My first blog post! I'm pretty excited. Also, kind of nervous that my friends are going to be reading this! I'm hoping this will help me not only become a better writer, but will give me some practice before writing home every week to my parents and family when I go on my mission! I cannot believe that I am sitting here waiting for a mission call. I remember being four-years-old in primary with my sister, and every one of us was given a little piece of paper tailored to each child; mine saying, "Sister Moyes, you are hereby called to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Toyko, Japan Mission." I saw that paper and knew at that very moment what my purpose in this life was. I knew that if I put all my trust in God and His son Jesus Christ, that they would help me become the person I needed to be so that I could one day be their hands in bringing the world the "good news;" the everlasting gospel. It was only 5 short years later that my oldest brother, Nick, whom I look up to so much, received his mission call, which then said, "Elder Moyes, you are hereby called to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Tokyo, Japan Mission." I could not believe it. I later discovered that my Uncle Bruce, who had passed away before I was even born, had served the same mission. Not only that, but my mother and her family had lived in Japan for three years as a child when Grandpa was stationed there in the Navy.
I never assumed I would be going there as well, although that would be amazing, I have just always felt it was a way of calling out to me saying, "hey, this could be you!" And I knew I wanted it to be. Unfortunately, as I aged and soon became a teenager, as so many teenagers do, I lost sight of that desire. My first couple of years in high school are not ones worth mentioning, but I definitely learned so many life-lessons that I keep dear to my heart. The biggest lesson I learned was that by keeping my Heavenly Father out of my life, it was impossible to be happy. I gave up on myself, I gave up on school, I gave up trying. The only thing I had was swimming, and that ended when I had to have surgery. I have always loved school, loved to work hard, loved learning, and loved being happy. When I lost that, I felt I had nothing. Lucky for me (a blessing, really), I have parents who refused to give up on me; and it paid off. By the beginning of my Senior year, much praying and reading my scriptures, and lots of asking for forgiveness from my family as well as from our Father in Heaven, occured. When I did such, doors were opened, my vision clear, and my desire to become was as if it had never left me. It was not easy getting there, but well worth it. My relationship with my parents grew stronger and stronger every day, as well as with my friends and siblings. Relationships I thought were lost forever.
Audrey Hepburn said, "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says "I'm possible!" I could not agree more. I've heard so many say how they have gotten themselves way too deep, and it's impossible to get out. Nothing is impossible when we are doing the will of the Lord, and putting all our faith in that if we strive to be the most perfect person we can be God will bless us with strength to overcome any challenge, any heartache, and any sin or despair. We have His promise. But we must do our part as well. I know that as we take action, and are willing to have a change of heart, we will truly be happy and gain the pure love of Christ. Nothing is impossible. If I am possible. then so is everyone else.
