Called to Serve

Hi folks, 

Upon the request of many homies, my personal blog has been converted to a mission blog. It will be updated weekly with stories and pictures by my fantastic, technology savvy sister Liz. Mad props to her. However, this does not mean that you can read all about me without sending me updates about you, yes I'm talking to YOU. I promise to respond to every letter and let's be honest, who doesn't love getting mail! 

We will start at the beginning- How/when did I decide to serve a mission? 

Over this past summer, I began to seriously dread the approaching semester. I procrastinated registering for classes somehow convincing myself that perhaps if I did not register for classes the summer would be endless. This was highly unusual for me. I usually LOVE school. In the past I had taken 18 credits each semester and loved my pre-med track. Somehow, something had changed. My parents encouraged to register for a light load of easier classes. Being the oh-so-obedient daughter that I am, I registered for 12 credits and school started once again.

However, I still wasn't happy. A relationship I valued was not going where I thought/hoped it would,  and I was beginning to feel very lost. One night I fell upon my patriarchal blessing and felt myself being nudge in the direction of a mission. I decided to read the entire Book of Mormon within the semester with one question in my mind; to serve or not to serve? I highlighted in yellow anything I felt was an answer to my question. By October 1st, my Book of Mormon was completed highlighted in yellow. I had my answer.  I made an appointment with my Bishop to toss the idea out and I walked out of his office with mission papers.   

Fast forward to Wednesday, November 14th. 

It had been weeks since I had submitted my mission papers (dang 19 year girls clogging the system!) and my Bishop mentioned my assignment had been made the Friday before. If I did not receive my call on this day, I would have been self-assigned to preach from the state pen because I would have shot someone and be doing prison time. To get my mind off the mail, I decided to run a few errands but I came home grumpy from a headache. Low and behold sitting on the mantle was a brilliant white envelope. Finally, it had come! I decided to wait to open my call until 8:30 that night when all my family and close friends could attend. It was a LONG wait. 

Suddenly, there I was standing, tears streaming down my cheeks, hands shaking and envelope in my hand.

"Dear Sister Christine Marie Alley: You are hereby called to serve as a mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Italy Milan Mission...You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Italian language...Report to the Provo MTC on Wednesday, March 20th." 

Instant peace. 

This moment may be coolest experience of my life thus far. My living room was full of family and friends cheering but I did not hear a thing. I was consumed by the feeling of absolute peace that had overcome me. I knew in that instant that I was being prepared to serve the people of Italy long before I decided to serve a mission. 

Soon I will begin this new chapter in my life and I could not be any more excited. Stick around and we'll discover what the next 18 months includes :)

I'd say peace out in Italian but......we'll let the MTC teach me that....

until then, peach out in English :)

-Christine