"What I Wish I Had Known Before I .....Didn't Even Leave On My Mission" List

As I have been preparing for my mission in Ukraine L'viv, I have been utilizing social media tools such as Blogger (both here on my own blog as well as other missionaries' blogs), Pinterest (ohhhhhhh Pinterest how I do love you xoxoxo <3), Facebook ("Many are called..... but few are sisters" - 'nuf said), and so on.

And one of the most beautiful creations in this world of Pre-Mish Preparations is the RM-written "What I Wish I Had Known Before I Left On My Mission" lists. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, YOU PRECIOUS SOULS.

I have found what feels like an ABUNDANCE of these glorious lists, and I have decided to buckle down and merge these suckas.

Here is the current (and ever evolving/growing/improving) "What I Wish I Had Known Before I .....Didn't Even Leave On My Mission" List. I hope this somehow helps your blessed little self (because it's helping me)!!!!

What I Wish I Had Known Before I ... Didn't Even Leave On My Mission

• Study from Preach My Gospel. You will be using this ALL. THE. TIME. The more you learn before you hit the MTC, the better off you'll be. Remember: hit the ground running, not crawling. That's the goal for when you arrive at the MTC. Do all you can to prepare now :)
• READ THE BOOK OF MORMON. AND THE BIBLE, DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS AND PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. READ UP. At least once all the way through before you leave! If you've already read it, read it again. And once you finish it, start it over again. KEEP READING. This is the Book that sets us apart from ALL OTHER FAITHS, Christian or not. You don't have to know it all, but opening up The Book of Mormon and all other scriptures (Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price), you will be blessed with a far greater understanding than you would be if you let these precious gems collect dust on your shelf.
• Don't delay going through the Temple. Don't rush it, but don't put it off. Remember that you may want to go through at least once or twice more after your first time before leaving on your mish.
• Take Temple Prep classes, and enroll as soon as you can. (Talk to your Bishop about how to do that - it's simple.) This is a 7-lesson course that The Church offers to help prepare you for the Temple. It's a review of basic doctrine but you will have an opportunity to ask questions about the Temple. :) DEFINITELY worth it. :)
• Take the Mission Prep course! (Also ask your Bishop for details on this one..... on anything, actually.) In my Stake it was a 3-class course that was spread out over many months (less than a year). I'm not sure if it's this way in every Stake/District, but we were able to select a mentor (aka: a returned missionary in our ward who would be able to help us to go through the course and complete our assignments, and who would attend the 3 meetings with us). The meetings gave us an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the important details of a mission - including things like loving your companion.
• GET YOUR PASSPORT ASAP. Don't wait until you get your call, don't wait until the last minute before you have to submit your visa, don't..... don't wait. At all. Just get it over with my friends! For real. It will save you SO much stress to just get it over with and not have to worry about it. Also, the process can sometimes be lengthy (not always) so it's better to be safe than sorry.
• Get in shape now, and if you are in shape, STAY IN SHAPE. Exercise for half an hour daily. Walk when you can avoid taking the car. You will be able to focus far better as you prepare and you will be more accustomed to the exercising once you report if you begin now. If you wish to take up the amazing sport of running or biking, etc, there are week-by-week programs that you can find online to help you get started. My go-to running program is C25K, which you can find here.
• Organize your brilliant mission ideas and the ideas you discover in an easy-to-understand way. I have done this on my Pinterest account (see my Mission Prep boards here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). This will make it FAR easier to access these ideas when you want to, instead of having to rummage through piles of unorganized mess. Trust me, you will thank yourself later.
• Collect your favourite inspirational quotes and a few of your favourite General Conference addresses. Put them together to take with you. You'll want the encouragement when you are out there. Remember that you won't be able to just hop online to search for your favourite uplifting things when you're feeling down the same way you can now. You won't have the same uplifting friends around you, and sometimes your companions may not be the most positive. You need to be able to spiritually nourish yourself without relying solely on others to do it for you. :)
• Figure out an effective note-taking system for yourself. It will be easier to take notes during meetings and conferences if you have an effective way of recording your promptings, thoughts and feelings on the spot, and will save you the feeling of being unorganized (both in the moment and later on when you want to refer to those notes).
• Collect other people's addresses. And collect them now. Don't wait 'til you get out on your mission to start asking for people's postal codes and email addresses. Get them now. And don't expect them to write you first - they may not. Your family should be your top writing priority but you never know when you may feel prompted to write someone else - and how much easier that would be if you had their address already.

