Until then.

Dearest blog,

This will be my last post on you for quite some time. I'm going to miss you. But this adventure I am about to embark on will be so very worth it. I wanted to write down some of my thoughts after this very eventful day.

My heart is so full. Today has been such a blessing. I gave my farewell talk this morning in my home ward. What amazing people are in that ward. I love them so much. I felt so humbled as I was greeted and congratulated by so many amazing family, friends, and even people that I didn't know well but knew my family. I was humbled by the support I was shown today. I was humbled by the compliments I received and by the expectations people have for me.

As I think about serving a mission I have so very many emotions.

My stress levels are pretty dang high because of my finals tomorrow and the fact that I have so very many more things to get done before I leave. So much shopping left to do. An immunization to get. A drs appointment to go to. Classes to pass. Packing up all the stuff I am leaving behind. Packing up all the stuff I am taking. Okay, I have to stop now.

I am so very excited to be a missionary. I can't wait until I have a name tag. With the sole purpose of bringing others to Christ. What better calling can you have than that? I have been blessed with little glimpses of how amazing it will be and it has made me so very excited. There is so much joy that comes with serving the Lord.

I am so nervous to leave the life I have known to embark on something that is going to be so very difficult. I have not prepared as I should have and I feel bad about that. I'm nervous about being able to accomplish the things I need to do, of being able to have the ability to keep going even when things are hard. I'm nervous about being able to get along with my companions, of feeling like I am living up to what is required of me, and of being humble enough to be led by the Lord.

My heart aches when I think about the people I am leaving behind. Good heavens. It currently makes me sick to my stomach to think about leaving them. I have been blessed with the best family on the planet. Sorry to everyone else. I have been blessed with the most amazing friends who love me and strengthen me and put up with all my ridiculousness on a continual basis. I have been blessed with a new reason for happiness which makes it even harder to leave. I am going to miss so many important things.

I am humbled as I think of the trust that God is putting in me as I embark on this work of saving souls. Who am I to be getting such a wonderful job? But I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that the Lord qualifies those He calls. Otherwise we would never send out such young, inexperienced, rather unprepared young men and women to share the most important message known to man.

Life is so very beautiful. God is so good. I am constantly reminded of the blessing it is to know that God knows everything, that He knows me, and that He is creating the best happily ever after just for me. My life has not gone as planned. But that is because my plan is so imperfect.

I know that this Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ lives. I know that my Father in Heaven loves me more than I can hope to comprehend. I know that this adventure will teach me things that I need to know to be the woman I need to be. So wish me luck as I head off to do the most scary, the most exciting, and the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life.

With love,
Rebek

p.s. My mission blog is at this address: ahakeber.blogspot.com