I was seventeen and I was on the second day of my 19 day church history bus trip with my friend Jessica. We spent three days in Missouri and went to Independence, Far West, Adom-Ondi-Ohman, and Liberty Jail. It was unbelievably humid (especially for this desert girl) but I fell in love with the lush green landscapes, the orange sunsets, and the fireflies. I loved learning about the history of the Saints. I felt the Spirit testify to me that this place was special.
The first thing we did in Missouri was go on a tour of Liberty Jail. I said a silent prayer for the sister missionaries before they led our tour. They spoke with so much power and conviction that tears rolled down my cheeks. On that day four years ago, I decided for the first time that I wanted to be a sister missionary.
What I didn't know was that I would be a sister missionary in Independence, Missouri.
I am thrilled to be heading back to Missouri soon. (And as the following pictures from 2008 demonstrate, one square mile of Missouri contains more greenery than the entire state of Nevada).
I literally took dozens of pictures of grass from the bus. Hello, I'm from Nevada. Our landscapes are brown.
cutest house. maybe I will someday convert its tenants.
definitely the best grocery store I've ever been to. I'M GOING BACK.
the bugs are large there. pray for me.
site of the Haun's Mill Massacre
beautiful sunsets. heinous fashion mistakes. (undershirt over an undershirt? really now, amy??)
Adam-Ondi-Ahman
I'm coming back Missouri! This time I hope to be more well-dressed and less seventeen-year-old-like.
Even though Missouri is sure to challenge me (huge bugs?? humidity? deathly cold winters??), I know that it is exactly the right place for me to serve. I can't wait to start teaching others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 comments:
:) YAY! I'm so excited for you. i just got chills reading the beginning of this. How awesome that you get to go back! missouri is getting one fantastic missionary.
LOVE. Sounds like it was meant to be.
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