My Mini Farewell

I spoke in church today! And to my surprise it was FANTASTIC!! I am totally the kind of person who writes out word for word what to say -- including my introduction and testimony at the end right down to "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen". It was a pretty short talk because my ward wanted as many students leaving on missions to speak before we leave for Christmas. But I was still SO nervous!! I hate speaking in front of people! Like to the point I start to breathe really shallowly and get really tense and totally forget what I'm trying to say. That is probably my biggest fear about going on a mission. I am going to have to give lots of talks, lessons, spiritual thoughts... stuff like that EVERY DAY!! I have been praying so much and trying to get past that so that won't hold me up for the next 18 months. So anywho... back to my talk story. I walked up to the podium and looked up at the congregation. All my fear and stress totally left!! I was not nervous at all!! And I ended up only using my word for word written up version of my talk as a reference! I looked up at people almost the entire time and didn't even think anything of it! It was a Christmas miracle!!! And not only did it make me super happy to get through my talk today, but it made me feel so much better about my mission! I know giving talks and lessons and everything will still be hard, but I know that I will have the Lord's help and that it'll all be ok :)


P.S. I AM LEAVING A MONTH FROM TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Temple Square

Yesterday I got to spend pretty much the whole day up on temple square! I went up with a few of my friends to go to the huge future sister missionary gathering. We wanted to take the frontrunner since it was free yesterday, buuuut we didn't really think about the bunches and bunches of other people who were thinking the same exact thing. So we ended up having someone come save us and we drove up to Salt Lake. But by then we had pretty much missed the get together... oh well. So we just walked around temple square and talked to lots of the sister missionaries! :) It was great!

Then I got to go do a session in the Salt Lake temple!!! And let me just say... I thought I loved the temple before getting my endowments... and it just gets so much better!! I got to go for the first time in the Portland, OR temple with my family over Thanksgiving. And I seriously just love the temple. It is the best place ever. I had been the only one of my group to do a session since no one else has gone yet. So at the end there were all these huge groups of people there together and I felt just a little lonely that I was by myself (only not too lonely since it is the temple and it was still beautiful and amazing and peaceful and like nothing else!) So I went and sat on a couch by myself. Like 30 seconds later this lady came over and asked if I was there by myself. I said yes and so she stayed and chatted with me for a little bit. When I told her I was there because I am about to serve a mission in Cape Verde, she got so excited!! She was there with a family whose son is there right now!! So when they came in we all talked about Cape Verde and their son and my mission! It was meant to be! The Lord is so aware of our thoughts and our needs and is so ready to help us :)

Afterwards I got to see all the beautiful lights and everything on temple square. It was such a perfect day :)

Change

I am still trying to grasp how much has changed over the past couple months! Two months ago today I made the decision to serve a mission! And here I am now, done with school for the next 18 months, and getting myself ready to go preach the gospel to the people of Cape Verde!! I could not be happier! I am still an emotional roller coaster at times, but things really could not be better! Letters and emails are my favorite things ever! This week I finally got the first letter from him since he found out where I'll be going. And can I just say that I love that boy?!? He is the sweetest. I am so excited that we get to (kind of) share the experience of going on a mission! And I was just thinking about how even though we'll get back just about the same time, he'll be the one at the airport anxiously waiting for ME to come home! And I seriously cannot wait until that moment :)

I Won't Give Up :)

This is pretty much my favorite song. Even if it makes me cry every time.

I sure love that red-headed missionary :)

I am going WHERE?!?!?

My mission call came yesterday!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!! It was the longest day OF MY LIFE!!! I had class and work most of the day and couldn't open it until 8pm! But then 8 came!!! I skyped my family and had at least 4 phones on speakerphone. And my little apartment was packed full of my roommates and friends and my sister!

I opened the big white envelope and pulled out my call!! My hands were shaking so much I could hardly read it! And it said.....

"Dear Sister Turley: 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 Cape Verde Praia Mission..."

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually didn't even know where in the world that was or how to pronounce the city! As it turns out, I will be spending 18 months on these 10 BEAUTIFUL islands off the coast of AFRICA!!!!!!!!

Yep. Pretty much I'll be living in PARADISE!!

I report to the Provo MTC January 9th! So soon!! And I'll be speaking Portuguese! Which is kind of a scary thought... but really I have no doubt that I can do it. It's going to be super challenging, but the Lord has obviously been guiding the entire last month of my life. He knows that I can do this, so I know I can do this!

I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity!!! I don't know how I'm going to finish out this semester when all I can think about now is going on a mission to Cape Verde!!! 

