I'm an RM?!

The honeymoon phase is over.

But it was great while it lasted--from Wednesday through Sunday. Anyway, I would eat at the opportunity to tell every experience I had on my mission in this post, but unfortunately, we don't have ten years to spare. If you're that interested, my mission blog has every weekly e-mail (plus more) at:

sistermonicahawkes.wordpress.com

I will refrain from putting my favorite mission pictures up, because I know I will probably be posting many of them in the future. New York is one of my "holy places," as Ann M. Dibb calls it, and that will require me to think of my mission every single day. Okay, maybe I'll just show you this one from last Tuesday.

President Francis and I had my exit interview in the Sacred Grove.
That's what I get for being the only missionary going home!

And then from my homecoming:

Jonesey. Alison. No words to describe our love.

NYRMies! 

My little Allie.

"If you're not a full-time missionary with a badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart...returned missionaries, find your old missionary tag. Don't wear it, but put it where you can see it. The Lord needs you now more than ever to be an instrument in His hands." -Elder Neil L. Andersen

Farewell.

I have the best friends and family in the world.

See you all next fall!

Wednesday is the day!

It's about time! I enter the MTC on the 16th. Finally. I also just got my MTC address e-mailed to me today. I posted both MTC and Mission, plus e-mail on here. In case anyone wants to write me. (hint hint)


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It is pretty surreal knowing I have only a few days left here at home. Then I have a year and a half of growing up to do. I've learned a lot about myself since I got my call six weeks ago. As much as I think I'm ready, it's going to hit me like a brick sooner or later. Hopefully sooner rather than later so I can get a move-on.


I've loved these past few weeks spending so much time with my friends and family. I have realized more and more that the Lord puts exactly who you need in your life. That's selfish of me to say that--I wish I could say that I've touched more lives than have touched mine. I am blessed to say that I have THE best cousins, friends, roommates, aunts, uncles...etc, that are the ones truly helping me on my mission. Without their support, I would not be packing up my life and leaving everything I love here, to find the capacity to love even more in New York.


I probably shouldn't be writing this...I should be writing my farewell talk that I have to give Sunday. It starts at 9 a.m. at the church across the street from my house, with lunch right after sacrament meeting in my yard. Everyone is invited! 

T minus 10 days.

At this point I'm just trying to squeeze in lots of memory-making adventures with all of my favorite people. 

Brooke came to visit me before our excursions...she's going to Wales! And Avengers is awesome. See it.

Then I took her on a tour of Centerville, and hit the weights! I'm still really sore...and I shouldn't be...

After Spencer's graduation party, we made a very last minute decision, but for $12.50, it was a great last minute decision.
Even though we lost. It was still fun. Happy Graduation Spence!

We went with the lovely Greg and Sara! 

Me, Grandma and my mom about to go in the Salt Lake Temple.

My anxiousness didn't help when I read this letter from Sister Jones that said I would be training the Hill Cumorah cast with her and our other greenie Sister Adams. Apparently there are six sisters that are in charge of that--three that have been there the year before, and three that are just coming into the mission. I even went to Temple Square with Sister Butters to visit Sister Willis after her return from Rochester! It was so great to finally meet her since I've heard so much. How do I already know and love this many sisters from my mission? Luck. Pure luck. They aren't only awesome, they're extraordinary women and I can't believe I'm associated with them.


Words cannot describe how excited I am. I literally can't sit still while thinking about New York and training 400+ volunteers to help us out on pageant nights. With only a week and a half left, I feel SO lazy not having my missionary tag on yet. I'm out of school with no job, just hanging out with friends. It's a great life, but I need to get a move-on! 


Oh, and wish my dad a happy 50th birthday today...he's half a century old! Happy Birthday, Dad!

Why I'm leaving for a year and a half.

"2 The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not; 3 Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son; 4 And blessed are you because you have believed; 5 And more blessed are you because you are called of me to preach my gospel-- 6 To lift up your voice as with the sound of a trump, both long and loud, and cry repentance unto a crooked and perverse generation, preparing the way for the Lord for his second coming." -Doctrine and Covenants 34:2-6


When I came across this, I knew I had finally pinpointed a reason as to why I was actually going on a mission. I'm not going to delay school or dating, or to get out of Provo, or even just to take a break from life. This most definitely is not taking a break, and I'm learning it's going to be a bigger sacrifice than I thought. I've always had such a strong desire to serve and now have fully committed myself--with no backing out now. 


Which was why I really appreciated "Who so loved the world that he gave his own life." Christ came down and dedicated his entire earthly life to the Father. 18 months really isn't a big deal. However, I didn't really think of the self-sacrifice I actually had to make when I turned in my papers. I knew I'd be leaving for awhile, but I just figured there's been hundreds of thousands of missionaries that have done it, so I would obviously have no problem. HA.


It's funny how I've subconsiously grown a lot closer to people that I now realize I will miss. As of now, I'm convinced this is my biggest sacrifice. I absolutely hate saying goodbye...I could maybe never see these people again. But it's given me a lot of comfort repeating the quote by President Hinckley in my head that I literally have to tell myself daily:


"You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make."


I know the next year and a half will change my life. Not only will it change my life, but it will change the life of my the man I someday will marry, our future kids, and especially the people I teach. I couldn't imagine having an opportunity present itself like this--and not jumping at the chance. Because everything in life is worth the wait if it has anything to do with the Lord's work. When these next two weeks are up, and all my "fun" is out, I'm putting my personal life in a small, little box in the back of my head. Of course I'll get homesick, but plowing through is my only option, with my head being completely immersed in missionary work. 


Bring it on.