One Week, Folks - Homegirl's about to pee her excited pants.

My first blogpost.  I can't believe it is time to start a blog, much less does it feel time-appropriate to write a post.  Yes, my fingers are here typing away in a kitchen in Sparks, Nevada, but my heart is elsewhere.  I love the people in Peru.  I love my companions, I love my mission president, I love the people who I will see and smile my goofy, I-don't-know-what-the-heck-you-are-saying-to-me smile at, and I love my brother.  And though I have only actually met one of those individuals (my brother, for those of you having a hard time keeping up), I already feel such a connection to them.  Why am I excited and not even freaking out a little bit you may ask?  It's because of them.  When I think about anything but the people I love and will soon meet, I do kind of panic (I've heard tales of jumping spiders the size of CD's - can you blame me?).  But for these dear people, I will not freak out, because I have been called to serve them.  That means that I will be blessed with the ABILITY to serve them.  Which means, that if I remember my purpose, which is to invite others to come closer to Christ, then I will serve people.  How is that for a promise?  I will be able to serve for eighteen months.  And not just serve in general, but serve specific people every day.  Christ is aching for these people to share in the happiness He can offer them.  And this twenty-one-year old girl gets to extend the invitation.  I can think of nothing better to do with my time.  In fact, at this moment, I am more panicked at the thought of having to come back after eighteen months, than the thought of leaving in a week.  I feel prepared in that I know I am not.  But I do have a testimony of the gospel: I know Christ loves me and loves everyone on this Earth in a real and personal way.  I know He atoned for our sins also in that personal way.  I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.  I know Joseph Smith restored Christ's Church on the Earth, and that there is a Prophet named Thomas S. Monson who leads Christ's Church today.  And I know, that Heavenly Father loves His kids.  He knows us, and cares about us.  He want us to be happy.  This Gospel has made me so happy.  And I am serving a mission so that others may have that opportunity to feel God's love and to understand His truth.
Here goes :)