I Love To See The Temple, I Went Inside Today- January 3,2015

Along with the excitement of getting your mission call, every future missionary has the opportunity to go to the temple. (For those who have questions about what the temple is used for, follow this link: http://www.mormon.org/faq/topic/temples/question/use-of-temples)

For most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, going to the temple is a major milestone and goal we are constantly striving for. For me, I've known since I got baptized that someday I would go inside. When I began preparing for my mission, I knew that one of the steps I would take would be going to the temple. Working on my missionary recommendation, I was almost more excited about the temple than I was about knowing where I would be spending 18 months of my life!

The Reno, Nevada Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. This is the temple I had the opportunity to
receive my endowments in.
Photo Courtesy of lds.org 

I will always remember January 3, 2015. I could barely sleep the night before. I woke up with more excitement and energy than I had had in months and wanted it to be noon already so that I could be on my way to the temple!

To say that my day went perfectly would be a huge lie. I lost two of my bobby pins (those are really important, especially considering how thick my hair is), I had a cut on my forehead that just did not want to hide behind my make-up, we got lost trying to find the babysitter's house for my youngest sibling, and I was late! For those of you who know me, I hate being late. Luckily, it was only 15 minutes late and everything was still fine. Even with all the little struggles I had (and man, the struggle was real!), I was so at peace when I walked through the doors of the temple.When all was said and done, I was so grateful for the opportunity to go through the temple and make sacred covenants with my Heavenly Father.

Temple day!

I know that the temple is the House of the Lord. I love how strongly I can feel the Spirit there. I will always live in a way that will allow me to enter the temple because I know that it is the only place on earth that I can feel as close to God as I did the first time I went to the temple. I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so grateful for my family and the constant love and support they show me. Heavenly Father has truly blessed me with people in my life who care about me and who continue to help me develop into the woman He needs me to be.

I love you all and can't wait to share my experiences with you as I go through this great time in my life!

Love always,
Sister McEldowney

The Wait Is Over!

Most people love summer, right? They wish it could last forever? Wrong! Summer 2014 had to be the longest summer of my life (literally and figuratively). In high school I would have killed for a 5 month summer, but college changes things. . . especially when you're preparing for a mission! 

I hadn't even been away from school for 12 hours when it hit me that I was supposed to start preparing for a mission. Finally knowing that I was preparing for something I wanted to do so badly was the greatest end-of-the-semester gift I could have asked for. I was through the roof! 

When I got back home, I started getting more and more excited. I told my parents that I had a desire to serve and talked to my bishop as soon as I could after that. I started my missionary recommendation and the preparation began! I knew I would be leaving in January at the earliest, so I wouldn't know where I was called until September at the earliest. Little did I know I would end up waiting 2 extra months!

I'll save you all the boring details and get right down to it, after months of delays, I finally turned my mission papers in on October 28, 2014!

My mission call had FINALLY arrived!

I was one of those lucky people who only waited 9 days for their call to be assigned, sent, and arrive in my mailbox. November 6, 2014, was the day I had been anticipating since that brisk April night so long before.

I remember shaking as I opened the mailbox. I was terrified my mission call would not be in there. I wish I could say that I opened the box slowly to savor the moment, but I would be lying if I did. I threw that sucker open and screamed when I saw that beautiful white envelope with my name on it. Yes, I literally screamed. I just had to wait 8 hours to open it. . ..

All day I was antsy and would not let my call leave my hands. Eight hours is a long time to wait to find out where you'll be spending 18 months of your life! Who could blame me for being so excited?

When 8 o'clock finally rolled around I had my family and two close friends on Skype, plus the people I cared about most at school. Opening my mission call was all I hoped for and more!

Brazil Santos Mission, here I come!

Dear Sister McEldowney,

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 Brazil Santos Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

Brazil! I'm going to Brazil and speaking Portuguese! The wait is finally over!

I am so excited to be able to serve the Lord and the people of Brazil. I know the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It has brought me so much joy in my life and I can't wait to share that joy with others. 

See ya soon Brazil!

Love always,

Sister McEldowney