Well, this blog is rather
straightforward. This will be a way, if you want, to keep tabs on me as I go to
serve my church in the Philippines. I'll be living in the northernmost point of
the Philippine islands for a year and a half, and before that I will be
attending a crash-course of sorts at the Provo, UT MTC (or Missionary Training
Center.) The MTC teaches young missionaries the lessons they will be
teaching as well as the language they will be speaking, if they are to speak a
different language. Depending on language studies a missionary can stay in the
MTC for 3-6 weeks, sometimes more if truly necessary. I will be in the MTC for
6 weeks- in which I will do my best to learn the material and the language as
well as adjust to mission life.
This upcoming year and a half, I am
quite certain, will both be the hardest and most trying times as well as the
most joyous and educational experience of my life to date.
My decision to go on a mission is a
rather involved story. I grew up singing 'I hope they call me on a mission'
while thinking to myself "yeah right." When I was eight and was
baptized I still thought "Twenty-one is too old! Surely I'll be married by
then!" (Nowadays most young men serve at the age of 18 and young women
serve at age 19, but growing up brothers served at age 19 and sisters served at
21.) When they changed the age for serving missionaries my only thought was
that it would be easier for young women to serve, and how nice it was for them. I
wanted nothing to do with a mission, until about a year ago.
I began to
have a desire to become one with a people and a culture I know nothing about. I
thought about it quite a bit and decided that something I would like to do for
a living is integrate myself into a culture and write about it.
Because you can go and visit these places but I don't truly see and appreciate a
culture until you've immersed in it. And what better way to immerse in a
culture than to serve them?
The Lord has been changing my thoughts and desires to
fit His plan for years now, and He has also been preparing me in a way
that will be a comfort to my dad. I think it was my freshman year of high
school when I became obsessed in wilderness survival. So now that I have an
entire shelf dedicated to the art of being a hermit in my personal library Dad
will know that if I do end up lost in the jungle or whatever I will be able to
not only navigate my way back to civilization but be able to care for
and provide for myself in the jungle. I don't expect to get lost, but here
is for hoping. (I'm kidding dad!)
The true reason I am serving this mission
is because of the joy I have received through my religion and its corresponding
lifestyle. Doctrine and Covenants 4:3 says “Therefore, if ye have desires to
serve God ye are called to the work.” I believe in this church, I believe in
this gospel and I believe in Christ. I know that God speaks to us today through
modern prophets and that they are truly called by Him. This scripture
(thankfully) does not say anything about being good at speaking foreign languages
or being able to talk to people- both of which I am not the best at. All you
need is a desire and the Lord will help. I love that.
Most of y’all know this, but for those who
don’t, once on my mission communication will be limited. I’ll be able to email
every Monday or Preparation day (P-day) as well as be able to make a few limited
phone call home on Christmas and Mother’s Day. My ldsmail will be posted on
this site if you wish to email me, though keep in mind that if it is 3:00pm in
Texas it is 7:00am in Laoag Philippines. So if you email me on your Monday I
may not get the email until the next week.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, your support means
so much to me.
Sister Mikella Eldredge
Laoag Philippines Mission 2016-2017
