the call

Before opening my call

January 5th, 2013 a day I will never forget.

      I knew my call could come any day but I didn't think it would arrive on a Saturday. My parents had just left to go the the temple and my mom told me,"Call us if your mission call comes in the mail today!" Literally less than five minutes later the mail man was walking up to my front porch. It was strange because the mail came so late that day! It came at 3 pm when it usually comes at 11 am. As the mailman got closer I could see in his hands that he was holding my mission call. I knew it was my call because it was white and just the right size. I jumped out of the piano room and went to the front porch. I held my call within my own two hands. It said on the front Sister Carter! It seemed so official.  I saw that the postage was $1.90 and I knew in that moment I was going somewhere foreign because all of my friends who went foreign had $1.90.  I wanted to just open it right there and then but I knew my parents and family would want to see me open my call. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

      I first called my parents to tell them the news. My mom and dad were so excited that it had arrived. I told them I wanted to open my call when they got home from the temple. They told me to call all of my siblings and ask if they wanted to watch via Skype or in person if they lived in California. All of my siblings wanted to watch me open my call to find out where I would be serving for a year and a half. 

     After talking to all of my siblings I decided that I needed to go run some errands because I had to get my mind off of my mission call. I came home. It only took up an hour... I thought to myself, "I don't know if I am going to last" The anticipation was killing me. For some reason I honestly thought I would be going to Germany for my mission during the wait. I still had about four more hours until my parents would be home. As I was waiting a hymn popped into my mind "I'll go where you want me to go". As soon as the words flooded my mind I knew instantly that I was going somewhere perfect for me and it didn't matter where I was going. 

    My sister Amber and her family came to watch me open my call as well as my brother Ryan and some of his friends. My parents finally came home from the temple. It was tricky getting the skype set-up but it eventually worked. 

   It was finally the moment of truth..It was time to open the letter. I covered the letter so I wouldn't read where I was going before I read the letter out loud. I read the beginning "Dear Sister Carter: You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. " I paused right when I saw where I was going. I couldn't believe my eyes. Was I really being called to the same mission as my dad? I had to read it two or more times to make sure I had read it correctly. I finally let the words come out of my mouth "You are assigned to labor in the Italy Milan Mission". I was at such peace knowing I had been called to the same exact mission as my dad. My mom yelled instantly, "We're going to Italy!" My dad was thrilled! He got out his old mission grammar books, Italian flag, and etc. I still can't believe it sometimes that i'm going to Milan, Italy. The Lord truly knows us better than ourselves and what we are capable of doing. 

    The other crazy part is that my roommate from college is going to the Rome, Italy mission! It definitely was meant to be. I am so excited that we are both going to Italy! Sorella's at heart! I am  excited to serve for a year and a half of my life in Italy. I can't wait to teach the Italian people! You better watch out Italy Sorella Carter is ready to get to work! :)

Reading my call

As I opened my call 

The Weed's and the Oslund's Skyping in!

The Wilson's Skyping

My mission!

Reading the call