BUT, after two weeks of learning what it means to be patient (hahaha, "learning". More like stumbling through that experience) and weird unexplainable online confusions (for some reason I wasn't allowed to sign into the missionary online recommendation system which made me crey buckets of tears), I HAVE BEGUN AND ALMOST FINISHED MY PAPERS!!!
In layman's terms: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a very specific process when it comes to deciding where (and if) to send a prospective missionary. First off, I talk to my bishop (the leader of my local church that I attend). I did that and he asked me all sorts of questions, like if I'd read the Book of Mormon and if I had a testimony of its truth (I have! I do! It's wonderful and I would suggest it to anyone looking for peace or truth in their life), if I live up to the commandments of the Gospel, how I can pay for it all, etc. That talk went well and my bishop and I, here two weeks later, have begun the part of the process known as "The Papers".
Which is a funny thing to call them because they're all online now. Basically what happens is when I got approved by my bishop to do missionary work, I was signed up to access a website called the "Online Missionary Recommendation System" which is fancy talk for a big checklist of TO-DO items. When I sign in there, I have several TO-DO tasks, like filling out my personal history (DOB, place of birth, etc.), my educational history (Have I ever learned a language? Yes! Would I be interested in learning a language on the mission? By golly gumdrops, I do believe so!), and my personal health history (I have allergies but I'm not going to mention that on the form, don't tell anybody shhhh). In addition to those fun little questionnaires, there is also a place to upload a current picture of me, as well as several forms to print out.
These forms are for my dentist and my doctor and basically say, "I have looked at this person; they will be healthy for the next two years". These forms necessitate a physical, blood tests, immunizations, urine tests, and dental work. I had my dentist's appointment today. Only two fillings needed! I was really nervous I would need a root canal for some reason. I don't need a root canal. Thank you Jebus. Tomorrow I have my doctor's appointment and since I had a physical last October, I feel very confident that nothing will be totally messed up with me!
Once these appointments are completed (my doctor's appointment tomorrow and my tooth fillins on Monday), I will have officially completed my mission papers! After that they will be sent to my stake president who I will have an interview with. Depending on that interview, I will progress forward with the mission process or I'll, I don't know, hang out some more. But I have a good feeling about the interview. I have a good feeling about the whole process! After the interview with the stake president, the papers will be sent to the missionary department of the Church in Salt Lake City. They will look over my papers and process them. They'll get put into a system which will go to a general authority of the Church. A note on this: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is lead by a prophet (akin to the Catholic Pope, but without the bling/grillz). However, he has under him a quorum of twelve apostles (sound familiar? If you've read the New Testament it might) who are known as the General Authorities. These twelve men are charged with serving the general Church will pretty much all matters for the entire world. It's pretty crazy. One of the biggest tasks they have (besides the Church Education and Welfare systems) is assigning missionaries to certain missions in the world. When my papers get sent away to Salt Lake and they get processed, a general authority will sit down at a computer and go through several hundred missionary applications one-by-one and choose, by prayer and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost, where each and every person should serve. After that intensely spiritual moment, I will be assigned to labor in a specific place at a specific time. The information is printed out and put into a package and then shipped to me. This whole process, from the time I finish my papers and have my interview with my stake president to the day I get my mission call (that's what the assignment is called, a "mission call" - because I am called to serve somewhere, get it?) takes anywhere from two to four weeks.
How exciting RIGHT? I AM EXCITED. I hope you all are too!
Write below in the comments if you have any questions or thoughts on all of this. I'll let you all know soon enough whether or not I have a urinary tract disorder and what my blood type is! Because one I get all of my proper appointments done with, I'll have my interview with my bishop wrapped up soon after and then we'll be sending the papers in. So the next time I write will be to tell you all, "IT'S DONE. PRAY FOR A PLACE WITH GOOD FOOD FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS."
Love and some garbage to you all,
Alex
Your CAT has a thumb? I've been dissecting Pixie Jean and I can't find any thumbs on her. Give us some tips before I dismember her entirely in the search.
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