the water and claimed he went swimming... We are capable of so much more. We must do, we must become." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"President Monson is someone who focuses on the one, but has a heart for the whole world." Someone on the commercials. haha

"Those suffering... (and then something about) same sex attraction needs love, not ostracizing or hate." -Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"The comfort we all need is that He lives, that He loves us, and that His mission is to bless." -President Henry B. Eyring

Then he said that BYU-Idaho is the Lord's school, so hollaaaa :) hahaha

"The Lord's delays are always calculated to bless." -President Henry B. Eyring

"What is important is seen with the heart; what is unnecessary is seen with the eyes." WHICH WAS MENTIONED TWICE! -Elder Walter F. Gonzalez

"Did not my life and my love touch you more deeply than this?" -Elder Holland meaning, to me, to do more.

Every characteristic in Elder Hales talk on what it means to be a Christian is what I want.



Basically, I was so blessed by this General Conference. I love how it emphasized things that I NEEDED to hear in seriously every talk and things that I need to work on with how to get there. It was just perfect. 

Countdown is 2 months, 5 days

Oh. my. goodness.

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOxamillion

EXXXCCCIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTEEEEEDDDDDD!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Let me just say reaaal quick, that I am ecstatic. I am so excited. Oh my, oh my. This is going to be the best adventure eva eva. One of my other dreams is to travel the world and meet and love people EVERYWHERE and hold orphans and see beautiful things and it sometimes hurts my heart, because I see everyone else living that dream, but NO. That will come someday. For now, 

this is the real dream. 
This is the best dream (for me) 
and I have my Father in Heaven and my Savior to thank 
for helping and bringing me to one of the most beautiful dreams I have ever dreamed. :)




Countdown is 2 months, 1 week

Carrie Underwood is so cooool

This is so pretty. 

Not only is her voice pretty, it's so nice to see so many people love Jesus Christ. 

There are so many different beliefs among Christians, but we all believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior. 

He died for us and loves all of us, Christian or not.

It's true. :) 

Countdown is 2 months, 1 week

Temple day is happy day :)

Today was my day to go to the Temple :)

It was amazing.

I don't know why they're sideways. Whatair. 

On my way! SO HAPPY ON THE INSIDES!

Las Vegas! So pretty :)

Don't let anything get in the way of you getting there.

It is so worth it. :)

Countdown is 2 months, 2 weeks, 5 days 

Haircut!

Long hair on the mission didn't sound great, so one morning I cut it all off :)

BEFORE 
mess.

Bye byeee nine inches

AFTER

Countdown is 2 months, 3 weeks, 1 day

Your Call is awesome even if it's to Ogden mhmmm

Would you hate to be called somewhere?

Errbody put yo hands UP

Here is a story from a talk given by Elder Rasband about how each missionary is assigned a mission. It looooks long, but it's so AWESOME and cute and amazing. You'll love it, I know. 

No, but really, this is amazing so take TWO MINUTES out of your time to change your LIFE. haha for reals. 

Do it now.

"Elder Eyring was assigning missionaries to their fields of labor, and as part of my training, I was invited to observe.I joined Elder Eyring early one morning in a room where several large computer screens had been prepared for the session...First, we knelt together in prayer. I remember Elder Eyring using very sincere words, asking the Lord to bless him to know “perfectly” where the missionaries should be assigned. The word “perfectly” said much about the faith that Elder Eyring exhibited that day.As the process began, a picture of the missionary to be assigned would come up on one of the computer screens. As each picture appeared, to me it was as if the missionary were in the room with us. Elder Eyring would then greet the missionary with his kind and endearing voice: “Good morning, Elder Reier or Sister Yang. How are you today?” (SO CUTE, RIGHT?) He told me that in his own mind he liked to think of where the missionaries would conclude their mission. This would aid him to know where they were to be assigned. Elder Eyring would then study the comments from the bishops and stake presidents, medical notes, and other issues relating  to each missionary.He then referred to another screen which displayed areas and missions across the world. Finally, as he was prompted by the Spirit, he would assign the missionary to his or her field of labor.From others of the Twelve, I have learned that this general method is typical each week as Apostles of the Lord assign scores of missionaries to serve throughout the world....Also, having served as a mission president, I was grateful for a further witness in my heart that the missionaries I had received in New York City were sent to me by revelation.After assigning a few missionaries, Elder Eyring turned to me as he pondered one particular missionary and said, “So, Brother Rasband, where do you think this missionary should go?” I was startled! I quietly suggested to Elder Eyring that I did not know and that I did not know I could know! He looked at me directly and simply said, “Brother Rasband, pay closer attention and you too can know!” With that, I pulled my chair a little closer to Elder Eyring and the computer screen, and I did pay much closer attention!A couple of other times as the process moved along, Elder Eyring would turn to me and say, “Well, Brother Rasband, where do you feel this missionary should go?” I would name a particular mission, and Elder Eyring would look at me thoughtfully and say, “No, that’s not it!” He would then continue to assign the missionaries where he had felt prompted.As we were nearing the completion of that assignment meeting, a picture of a certain missionary appeared on the screen. I had the strongest prompting, the strongest of the morning, that the missionary we had before us was to be assigned to Japan. I did not know that Elder Eyring was going to ask me on this one, but amazingly he did. I rather tentatively and humbly said to him, “Japan?” Elder Eyring responded immediately, “Yes, let’s go there.” And up on the computer screen the missions of Japan appeared. I instantly knew that the missionary was to go to the Japan Sapporo Mission.Elder Eyring did not ask me the exact name of the mission, but he did assign that missionary to the Japan Sapporo Mission.Privately in my heart I was deeply touched and sincerely grateful to the Lord for allowing me to experience the prompting to know where that missionary should go.At the end of the meeting Elder Eyring bore his witness to me of the love of the Savior, which He has for each missionary assigned to go out into the world and preach the restored gospel. He said that it is by the great love of the Savior that His servants know where these wonderful young men and women, senior missionaries, and senior couple missionaries are to serve. I had a further witness that morning that every missionary called in this Church, and assigned or reassigned to a particular mission, is called by revelation from the Lord God Almighty through one of these, His servants."