Further reading: http://www.bellainberlin.blogspot.ca/2013/01/i-wish-i-wouldve-known.html

http://kelciemykell.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/my-advice/

Luv me some Lindsey Stirling musica

For those of you who may not be aware...

There are a LOT of cool Mormons out there. A LOT OF 'EM.

(And no, I'm not just talking about myself. Although, let's be serious....)

(I kid.)

When you visit the website that The Church of Jesus Christ has created to help those who are looking for answers to their questions about Mormonism (that's Mormon.org, and you can find it here), you'll find so many special gems: of testimony, doctrine, and even awesome videos about some of the world's favourite Mormons. One of my favourites of these videos is of the sweet but sassy violinist, Miss Lindsey Stirling. Her music is the perfect example of what it means to truly express yourself, and I have to say that I don't know that I've ever seen something quite like it.

As we know, "amazing talent" usually means "phenomenal story/trials." And Lindsey Stirling is, yet again, another inspirational example of that in her strength and power to overcome.

Today I revisited that video, and I want to share it here with you too.

Enjoy. :)

Some of my favourite moments: 

"Any time there's a change to be made, you have to realize that there's somewhere else that you want to be. And I wanted ... to be happy. That's far more important than being the skinniest girl in the room."

"The only thing that actually lasts is those core beliefs that I have worth, and for me that comes from knowing that I am a daughter of God." (AMEN SISTA.)

Love,
Kat :)

I love to see the temple, I'll go inside some day :)

HAPPY NEWS :)

Today I had my first interview required to receive my Temple Endowments! In case you are not already aware, receiving your Endowments is a requirement for missionary service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. SO THIS IS A HUGE DEAL!

Your first interview is with your Bishop (in my case a Branch President - small town hehe), and your second interview is with your Stake President. I was SO excited to have my interview tonight and walk out of it with my Temple Recommend in hand! How wonderful it is to be worthy and preparing for something so significant not only in this life, but far more importantly in the eternities. I know that preparing to enter the House of the Lord has and will continue to bless my life immensely, and in ways that I both recognize and can't even see yet. The Lord loves us all and wants us to return home to Him. He is willing to help us if we will only do our part, and I'm excited to be taking this step in my efforts to do my part of the equation!

One quote to finish this entry off:

"He didn't say it would be easy... He said it would be worth it."

AMEN. Nothing that is worth it is ever easy. But you can do it. Rely on the Lord and you will be blessed.

So excited to enter here soon and do this! :D

Sincerely,
A SUPER HAPPY KATHLEEN :-)))))))

The Nephite Sermon on the Mount x Livin' Now x Anxiety

Today my family and I travelled to my sisters' dentist appointments and while I waited for them to finish up, I pulled up my Gospel Library app on my phone (check out how you can get it on your device here) and continued my reading of The Book of Mormon. I was reading in 3 Nephi 14 when I came across one particular verse that stood out to me today, and I want to share it here.

3 Nephi 13:34 reads: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof."

This. verse.

IT SUDDENLY MEANS SO MUCH MORE TO ME!

I mean, it was important before but NOW! Now the meaning is so much greater than it was before.

As you may know, I have been struggling with some anxiety throughout the past couple of months in particular and I have been trying to overcome it by focusing on relaxing and keeping important details in order. That is great, and believe me, it really does help.

