A L P I N E . M I S S I O N

The words were so blurry I couldn't read my assignment on my own. So, over Skype, my father read me the words that turned my life upside down:

You are hereby called to serve in the Alpine German-speaking mission. 

I report to the Preston, England MTC on

November 28th, 2013.

And just like that, my life was flipped right-side-out.

Everyone always joked about how funny it would be if I were to be called back to Germany, but I was never sure about that. But the second I heard (and partially saw) I had been called back here, the first thing I thought was "of course!". It made all the sense in the world that I would serve here!

I took three years of German

I've studied European history for... I don't even know how many years.

I decided to take time to live in this country for 9 weeks.

I have family here.

My mom's family is from here. 

I love Europe.

My mission covers the Romance language countries (Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic)

And I've had the chance to make connections to this country that I wasn't ready to give up when I had to go home.

It's funny how things just turn out the right way in a blink of an eye. Suddenly every event in my life fit- it all made sense. I didn't have to study German, and I most certainly didn't need to live here for the summer. But I chose those things. I didn't consider them prayerfully (although maybe I should have considered my long stay prayerfully) and somehow, everything still turned out the right way. 

God has a plan for us. And He is perfect. Our lives will turn out to be everything else we didn't have the imagination and hope to dream of through Him. It will be one thousand times more glorious than our wildest dreams. As long as we have faith in His divine power and timing, we needn't worry. 

I also find it special that I received so many answers to prayers while being here- so many answers pertaining to my mission. So many fears about attending the temple and whether I could possibly do this massive work were answered for me here. It's a special place to me because I received answers here. I made friendships here. I grew to love it here. It's so perfect- He is so perfect. This gospel is so perfect. This work is so perfect- so perfect for me. 

I can't wait to get out there and serve the people of Germany. I've got a feel for what they're like, and I consider that to be one of the hugest blessings. 

Although my departure date is probably the worst one I could have got (1. I leave on Thanksgiving Day, and 2. My parents and family fly out to Cozumel for my dads Ironman two days before I get set apart), I know that things will work out. If I have to leave 2 days early and stay with family in England, so be it. If I end up having to postpone my mission by 6 weeks, that's what the Lord needed me to do, and I'll do it :) If I really do only have 2 weeks in the MTC to learn German, I'm sure the gift of tongues will be something I'm blessed with. 

Live happy. Trust in the Lord. You are loved.

Sister Gilmour