If mail wasn't exciting enough

My mission call is IN THE MAIL!!!!! My bishop just let me know that I've officially been assigned a mission and that I'll get the call in the mail any day now!!!! AAAHHHHH!!!! So on top of already checking the mail for letters from Daniel every time I get a chance, now I have my call coming too!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!

Goodbye 600's!

599 DAYS LEFT!!! I have officially made it out of the 600's! Here's hoping the next 599 go by quickly!

Happy moments

Today I was standing in the wilk waiting for my Jamba Juice to be ready. All of a sudden someone came up from behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and didn't see anyone and for just a split second I really hoped it was Daniel. That is something he'd do to me ALL the time :) Tap my shoulder and duck out of the way before I saw him. And for just that split second I was so happy. For just that second, it was like I forgot he ever left. Turns out it was Cosmo... I was so confused...

That was probably brought about because of a dream I had last night. It was the best dream I've had for a long time. The kind that your alarm interrupts and you try so hard to go back to sleep to make it come back. I dreamed I was at school just finishing up work. Then, for some reason, a bunch of missionaries were helping at work day. And Daniel was there. He was a missionary still and I didn't want him to see me. Maybe I thought he wasn't allowed to see me? I'm not really sure why... But anyway... I just watched him for a while, so happy that he was there :) And then as I was leaving, he saw me. As soon as he saw me, the biggest smile I have ever seen in my life flashed onto his face. We both knew we couldn't even hug or anything, but I can't even describe how good it was to see him... even though it was just a dream... I know there was more to it after that, but I can't remember the rest. But it put me in such a happy (but kind of bittersweet) mood this morning :)

And then today is friday! Which means, today is the day the Quorum of the 12 (usually) look at mission applications!!!! So right now, Elder Holland or Elder Oaks could be looking at MY picture next to all of MY information and deciding just where Sister Turley should go!!! They probably won't actually look at my application until next week since it just went in a few days ago, but there is a small chance!

Oh happy day!

ANOTHER LETTER CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!! Oh my goodness!! So exciting!! 2 letters in 3 days?? And this one was written two weeks ago today! Which is the fastest one has come so far- the past ones have taken at least 3 and sometimes at least 4 weeks to get here! So it was a VERY nice surprise today :)

Also, I have my stake president interview TOMORROW!!!! I was really nervous about what in the world I was going to do- because the only time they could fit me in for an interview was 6pm tomorrow. The problem is, I have a class until 6:30 that usually I'd be totally fine leaving just a few minutes early. But tomorrow I have a quiz AND a presentation! I emailed my professor and told him the whole story. And guess what!! He says the quiz will be at the beginning of class and I can present first! So I'll be done by around 5 and can leave when I need to!!

And then tonight we had a bonfire in the canyon for FHE. It was so much fun! I wasn't planning on going because I have SO much work to do this week, but right as they were all leaving, I got an email from one of my TAs. The quiz in my living prophets class (which also means the huge reading assignment is due) was put in wrong on the schedule- it is not until next week!!

And then if all of that didn't make for a good enough day, we played with the parachute in my elementary PE class this morning :)

Thumb Wrestling

One of my favorite things about Daniel is that we'd always act totally crazy and silly together. Some times we would imagine what other people might think of these two ridiculous looking people skipping (while trying to out jump each other!) across the sidewalk. Or once I was pointing out how Daniel always knows EVERYONE's name and always says hi to them. I'm pretty sure he knew half the BYU freshman class last year. I am terrible with names, plus I really just didn't know as many people as he did. So he dared me to just make up names of people we'd walk past and very loudly say hi and try to make conversation with them. So I did. :)

Well yesterday I saw a couple thumb wrestling each other. It made me smile because that is something we did ALL the time! We'd be holding hands and then one of us would stick our thumb on top and then before we knew it it was like we were full on wrestling each other trying to just win the thumb war. He is my favorite :)


P.S. I have an interview with the Stake President THIS TUESDAY!!!! AAHHHH!!! Which means my mission papers will be officially in this week!!!

I love mail!

This morning I was really missing Daniel. Like a lot. I had a little bit of a breakdown.

But then the mail came... and THERE WAS A LETTER!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!! I pretty much turned into a smiling and laughing and crying mess. He is the best. The. Best. He told me all about a couple of his investigators and how things are going with them and how much he loves being a missionary. Then he said (in a VERY long and round about way... haha...) how exciting it is that in just a couple months I'll be in China (since he wrote this letter right before conference)! And that not many people get to send letters from Chile to China or visa versa. And that especially considering the small number of letters that go between those two countries, he is pretty darn lucky to get letters from me and that I am the best :) At the end he said "I am not completely sure if that made very much sense. But I am sure that if you read over it, maybe backwards, it might make a little bit of sense :)" haha... 

