I love to see the Temple!

When I arrived home in December, I was still waiting patiently for my mission call. However, I did not have the chance to sit in front of my mailbox every day, as I went out of town to visit my brother and his family in Arizona. With that in mind, I asked my roommate from college to watch the mailbox for me, as I was hoping my call would arrive while I was gone. She was home for the holidays and was more than willing to watch for me so that I could enjoy the Christmas days with my family. While we were in Arizona, I was able to go with my mom and sister in law to the Temple Distribution Center and pick out a temple dress for the upcoming day that I would be able to go to the temple. This was such a sweet sacred experience for me to be able to go and spend the day with my mom and sister to chose the outfit I was to wear for my special day in the temple. I have always wanted older sisters, and I have been given two wonderful women as my older sisters, and it was such a special day to be able to spend time with one that lives so far away.

This is my mom and I outside of the Distribution Center.

Chile Fever!!!

After opening my call, I realized the frenzy had begun. I had four and a half months to prepare to leave, and I hadn't a clue where to start. It was the beginning of January, and I had come home from Brigham Young University Idaho, where I was attending school. I had anticipated to leave as soon as my birthday came by in March, but I was quick to realize that the time I left was not my timing but Heavenly Father's. I had left my school, apartment, friends, and callings in order to serve a mission and I was to be home for the next few months. This was a little frustrating to me, as I had a long wait ahead of me. However after a few fervent prayers, and phone calls I was able to register online at BYU-Idaho to finish my second semester of college online. As soon as I registered for classes, I was able to begin learning. However I had no idea what was to come in the next few weeks. I have learned that when Heavenly Father calls one of His children to serve on a mission, He intends to shape and refine them until they are prepared to serve the people in their mission to their needs.

When I first received my mission call, I had over 136 days until I reported to the MTC. In the course of this time I was able to prepare in ways that I would never had been able to, had I remained at school in Rexburg.

In January, the excitement of my call still fresh, I was able to go to the temple and receive the gifts and promises Heavenly Father had for me, as well as to make sacred covenants to Him. A few days later, I was able to be called to work in the temple.

Over the course of the next few months I was able to learn to rely on my Savior, as well as my Father in Heaven to be able to help with the work for the dead on earth. It was through these months that I was able to learn that my mission did not start May 20th, 2015, but the very day I opened my mission call on January 2, 2015. I was called of God to serve and bring others to Christ, and that did not mean I had to wait four and a half months until I could serve with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength. I was called to serve every day, today, tomorrow, and throughout the next eighteen months as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This is the Boise, Idaho Temple. A place that I have grown to love as much as my own home.

My Mission Call

Dear Sister Barthlome,

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 Chile Osorno Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president....

After a long wait of three weeks, my mission call came in the mail Saturday January 2, 2015. My mom and I had checked our mailbox three different times that day, before I finally was able to open the mailbox and see my call waiting for me to open. It really was a moment where the third time is the charm. When I held my call in my hands I was able to feel the excitement of actually receiving my own mission call. 

After reading the words of my call, I was in shock to find out that I was called to serve in the Chile Osorno Mission. I was so excited that I accidentally called it the "Chile Osborno Mission," and  I had to cling to the banister of the staircase. I couldn't believe that I had been called to southern Chile, of the entire world, and I knew this was where Heavenly Father wanted me to be.

 As soon as my call came in the mail, we were in a frenzy of phone calls, skype calls, as well as driving to Walmat for treats and napkins. While I was out my mom sent me a few pictures of herself with my call, as she threatened to open it for me if I didn't hurry back from the store. Needless to say, I was speeding through the checkout lines and rushing home as fast as I could within reason of traffic laws.