Week 4: No Mission For Me?!

Do you ever just feel like jumping off a platform from 40 feet high? Well let me tell you about my last two weeks.

As most of you know from Instagram and Facebook, I had a meeting with my bishop 2 weeks ago where I found out I can go on a mission with braces, and so I set up another appointment for the following week to begin my mission papers. I'm pretty sure that was the longest week of my life because I was SO excited.  Well, you can imagine my disappointment when I arrived to my meeting, prepared to start the biggest adventure of my life, and the first thing I heard was "I hate to tell you this, but I talked to the stake president and you can't go until the braces are off." Alright, no big deal, now I just have to re-plan the next two years of my life. Instead of enjoying time at home preparing for my mission, I'll be starting my sophomore year of college. Instead of being in New York or California or Washington or Florida or who knows where for the next 18 months, I'll be in Rexburg, ID. Instead of being totally immersed in the gospel and "out" of the real world, I'll be spending the next year and a half fighting through temptation and struggling to keep my faith. 

I'm not going to lie, when I came home from that meeting, I was MAD. I was mad at my bishop for getting my hopes up; I was mad at myself for being so sure of the next 2 years; and mostly, I was mad  at Heavenly Father.  All I could do that night was cry. I was asking myself "did I not pray enough?" "Is my faith not strong enough?" "Maybe if I had just read my scriptures more..." and so on. But the longer I laid on a tear-soaked pillow, the more comforting thoughts started to come. "Now I have another year to prepare," "Now I can learn more and strengthen my testimony," and most importantly, "I have another year to be a missionary right where I am," which is where, most days, I feel the most needed. 

I don't know what will happen between now and the time I can go on a mission, but I'm not going to stop preparing. Even if I don't go on a mission, preparing for one has made me a better person, and that's all that matters. 

Now, on to happier matters. The next day, my home and family management class went on a field trip to BYUI's outdoor learning center, Badger Creek. It was the most fun I've had in a long time! Badger Creek is designed completely around team building activities and they encourage you to face your fears. Remember that 40 foot jump I mentioned earlier, yeah, I did it. 

In the last two weeks I've also enjoyed time at I-jump, Mary-Kay parties, and other fun stuff.  Here are some pictures and videos!

My roommate Nikki took these. She calls me Banana!

Last night, some friends and I wanted to go out and have fun, and we heard there was a party at a nearby apartment complex.  We got all dressed up and headed over, but when we walked in, we were kind of shocked.  Most parties here are pretty mild; soda is the drink of choice, and games include "Spoons" and "Charades." This was not one of those parties. The walls were decorated with drug-related posters and beer pong was being played upstairs. Long story short, my friends and I left and went to a different party at a local place known for their awesome milkshakes! We had a great time at that party! So anyways, this morning I found out that the cops ended up at the apartment party, and a lot of people got arrested for drugs and alcohol related things. I am SO glad my friends and I chose to leave!

These were at the first party!

I have some pretty exciting things coming up this week, so hopefully I will have a lot of fun things to update on for next week! 

Also, for everyone who asked "Why are you going to Idaho? There's nothing there." You're right. But I'd say the nothingness is pretty beautiful.

XOXO, Anna.