What the heck

Soooo this is my first post and one of the few that I will actually have posted. I have created this so that everyone can read my weekly emails to the family and see photos and what not. Starting June 29th my parents will take over this thing and run it while I am gone. And that is that.

I'm still trying to get over that fact that I will be serving in Africa for two years. I am totally stoked that I have the opportunity to serve a mission and cant wait to go, but the fact that I will be going to CONGO makes it sooo much better! I will try to relate to you what was running through my head when I read that letter signed by the Prophet himself.

Dear Elder Schmid: (Holy crap, here it is!! Of course I started getting a little emotional. I was only reading a letter I have been waiting for since June 15, 1992!)

You are hereby to called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Yes! Yes! Where am I going?!) You are assigned to labor in the Democratic (for some reason when I saw Democratic I was thinking Dominican Republic. I have a good friend who was just called there and I was like "Awesome! I'll be with Tanner!" and then I kept on reading) Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission. (First of all, I couldn't even say the mission name right. I pronounced Kinshasa, Kinisha. But that was the least of my worries. As I finished that sentence I had a million things going through my mind at once. For a second I was going 'holy cow, did I just read Congo?' and then I was thinking 'okay, where is the DR of Congo?' and then I was thinking 'OH MY GOSH THAT'S IN AFRICA!!!' and then my thoughts became my words and I started repeating 'What the heck?! What the heck?!' Everyone started screaming and I was just amazed at what I had just read. So a couple seconds went by as I took it in along with all my family and friends and then I continued to read. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months. (Okay, that's a no brainer. I was already planning on that one.)

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. (To be honest I was kind of bummed about this one. As we all know, Missionaries reporting to the MTC from the US report on Wednesdays. Well my 19th Birthday happens to be on a Wednesday, so I was hoping I could report on my birthday, oh well. At least I report only 2 weeks after! You will prepare to preach the gospel in the French language. (My first reaction was 'what the heck, they speak French in Africa?' Then I realized that many women think French is attractive. Awww yeah!! Could this assignment get any better?!) Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president. (I hope they don't modify it. I LOVE IT!)

I finished reading the letter right there. I know everyone has heard the rest of the letter a hundred times before so I thought I would spare them the boring stuff. After all, they were all there at my house just to listen to me read six sentences.

So that was what went down in my head. It took me one minute to read six sentences, seven if you include Dear Elder Schmid.

Before I opened my call everyone and their dog was asking me where I thought I would get called to serve. Psh, I don't know! I got so sick of that question so I just started saying Sacramento California because my best friend, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett, is serving there and I thought it would be so awesome to serve with him. Well, when I read Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa mission I knew that that is the place the Lord needs me to serve. I have always dreamed of going to Africa and experiencing life with those humble people and now I get to do it for two years. I get to not only spend time with them and learn with them, but I also get to share with them the most important message on this earth. I get to teach them their purpose here on Earth and I get to teach them who they are. I am so excited for the opportunity to serve the Lord for two years in Africa. I have amazing friends and family who have been great examples to me by going out and giving up two years of their lives to serve missions and now I have the chance to be that example to my younger friends and my family. I am so blessed to be a part of the Lords plan at this time!! I can't wait to being my adventure!

So I described to you what was going through my mind when I was reading my call. Now watch my face and the faces of the people around me. It never gets old.