BUT. Anxiety is........ it is fear. Often times feelings of anxiety can be linked back to an impossible desire to control future events, and being unsure of what may happen as well as feeling out of control of specific circumstances.

Anxiety is honestly one of the scariest things I have experienced. So. scary. How many times have I had to tell my heart to calm down before it beats out of my chest? How many times do I have to remind myself I am okay when I realize that I've been shaking and my thoughts are racing through my mind? How many nights have I cried and cried and cried over things that I already knew would somehow work out? That is anxiety. And what is worse is that I can recognize when there is really no reason to feel anxiety, but the feeling is still there. It is a very. real. struggle.

SO TODAY. I rediscovered 3 Nephi 13:34, which holds the answer to overcoming anxiety. It seems so easy, but..... really, it is simple. Not easy. Simple. "Take therefore no thought for the morrow." In other words, stop worrying about tomorrow. Live today because this is the only day you really have. "...For the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." You can take care of tomorrow... tomorrow. Really and truly, you can. And lastly, "...sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." You honestly have enough on your plate TODAY to even begin to start worrying about TOMORROW's problems too. Let it go and be at peace.

I am so grateful that every time I read The Book of Mormon with a prayerful attitude, Heavenly Father blesses me with insights that help me with these important details in my life.

No matter how small you may feel your trials are, or how insignificant you may sometimes feel, I want you to know that your Father in Heaven loves you SO much, and cares about ALL of you - every little detail of your life (even the details you don't realize are there). He is present in absolutely every detail of your life - whether they seem significant to you or not. Pray to Him and you will be amazed. I promise. He never lets you down.

Sincerely,
Kathleen :)

P.S. To learn more about how The Book of Mormon can help you in YOUR life, visit www.Mormon.org, or click here for further details about this second witness of Jesus Christ and chat real-time with missionaries (the chat window at the side of the page). I promise you, this book is the real deal. It has changed my life and I know it can change yours too. :)

Muy Bueno. Elder Holland's at it again

Let's just say that this video is exactly what I needed right now.

Enjoy. xo

"Trust God, and believe in good things to come." -Elder Holland

Love,

     Kat

C-a-l-l-i-n-g now, I'm calling you-ooooo-ooo, calling you now-ow

(The title of this post is from a really cheesey Aqua song that my sister used to listen to when I was  a kid. And it fits. Sort of. That line does, any ways. Because..... *drum roll*)

ON SUNDAY, I was officially called as a Sunday School teacher for the Adult Sunday School class! Holla, I'm so excited! I stood up in Sacrament meeting this past Sunday as they called my name out and extended my call in front of the congregation. When they asked for everyone to show their sustaining vote, all of my Branch Family raised their right hands in unison to show that they will support me in this calling. Then the opposite was asked - is there anyone who feels that this is not right? Nobody raised their hands, and I could be seated.

How pleasant was it to then sit through an entire Sacrament meeting centred around what had just happened! This past Sunday was a special Church service. Stake Auxiliaries were visiting, and so we were able to hear from Brother del Mundo, the Kitchener Stake  Young Men's president, Sister Cattran, the Stake Relief Society President, and then from Brother Doug Brown, who always comes to Woodstock to conduct Stake Business. Brother del Mundo spoke of the importance of callings - and stressed through a personal example that a calling is important, no matter how big or small it is, yes, but ALSO that no matter how big or small your calling is, we should always put in our best efforts. He shared an experience from when he was a fairly new member of The Church. He was assigned a calling in which he could help in a way that some may feel was insignificant. One day the man whom he reported to asked Brother del Mundo to collect sticks for a certain, greater task that they would later perform. He did just that, and when the man asked to see the pile that Ferdie had collected, he was SO shocked to discover the pile was massive. He was impressed with the effort that Brother Ferdie del Mundo had put into this task, however small and insignificant it may have seemed. After his talk, both speakers followed up with messages that really invited the Spirit into the meeting. After having missed Church the Sunday before because we were heading off for a week-long family vacation and were all POOPED and didn't make it up in enough time before departing, it was so wonderful to be back in our chapel and participating in the ordinance that is the Sacrament. What a powerful, spiritual experience that Sacrament was for me. :)

