Friday, February 28, 2014

THEY CALL ME SISTER

I love the MTC. It is an amazing place and you learn so much. The key is to have a good attidtude and everything will go well. 
My companions name is Sister Bottcher. She is from Alberta Canada :) She is so cute and has a sweet spirit. 
I was made the Sister Training leader in my district. 
The food here is awesome. I never go hungry. 
The hardest thing is not having my stuff animal and a fan to sleep with. It is hard to sleep in silence. and my roommates wake up in the middle of the night and talk.. so that is fun. 
The hardest part about not having a phone is that funny things happen and I cant text someone right away to tell them. 
I am sorry my thoughts are scattered. Its been a busy past couple days. It feels like i have been here a month but I dont feel like I  have enough time to be here before I go out in the feild. 
I love you all. God be with you till we meet again!! 
Love,
Sister Gillins


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

HERE COMES THE WATERWORKS


Today I said "See you later" to my best friends and family. Tonight I became a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I report to the MTC tomorrow. I think back to everything that has gotten me here and it all started with my family. I have the best family in the world. They all have taught me how to love but the most important part is to be kind. 

I am excited to start this new adventure. It will be hard, I will miss my friends and family, but I will see them again soon. My grandma told me tonight that "This is like you paying your tithing on the first 20 years of your life." I am giving my time to the Lord for the next 18 months. 

I know my Heavenly Father loves me and all of his children. He wants them to some day come back to live with him. For the next 18 months I will be the Lords hands to bring the world his truth. 

Love,

 

SISTER GILLINS

 

      

Monday, February 17, 2014

I HOPE THEY CALL ME ON A MISSION

 Today at 1:41 PM


My name is Clarissa. I am 19 years old and serving in the Canada Toronto mission. This is my story of my decision to serve a mission. 
I have always wanted to serve a mission and would tell everyone that I was. But as I attend my first semester of college at BYU-Idaho I went with the flow and started to doubt my decision to serve a mission. This thought played in my mind all the time and I got scared. I started telling people that I wasn't going on a mission, but as those words flowed out of my mouth it felt wrong. I was confused and didn't understand what to do anymore.  
During this time stake conference rolled around. I was so excited to attend. I wasn't sure why, because I never get excited for a two hour meeting. But this time I knew I was going to learn something. I went with an open heart and ready to listen. As I listened, I felt like every talk was about missionary work. I was constantly get the chills, and recognized these feelings as the Holy Ghost. Afterwards I called my mom. We talked about what I learned and what I had felt during conference. After talking for more than an hour I decided that a full time mission really was the right choice for me. I prayed to my Heavenly Father and told him I had made the decision to go on a mission and asked if that was the right decision for me. I waited and waited for an answer. I went to the temple a couple of times that week and was continually praying. I was looking for a huge awing moment in which I would get my answer, but it never came. I started to get disappointed and discouraged. I thought maybe the Lord didn't want me to go. After speaking with my mom, she reminded me that I did have moments where I knew I was supposed to go on a mission. I felt a confirmation while at stake conference and every time I  spoke about going on a mission. I realized that throughout my whole life I knew I was going to serve a mission and that I didn't need a huge and spectacular answer to let me know.
I am now ready to serve as a full time missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission. This blog will keep you updated on my experiences as I serve.