Australia, Melbourne!

My mission papers have been done forever, so I figured out months ago that submitting on Jan. 4th would probably mean getting my call on January 16th. When January 16th came, I was at work and my roommate Kim called to tell me that she'd checked the mail and my mission call wasn't there. I tried to brush it off but I was really sad and frustrated. I took my time coming home from work, and when I got to my apartment Alexa told me that the mailman had come AGAIN, but that Kim had the mail key with her on campus. At this point I didn't want to face the disappointment of an empty mailbox so I decided to just not worry about it until the next day because I had convinced myself it was not coming. So Alexa and I stayed busy running errands and going swimming. I just wanted the day to be over so I dragged out the whole swimming thing by treading water for like fifteen minutes, going off the high dive, etc. etc. 

Alexa and I got home and were making burritos and french fries (yep), and I was in the middle of telling her that even if I checked the mail when Kim came home it would be a really awkward time to open my call because I wouldn't have time to go home, so it was all for the best to wait until the next day. Mid-sentence, Kim came through the door with a GIANT grin on her face and my mission call in her hand.

I freaked out. Mostly internally.

Alexa told me to eat my burrito and calm down.

I ate my burrito. I took some pictures with my roommates and my mission call. 

Then I called my Dad and said, "Um so the mail came again and it's here so I guess I'm driving home I'll be there in an hour and a half okay here I go." He laughed really hard and said, "Mom says be careful of the frozen fog." Um, okay. 

I got in my car without much of a plan and drove to the Logan temple. I parked on top of the hill facing the building and took some deep breaths. As soon as I ripped my call out of the envelope I saw the word "Australia" and instantly started sobbing. I have never reacted so emotionally so instantly to anything in my life; not even close. I'm really glad I decided to open it all by myself because I must have looked straight crazy.

I have heard a lot of people talk about how when they opened their mission call they felt a surety that it was the place where they were supposed to go. For me, I didn't necessarily feel that Australia was the one, exact, "right" place for me. What I did feel was an immediate, overwhelming sense of how loved I am. I felt that a tremendous amount of mercy had been extended to me. I had done something that was incredibly hard for me: put this entirely in the Lord's hands, let Him know that I was willing to go anywhere and would be committed wherever I served, and in return He was letting me go somewhere I really, really wanted to go!

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Australia was in my top five list. That does not happen! 

The first word I was able to say out loud between the hysterical crying was "Grandma!" because she had guessed Australia. I suddenly really wanted to tell my Grandma so I did. The only number I had was for my Grandpa's cell phone, but my grandma answered his phone! For a couple of hours, she and I were the only people who knew where I was going and that was special.

The drive home was the worst thing ever. I had imagined it to be more peaceful. But all I wanted was to get to my family and it was taking far too long. I was so distracted that I missed the exit to my house. It only added about three more minutes, but still.

I was so happy to burst through the door of my house, but to my dismay, Rachel wasn't home from work yet. I almost told the rest of my family without her, but my mom wouldn't let me, and I'm glad she didn't. I wandered aimlessly around the house while my Dad played the Chilean national anthem. Dead wrong, Dad. 

FINALLY Rachel came home and I stood on top of the armchair in the living room and read my call to my family. I almost couldn't get it out of my mouth because I got so excited I couldn't breathe, so I didn't even say the "Melbourne" part until after they had screamed for a bit.

I loved spending the rest of the night calling loved ones to tell them my news. Every time I said it out loud I felt unspeakably blessed. And in the background, my family wasted no time in dancing around to "Land Down Under" and "Advance Australia Fair." 

I mean it when I say that I have never been happier. Also:

Interesting Factoids about Melbourne:

1. It's on the southern tip of Australia and is the capital city of Victoria.

2. You can take a ferry to Tasmania from Melbourne.

3. Melbourne was ranked as the world's most livable city in both 2011 and 2012.

4. The world's largest tram network is in Melbourne. Yep!

5. The population of the city is a little over 4 million, so it's bigger than Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the U.S.

6. It is referred to as the "Garden City."

7. Melbourne is well-known for its "changeable weather conditions" and having "four seasons in a day," because it lies between very hot inland areas and the frigid southern ocean. (But the lowest recorded temperature is 27 degrees. Oh please, Melbourne, I live in Cache Valley.)

8. The city is considered an international culture center and famous for music and film festivals. It is the birth place of Australian film and television, Australian football, the Australian Impressionism movement, Australian contemporary dance such as the Melbourne Shuffle, and home to the National Gallery of Victoria. 

9. The first Olympic games to be held in the southern hemisphere were held in Melbourne.

10. Almost 40% of Melbourne's population was born overseas. (It has the world's third-largest Greek speaking population of all the cities on earth and the most popular surname in the phone book is a Korean name.)

11. Melbourne is 58% Christian and 20% nonreligious. It boasts two large cathedrals and over forty synagogues.

12. Melbourne is the only city in the world that has five international standard sporting facilities.

13. The National Gallery of Victoria has the world's largest stain glass ceiling.

14. It is home to the world's oldest amusement park.

15. It has penguins. And a temple.

I have never felt so lucky!

"More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced." - Preach My Gospel