Mission Call

I realized halfway through the last post that I hadn't yet said anything about my mission call. However, as it is by far the most important even ever covered by this blog, I figured it deserved its own post. I guess I'll just tell what happened.
On Friday the 19th, I woke up, just like I do every day. I went to breakfast, pushing it for time before my first class at 7:30- Issues of Terrorism. Class was good, we discussed options for counter terrorism and anti-terrorism (there is a difference!). After class, I went back to my room, where I studied... something. Don't really remember. At 11:30 I met Sydney at the bench and we went to lunch, as we do every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We ate something, then I, with deliberate casualness, walked over to the mailroom. Sydney accompanied me. I approached my mailbox, turned the key... and there it was. A large white packet. I pulled it out and read the name on the front: Elder Jarek Taylor Buss. From the Office of the First Presidency. Again, with deliberate slowness, I turned to show Sydney. She agreed to come with me to the temple, where I had decided to open it. We set out on our way...
At this point, we began to meet friends on the way who freaked out at the news and made me swear to tell them my assignment. Still, slowly, surely, we made our way to the temple. Sydney went into the visitors center to await me, as I had determined to open it on my own. I walked behind the temple, onto the grounds behind it, and climbed the hill to the pavilion where I had the mountains behind me, the sea in front of me, and the whole town before me. Needless to say, I said a fervent prayer of gratitude and asked for the knowledge that wherever I was called was right. At last, I set up the video camera for my mom, then opened it calmly. I pulled out the letter and began to read...
Yet, even as I started to read, I couldn't help my eyes flashing to the second line where I saw the words, France Toulouse Mission. I thought, "Ok, France is good. It will be a good mission." Still, I read the line aloud: "Dear Elder Buss: 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 France Toulouse Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months..."
Considering that to be the end of the call, I continued reading aloud without looking ahead, still coming to grips with France- not disappointed, but not ecstatic. I hadn't really considered that I would actually go to France for my mission (kind of a been there, done that attitude). Therefore, my surprise was genuine when, one line later, I read, "You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Mandarin Chinese language." At this point, I think my brain shut off. I became ecstatic. Everything made sense, everything felt right. I was blessed to know that this call is making the most of my skills and allowing me to serve in a way few people can. INCREDIBLE. I stood up, turned off the camera, said a prayer of thanks, and called my parents. I read the letter aloud to them, talked to them, then proceeded to tell everyone I know.
This is the part where everyone started freaking out.
"Oh my gosh!"
"So awesome!"
"No way!"
"France, that's gre- wait, WHAT?"
"There are Chinese people in France?"
"That's perfect for you!"
"I wish I were going on a mission!"
"I'm so excited for you!"
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 preach and teach 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 help the Lord while I am in my youth...