Hello! Welcome to My New Blog!

So, I've never been much of a blogger.  I've always found myself to be busy with other things, or completely forgetful.  But I've been meaning to create a place where I can save a record of my mission experience.  It's also where I hope that my mom can post my missionary emails to help keep my family and friends informed about how I am doing.  I would post myself, but I'm not sure how missionary rules work and I haven't heard anything about missionaries being able to blog...

Oh yeah!  I have my mission call! I will be serving in the Taiwan Taizhong (Taichung) mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  I will be reporting the the Provo MTC on May 29th, and I will be learning Mandarin Chinese!  I am super excited and super blessed to be able to serve the people in Taiwan!

So anyways, I have 29 days till I enter the MTC, and I thought that I should probably start my blog now, rather than later.  I would have started it earlier, but I was trying to finish up with college stuff.  Granted, this week is finals week for me, so I really should be studying, but I am currently trying to take a break and give my brain a rest.  Right now is a perfect time to start my blog anyways, because now that school is coming to a close, I can start to get into the hard core preparations of becoming a missionary.  And blogging should help improve my recording of daily events, so I can share my experiences (my mother probably thinks I'm terrible at this... especially since I've pretty much failed at sending her emails while I've been up at college... Whoops!).

Another big thing that I'm trying to do (okay, maybe not so big, but important) is a 30 day Book of Mormon challenge.  I started yesterday, because I thought it would be perfect way to prepare myself to be a missionary.  I can think of no better way to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon than by reading it over and over.  It is one of the most important books in the history of life itself.  Without it, I would not know my Heavenly Father and his plan as well as I do now.  I would never claim to be an expert on the Book, but I can say that I have a testimony of its truthfulness.  And I know that in it, people can learn of the Christ's Gospel and find peace in their lives through its words.  And I guess, that's why I want to serve a mission.  To bring people the same peace and comfort of mind and heart that I've received through it, as well as through living with the gospel in my life.

Now, I know serving a mission isn't going to be easy.  I know there will be times when I'll wonder why I ever thought serving a mission would be a good experience.  But I know that it is what I'm supposed to do.  I know that by working for the Lord for 18 months will bless my life, and teach me how to better serve him for the rest of my life.  I know that I am called to help bring the people in Taiwan to Christ.  And I know that I will only be able to be a good missionary if I stay true to Christ, and serve him with all my heart, might, mind and strength.