Ye Elders of... What?
Never have I known something so much as I did that day. I remember sitting on top of a roof with my sister’s husband, Nick, who handed me the cell phone “It’s your mom” he said. I grabbed the phone and heard the joy in my mom’s voice. “It’s here Tycen, your call is here.”
Before I go on any further let me explain what a call is. See, in my church, we have the choice to go on what is called a mission. People everywhere, all across the world have seen the Mormons riding on their bikes or walking down the street, dressed in a suit and tie and wearing a name tag on their chest. That is what I wanted to do, I wanted to teach others what I believed. When you make the decision to go on a mission it is, or should be, your decision. YOURS.. between YOU and GOD.. Some people try to go out to impress their girlfriends or family and it makes me sick.. you can really tell when you are out there who WANTS to be there and who is just trying to float by for two years.
Anyway, when you finally make that decision you put in what are called your “papers” basically this is like a college application. It’s who you are, where you’re from etc. etc. Once you mail your papers to church head quarters, they mail you back what is called “a call” because you are “called” to teach in a certain area of the world. Currently the church has missionaries in 130 countries, so basically you can be called to just about anywhere in the world and you have no say in where you go. Getting your call is a big deal.. because obviously it contains where you are headed for the next two years of your life.
So back to my story.. My call arrived at the house, as I hung up with my mom I KNEW for sure I was headed to Italy. For some reason I had always loved Italy, the history, the pictures, the culture.. I remember praying how much I wanted to go to Italy. I just KNEW I was heading there.. the rest of the day I wasn’t even worried about it, I knew where I was going.. I didn’t even have to open my call.
I got home and friends and family flooded my house. Everyone started making bets on where I was headed.. I looked at the envelope on the table and once again I knew I was right..
I opened my call and began to read..
Elder PoVey.. you are now being called by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to teach the people of…
My eyes read the next two words but my mind and heart didn’t believe it. I remember sitting there as my heart sunk into my stomach and doubt began to cloud my mind..
to teach the people of… Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville? I can’t be called to Nashville.. I can go anywhere within the world and I get called to Nashville? Can’t I call someone? This has got to be a mistake.. I want to learn a different language and see different cultures and people and baptize 50 people a month like Nick did in Brazil.. I can’t go to NASHVILLE.. that’s the BIBLE BELT.. no one will listen to me!
That night I prayed to god to let me know that was the right decision for me. Cause I really was struggling with the fact that I was bound to stay inside the US.. Does god not trust me to learn another language? Does he not think I am a good enough missionary to go across the globe?
I prayed and prayed and prayed.. but god.. being the 4th watch god.. he didn’t answer.. he let me go out on my journey so that I could learn what I know now.. with his help.. through great and wonderful experiences..
(To be continued..)
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