ANY WHO, long story short I was called as a Sunday School teacher for the adults and am SO excited. I know that we are extended callings for a reason, each one for its own reason, and so that is why I always get excited when a new calling is extended to me. It makes me happy to see what wonderful things will come from serving the Lord! It's not always easy, but it's worth it to put in our best efforts. :)

Work hard,
Kat

"Always In The Middle," by Pres. Uchtdorf

As a part of my spiritual preparation for my mish, I have decided that I want to take at least a few talks or addresses with me on my mission to help to strengthen me while I am at the MTC and in the field. There are collections and compilations online of "The Top 6 General Conference Addresses for Missionaries," and "Must-Read Talks to Send To Your Missionary," and so on. Today I found one talk that was recommended which is called "Always in the Middle." It was given by Pres. Uchtdorf (the Second Counsellor in the First Presidency) July 2012. (I remember hearing this talk for the first time.)

I am posting it here so that I can always remember it. (Also if I just post the link you may not actually go to check it out, so this way you have no excuse. haha BUT if you want additional resources to go along with your talk, you can read it here.)

Uh. Overwhelmed.

Just a quick sidenote (and something to remind myself of in case I ever forget): the Internet is filled with INNUMERABLE RESOURCES for a young lady preparing for a mission abroad. There are SO. MANY. Pinterest boards, blog posts, photo ideas, Deseret News articles, talks, and so on that can take up a ridiculously huge amount of your time. (Trust me, I have spent hours reading up on missionary tips and writing ideas just today alone. There is SO. MUCH. OF IT.)

This is awesome. I am not denying that at all. In fact, the majority of what I have found so far is brilliant and creative, and I am in no way ungrateful for the wonderful ideas and tidbits of advice that I've found throughout the past few months.

But. My point here. Let's get to that.

THERE IS SO MUCH STUFF...

THAT IT'S EASY TO GET LOST IN IT ALL.

It's as with anything - if you come at it haphazardly, you're probably not going to get much out of it.

So. My advice here is this. Don't do what I did and search up something hugely ambiguous on Pinterest and hope for the best. (Maybe the first time that's okay. But then start to narrow down your searches.) Take time to look up Sister Missionary Hair Ideas for a bit, and then switch it up and look up Ideas for How to Mark Your Scriptures. You may notice that on social media sites (I'm thinking especially of Pinterest right now), some people tend to group all of their mission preparations together. This is..... this is easy to do, and takes minimal effort to put together. But when it comes time to actually go back to your ideas and make something of them, you're going to want them to be organized.

How else can you combat this, then?

AS YOU FIND IDEAS, immediately put them into their proper places. Have a folder on your computer and a matching tangible file folder (not on the computer) to file away your ideas in. I saw one Sister preparing for a mission who carried a little notebook with her everywhere she went so that she could write down her ideas in it. Always be prepared to write down your ideas, no matter where you are - you never know when inspiration will come (and those inspired ideas are some of the best)!

Most importantly, focus on what is most important. You do not need to be stressed out about your mission preparations - remember to stay true to who you are when you're shopping for clothing, but within the mission rules. Find quotes that inspire you and put them all into a notebook to take with you. Write letters for your fam to leave behind or send them early on in your mission to inspire them and offer them comfort when they miss you (they look up to you :)). Ask your family members, family friends and close buddies, as well as members from your ward who you look up to to pass on their favourite recipes that you'd be able to make on your mission and take your own homemade cookbook with you. Make sure you're having fun as you prepare - this is not something to stress out about, this is something to GET EXCITED about. :D Remember that, and things will work out much better. :)

Keep it cool ladies and gents,
Kat