Pre-Mission Bucket List

   I am one of those type of people that when I am about to fall asleep, I get REAL philosophical....or I just think waaay too much for my own good.

   So before I walked into Slumber Town and visited Dreamville, I was thinking about my mission. I was thinking about all the things I need to do to prepare for the MTC, when I enter Aguascalientes and when I get home. I have a Spanish Book of Mormon and I have been reading that to remind me of the 4 years of Spanish I took in high school. I have also been praying hard that my passport will arrive sometime soon so my Visa for Mexico will be sent in on time.

   ANYWHO, when someone is on a LDS mission....their job is to, "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." They learn to focus ENTIRELY on that. They are removed from worldly things and devote their lives to serve/love those in their area. They are removed from different movies, music, etc.
     So no Imagine Dragons, no Hunger Games, no Lord of the Rings, etc. ....it all has to focus on the Gospel and it has to invite the Holy Ghost. I mean, all of the things I mentioned before do make me excited but the Holy Ghost isn't there and therefore it would distract me on my mission.  Don't get me wrong, I am going to miss MANY things on my mission.

-Certain friends and their graduations, mission farewells & homecomings, Marriages, their children being born, etc.
-The music I listen to and play on the piano
-My family. I always get choked up whenever I think about leaving my parents. I think it's more fear because I'm going to be away from family with very little communication for 18 months.

There is A LOT more stuff, but I want to do SO many things before I leave.

1. Go to Seaworld
2. Go to the Zoo at LEAST once.
3. Go shooting
4. Go to the State Fair.
5. Go Ice Skating
6. Go camping

Of course this list will probably grow at an abnormal rate, but hey...a sister missionary can dream, right?

Sweaty, Pizza and Olan Rogers

Today I met a hero today.
I stood for 3 hours in a line that went down the road and wrapped around the block. Oh and it was 105 degrees outside. What was I waiting for?
To meet this guy...

Olan Rogers. One of the funniest, most humble and most ADORABLE man anyone will meet. Today was a good day folks, a REALLY good day.

Hermana Winsor

**Dear Sister Winsor:
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Mexico Aguascalientes Mission. 
I report October 30, 2013 to the Provo MTC, Spanish Speaking.

     I truly underestimated the power a mission call would have on me. July 6, 2013 at 5:05pm I read my mission call to my family and some of my closest friends. I am truly blessed and grateful for the EXTREME love and support I felt yesterday. I know this mission call was inspired from God and it is specifically for me.

      Before I turned my papers in, I would always pray to Heavenly Father asking if in some way, while on my mission, my siblings will somehow be back in the Gospel. Or at least be a little closer to Heavenly Father. It was a long stretch to ask for, but I was willing to ask. WELL, when I found out where I would be serving I called my brother, Danny. I never thought he would be extremely excited for me, but BOY WAS I WRONG! He was SO happy for me and I truly felt his love. I'm so grateful for his support, excitement & involvement in this time of my life. He looked up a LOT of information about Aguascalientes before I did and  told me it's one of the cleanest/safest states in Mexico. And apparently it rains A LOT in the summer (I hear angels singing). I'm so grateful for him and I truly love my brother. I am also happy that Heavenly Father answered my prayer! I didn't know HOW he was going to do it, but He did! Are my 3 brothers & 1 sister now going to church? No. Are they reading their scriptures and praying? From what I know, probably not. But I still love them and I am grateful they support me in this decision.
I know my Heavenly Father knows me and knows each one of His children personally. He knows our desires and ours thoughts. He loves me and everyone He created. He has truly blessed me with this mission call.
   Am I happy? Extremely.
   Am I excited? More than you believe.

My favorite quote from last night from my Aunt Lorel: "You can go be a sister missionary for Halloween on your mission!"