Since this is my first post, I want to let you all know why I'm going on a mission, and what a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entails.
Serving a mission for the LDS church is a choice for women in the church, it's not required, and women aren't required to do so. But, ever since I was about twelve or so, I heard a talk by a general authority in the church (I don't even remember who) but they said that if you are a young women, and even thinking about serving a mission, you should do it. I know that's not a direct quote or anything, but ever since then, I knew that this was what I needed to do, and when I would turn 21, if my life was in the right place, I would serve a mission. In the October 2012 General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, announced that young men could now serve at the age of 18 (after they graduate high school) and young women could now serve when they turn 19! The moment The announcement was made, I got chills all over my body, and I just broke down crying. These were tears of joy of course! I felt this overwhelming sense of joy and comfort, especially during the press conference in between the two sessions that day. I knew that this announcement sped up the opportunity for me to serve, and I made an appointment to see the bishop and get my papers started right away! After all of the doctor visits, dentist visits, immunizations, and meetings with my stake president and my bishop, my papers were submitted!!! Usually it takes about 2 weeks to get a response, but of course I checked the mail box every day, twice a day, at least! After the first week, I asked my bishop what the status of my papers were (you can check online if a decision has been made yet), and he said they were still at the stake president's office! I guess he thought he had submitted them, but he didn't...soooo after about 2 more weeks I got my call on December 11th, 2012!
This is what I read aloud to all of my family in person, over the phone, and over skype:
Dear Sister Kuhns:
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 Honduras Comayagüela Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the Guatemala Missionary Training Venter on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I somehow always knew I would be serving in a Spanish speaking mission, but I never thought of Honduras! But I know this is exactly where Heavenly Father wants me, and needs me to go.
Recently, since moving back to Rexburg for preparing for my mission, I have been able to go with the spanish sister missionaries in Idaho Falls! This has been such an amazing experience! And somehow, I am able to comprehend the lessons that they teach in Spanish! I don't have enough guts to speak up during those lessons, but I know that I will catch on quickly in the MTC (Missionary Training Center).
So for the first 6 weeks of my mission, I will be in Guatemala. I will be learning, speaking, and studying Spanish and the gospel 24/7. I cannot wait to be completely immersed in this work! While there, my mailing address will be:
Sister Larissa Kuhns
Honduras Comayagüela Mission
Guatemala Missionary Training Center
Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71
Vista Hermosa I, Zona 15
Guatemala City 01015
GUATEMALA
I would love to receive letters!!!!!
The rest of my mission, I will be serving in the Comayagüela, Honduras mission.
While there, my mission address will be:
Sister Larissa Kuhns
Honduras Comayagüela Mission
Edificio Plaza America Contiguo a Sears
una cuadra del Mall Multi Plaza, 3 Nivel
Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
HONDURAS
Again, I would LOVE to hear from you! Any updates on your life, any questions, anything!!! And I will try my best to write back in a timely manner! Although, you can never be too sure about the mail service...
And....another way to contact me while I'm on my mission is by email! I should be able to check my email at least once a week, but I'm not sure how much time I'm allowed, so I'm sorry if I don't respond right away! I might just have to write you a letter :) but my email address will be (and you can start emailing me on April 17th!) :
larissa.kuhns@myldsmail.net
I hope to hear from you when I'm away!!!
To learn more about why I am serving, you can check out this page here.
If you have any questions, just ask!
Adios!