The one on the left is my big brother!

He served in the South Carolina Columbia mission. He will deny it, because he's humble, but he is the best missionary I know. It's not because of baptisms, it's because he worked HARD to find those people and yes, he found a lot. He was and is an amazing instrument and tool in the Lord's hand even though he didn't serve in Madagascar or Tonga. He found those specific  people, BECAUSE he served in South Carolina; the mission where he was supposed to serve.

Wherever you get called, whether it be Ogden, or Russia, or Argentina, or New York :)  just KNOW that you are called there for a reason. It's the most amazing feeling to know that where you are going is where you, YOU SPECIFICALLY, are meant to be. He called YOU to be there. So you point the way back wherever you go, and you have the most golden time OF YOUR LIFE!

Countdown is 3 months, 1 week, 4 days.

Why I chose to serve!

FLASHBACKFLASHBACKFLASHBACK

P.S. Thank you for all of the support!!!!!!! :)

This is me when I was six years old. Actually, maybe I was four here. Whateva.

Around this time in my life, I was looking at an old photo album from my mom who served in Korea. She is white p.s. I remember looking up at my mom and saying to her "I want to go on a mission." Maybe that's actually a lie, but I am pretty sure that is how it happened. 

So all of my life, a mission was in the plans UNTIL I got to college. I went to the most amazing most magical place called BYU-I! (Idaho) I saw a ton of married people and babies at the same time that my desire to serve the Lord in the way I was supposed to was growing. By that I mean being WHERE He wanted me WHEN He wanted me to be there. DO I STAY HOME AND GET MARRIED?! DO I SERVE A MISSION?! DO I HAVE BABIES (After I get married)?! And so I prayed, and I prayed hard.

My answer didn't come as a huge manifestation. I didn't get proposed to. I didn't all of a sudden know that I was supposed to serve a mission. INSTEAD, I received my answer "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little..." (2 Ne. 28:30) I would start to tear up when someone started to talk about missionary work, when I watched mission call openings on Youtube, and when I looked at longer skirts... but for reals. I felt that peaceful and warm buttery feelings on the insides that going on a mission was what I was supposed to do, and still feel the Holy Ghost testifying to me that this is what I should do.

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT GOING ON A MISSION? ooorrrr HAVE YOU DECIDED NOT TO GO ON A MISSION? 

I love when sisters stay home and get married instead. I also love when sisters serve a mission for the right reasons. Like I say "The only thing better than every sister serving a mission, is every sister doing what they should be doing." Not serving a mission does not make a girl any less. YOU ARE SOOO AWESOME! Sister Beck came and visited the school once, and said that every girl should PREPARE to serve a mission, because we are all life long missionaries anyways, right? Maybe your choices aren't between staying home and potentially meeting a hubby and serving a mission. Maybe they are to further your career, travel the world, or maybe you don't even have another set option. I have a strong testimony in Heavenly Father watching over our lives very carefully. He knows us, and He knows our needs. I plan on traveling and holding orphans and seeing places and having a family, but right now it's mission time. Pray about it and see. Maybe the Lord needs you somewhere else right now, or maybe He needs you at exactly where you are thinking of being. If you are planning on serving a mission, I am sure you will ROCK ITTTT! If not, I am sure you will ROCK ITTTT too :) Have the best time of your life either way :)

-Joyce Tran :)

Countdown is 3 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day