I was stressed to find out that I only had about a week to
turn in my application before the deadline and so I quickly made my video and
sent it all to Salt Lake. To my excitement, I had made the callbacks and traveled
to Salt Lake that December and experienced a day full of the spirit and love
Nauvoo gives to people. To make a long story short, I had made it! I was called
to be a Nauvoo YPM for the summer of 2012. I couldn't have been happier. I was
preparing myself and really working at doing everything I could to be
spiritually, mentally, and physically prepared for Nauvoo.
March 15th, 2012 was a day I will never forget. It was a day
my life was changed forever in so many ways. I had been diagnosed with cancer
called Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Finding myself in a situation where I had no idea
what the future held, I tried my hardest to call upon the Lord for help, guidance,
and support. I knew at this point I could no longer fulfill my duty in Nauvoo
that summer and I was literally heartbroken. There were many times, after
realizing I couldn't go, when I would think, “Why would Father do this to me?
He told me I was supposed to be in Nauvoo this summer.” But I learned so many
things in result of that; the importance of patience, the value in trusting
that The Lord understands the big picture, even if we don’t, and the confidence
that the atonement is real and works in so many ways, even more than just
dealing with sin.
So I lived my life, and went through chemotherapy and,
finally, found myself cancer free and ready to continue with my lifelong plans.
There was a time when I really wasn't sure if Nauvoo was right for me again.
Sometimes I thought maybe I had missed my opportunity. But I decided to
audition again anyway because if the Lord wanted me there than I would follow
His will, and I wanted His will more than anything.
It wasn't until the second callback this year when I really
felt that Nauvoo was really where I was supposed to be this summer. The spirit
of Nauvoo was so strong at that callback, and after I made it again, my heart
sang. The Lord had taught me so many valuable lessons throughout all of this.
But one important one is that the Lord knows what is going to happen. I was
given many personal experiences that proved to me that the Lord always knew I
wasn't going to be in Nauvoo in 2012, but he gave me the knowledge of knowing I
was worthy and accepted to go. And that is so powerful to me. He taught me the
importance of working on the Lord's time, and not our own. I struggled with
this, and struggled to see all my new friends I had made go out to Nauvoo and
serving the way the Lord wanted them to. But I knew that the Lord had called me
to serve in a similar action, but to serve in my home town, and to be an example
to those around me while going through this hard time. I know my Heavenly
Father loves me and is constantly building me up to be the best person I can
be.
I am overwhelmed with humility that The Lord would call me
to be in Nauvoo (twice). It is a sacred and holy place. It has been, and
forever will be, a place I will cherish and love. I pray that I will do the
will of the Lord to bless and influence those who need me out there this
summer. It has been a long time coming for me, and I cannot wait. (:
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