5 days? Are you sure?

Aloha, everyone!

I am sitting here, chatting with my friend who is also reporting to Provo this coming Wednesday, and I just keep thinking.... am I really leaving in 5 days?

When I hit 29 days until my report date, I freaked out. 
One month!? In the twenties now!? AHHHH

Then here I am, procrastinating on packing and haven't even touched my laundry. Oh I leave in 5 days? That can't be real, but I guess I should do laundry. 
Shouldn't I be feeling more afraid? Nervous? Aware that I am actually leaving for 18 months in the matter of days? I'm not quite sure.

I DO know how excited I am for all of it though. I have heard so many amazing things about Hawaii. The kindness of the people, being immersed in a totally different culture, the beautiful sights, the flowers that grow on their own without care. How amazing will that be? (:

I have been so blessed. Not just to serve in one of the most beautiful places in the world, but to serve the Lord! So many people focus so much on the place they're serving, and forget what the ultimate thing is about this mission:

You are not called to a place, you are called to serve in place of the Savior.

Now I'm not pointing fingers, because before I received my mission call I was waaaayyyyy too hung up on where I'd be sent. I am truly being sent to represent CHRIST and help spread His gospel to all the world. My mission papers only took me a few weeks to complete, even though I thought they'd take months. I wasn't sure I'd be able to serve a full-time mission, yet, here I am.

I KNOW that I have been called to the Hawaii Honolulu Mission for a reason. There are people that I am meant to meet, and meant to be taught by. Yes, as much as I am going to be teaching them, they will be teaching me just as much, if not more. I cannot wait to find out what lessons I am to learn from the people of the islands (:

Mahalo, everyone! I will be starting to gather emails this weekend, let me know if you'd like to receive my weekly email while I'm gone! Either comment your email address below, OR you can subscribe to this blog and you'll be alerted every time a new post goes up.

Single Digits!

Aloha everyone!

As you have probably gathered, I have been called to serve in the Hawaii Honolulu mission (The Aloha Mission)! When I opened my mission call, I had a total of 109 days until I reported to the Provo Missionary Training Center. Now, suddenly, I have 9! WHAT?

The time has flown by, so fast. These past few weeks have been so challenging, but also so rewarding. Preparing myself to go through the Mesa Temple for my endowments, and writing me farewell talk came with a lot of anxiety. I do know, though, that I was never alone in the process. I have a strong testimony of this gospel, the power of prayer, the blessings of the temple.

My farewell talk was not only just that, it was also the first talk in sacrament meeting I've EVER given! I joined the church a year ago, so you can imagine I was feeling extremely nervous and terrified. The day prior to my talk, though, I went through the Temple with so many supporters, including one of the missionaries who taught me the gospel only a year ago. It was such a sweet and spiritual experience! I KNOW that I was able to deliver the best talk I could because of the calmness and strength I received from the temple.

I can only imagine how much more I will grow not only in the gospel, but as a person during my 18 month mission. My Mom will be posting my emails on this blog weekly while I'm gone, so you can either look for the link on Facebook those weeks I email, OR you can subscribe right there on the left via email (:

Mahalo, everyone!

~Sister Noriega

Mesa Arizona Temple! Where I received my endowments (: