Here I am posing with my family--my parents and all 7 of my siblings--outside the MTC and trying to look brave before saying good-bye. I've been looking through mission pictures the past couple of days and reflecting on just how much this 18-month experience has affected my life. It's had a huge impact on who I am today.
Here is a Thanksgiving dinner with my district in Mariupol, Ukraine--including Elder Linscott! Obviously, the most major, long-lasting effect of my mission was meeting Luke there and starting a friendship that would later blossom into something eternal. Who would have guessed that, considering that one of the first impressions I made on him was tripping over my humongous, bright-green coat ("the pickle") and falling flat on my face on some stairs in the middle of the city?!
Besides meeting Elder Linscott, I learned so much about the gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and how its message changes lives for the better. Also, I was forced to search deep inside of myself to learn how to get along with all kinds of people, communicate in a new language, navigate the customs of a foreign land, and stand on my own two feet without my family or friends nearby. Despite the inevitable challenges, I'll be forever grateful for this awesome opportunity I had and the wonderful people I met.
{So think hard, and if you have a minute, let me know in a comment: What were YOU doing in October 1998?}
15 comments:
I was newly married, working hard to finish my finance degree. 10 years. Wow. A lot has happened. However, you haven't changed a bit. Your quiet beauty is still so evident. You are always such a great example. Congrats on 10.
October 1998, I was celebrating my birthday in Ladispoli, Italy and loving every minute of it!
What a cute mission picture! Let's see, October of 1998 I was taking classes during my junior year at the Y. And I was about to meet my future spouse also. The summer of '98 was the last for AFG, so I was moved over to EFY and interviewed a whole bunch of guys that fall/winter (one of whom was Asher). Wow, ten years ago. It feels like a blink.
Ten years does pass by SO quickly. We must be old. I was also in Ukraine October of 1998. I love that picture of you and Luke on your mission.
i was celebrating my 5 month anniversary as a newlywed in provo! in fact, i remember that an old boyfriend dropped by general conference weekend to get back a picture he'd drawn for me when we were dating. weird, weird.
Ten years ago...I was right there with you in the MTC, I can't believe it has been 10 years already! I think that is so classic you tripped and fell infront of Luke for the first impression moment! I'm sure it is something you guys will never forget. I never knew people really slipped on banana peels until we were comps in the field. I love it, thanks for always being willing to laugh about these things!
Ten years ago, I had recently graduatd high school, and was getting used to life away from home, and college life. I had gotten involved in student government, loving most of my classes, spending time at the institute. I was finally in a student ward officially (I had grown up in one with my Dad as bishop)and getting to know my roommates. A couple of those girls are still some of my closest friends. It has gone by so quickly, it has been a great 10 years.
Wow, those pics are priceless. You and Luke both look so young. . . .
Oct 98- I had been married for over 2 years and was living in Illinois. I was a med school widow and managing a dance studio. Not nearly as exciting as going to Ukraine! That mission pic of you and Luke is priceless!
sadly, 10 years ago i was doing some of the same things i am doing now - recovering from a broken leg and surgery! weird. of course, and i was less than 2 years away from meeting my first - boyer! now THAT is an anniversary to celebrate ... as with all the others, i love the pic of you and elder linscott - i look forward to the pic of elder and sister linscott in a few decades!!
It is fun to see pics of your cute little family. We didn't know you were companions with Jocelin Harris (I don't know her maiden name) we were neighbors/ friends with her when we lived in Cedar City and attended SUU.
jandee/dusty
Let's see... my little sister had just left on her mission. I was sporting that awful hair cut that you so kindly put on your blog for the entire world to see. :) And I had just graduated from BYU and was trying to "get a life." (still trying...) It's appropriate that you tripped and fell the first time you met Luke, cuz on your first date, you put too many potato peels down his friend's garbage disposal and broke it. And then when he called you on the phone to arrange a time to come pick you up and get engaged, your little brother also picked up with the automatic "fluff" machine he'd gotten that day for Christmas. It's really a wonder (and blessing!) he's still around... Love you!
Ten years ago, I was about to celebrate my one-year anniversary of graduating from the Y. I was finally realizing that my first job out of college wasn't going to be a keeper (it took me a while to fully understand that), so I was getting my resume together. Just like you, I was learning a lot about myself and what I wanted my life to be.
--
Jodi M
In October of 1998 I was counting the days until Ben got home from his mission! I was in college in Massachusetts and a new convert to the church.
Engaged, crazy in love with Doug, and planning his first surprise birthday gift ever-tickets to Universal Studios.
How fun to have pics on the two of you in the Ukraine.
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