He just makes me so happy :)

Venting...

I've never understood the people who think they know so much more about my life and my decisions than I do. Just because so many other girls have not waited for their missionary, does not mean that is always the case. And that definitely does not mean that has to be my case. Don't think for one second that this has been easy, or that I don't care about what happens, or that you know more about me than I do. It might seem like a silly or stupid or hopeless thing to do to wait two years for a boy who things may or may not end up working out with. But if you have found someone you truly want to spend eternity with and cannot image it any other way, two years is nothing. And stupid, ignorant, thoughtless comments from others may make things so much harder than they should be, but those comments and those people could not possibly matter less. What those people say or think does not change who you are or the happiness and joy you have felt and will feel when those two years are over.

Mission Papers!

MY MISSION PAPERS ARE IN!!!!!

Check out all those lovely little check marks in every box. And those lovely red words at the bottom. Who finished her papers in less than a week?? This girl!!! Now I just have to have my interview with the bishop and then with the stake president!!

"Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies"

Everything is just falling right into place! With the announcement of 19 year old girls being able to serve missions, I feel like I need to go. There is no where else I need to be more right now. And by right now, I mean exactly that! I can't believe I am saying this, but I am no longer going to China. I got an email from the program director this morning, explaining how because my visa, airfare, etc hadn't been purchased yet, I am able to get a full refund, minus the $150 application fee. What a huge blessing!! I also realized that by not going to China, and by serving a mission, my half-tuition scholarship for next semester (that I was planning on completely losing) is able to be deferred!! BYU allows students to defer scholarships basically only for missions or extreme circumstances, so this way I don't lose that huge amount of money! The money situation was really the biggest thing stopping me from putting in my papers as soon as I possibly can, so now I do not have to worry at all about that! Even the China experience itself I am just fine missing. Which is crazy!! I didn't think there could be anything that could convince me not to go teach in China for a semester, and yet here I am!

But really, as I look back on my *almost* China experience, it has absolutely prepared me for a mission. I have a passport. I have immunizations. I have sold my winter housing contract. I have my wisdom teeth out and dentist's and doctor's appointments already taken care of. I have been working and saving money. And I am simply in the mindset to leave school.

Also, the timing works out perfectly! I'm not sure exactly when I will leave, but Daniel and I will both serve missions at the same time, and then come home at almost exactly the same time!

So now I have an interview with my bishop tomorrow!! I honestly cannot believe this is all actually happening!! As of two days ago, I had my life all planned out! A mission never even crossed my mind! But apparently Heavenly Father has other plans for me. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is where I need to be for the next 18 months. And I am so excited!!!

Called To Serve

So pretty much I went into conference this weekend with the next several years of my life all planned out and ready to go. Crazy how one statement can change ALL of that!! Worthy boys are now able to serve a mission at 18, and girls are now able to serve at 19!!! I have never seriously thought about or considered serving a mission until I was old and married and serving a senior mission. But now that is all I can see myself doing! And getting to serve at the same time Daniel is serving a mission! I am SO SO SO excited for this opportunity!!!

The only thing is, I have already been accepted into and paid for the China Horizons program. Which as of Saturday morning at 9:59am I could not have been more excited for! Now, going to China means not being able to leave for a mission until after next June which is Daniel's halfway mark. That puts me with 6 months left of a mission (at least!) when he gets home :( Either that or losing the money I've spent on the program.

So I've got some big decisions to make over the next few weeks. I know I want to and am supposed to serve a mission. (Which by the way I am still trying to wrap my head around that!) It is really just a matter of when.


****Update!!!****

I just realized I have a half-tuition scholarship going un-used for this next semester. Because I am (was?) planning on going to China, I was going to lose that (BYU doesn't let you take online classes with that money or wait until a later semester to use it). BUT!!!! BYU lets missionaries defer scholarships!!!! (Or at least I'm like 95% sure) SOOOO if I go on a mission instead of China, I lose $825. If I go to China, I lose $2500. So basically money is no longer a factor!! AHHH!!!!!!

Life is good :)

This week has just been so great so far! Everything is just going so well, and life is just so great!

Here's just a few of the things that have made me happy over the past few days :)

• I got three (THREE!) emails from Daniel (and hopefully some pictures are coming soon!)
• I have made it through over 100 days of waiting that I never have to see again
• Got a 36/35 on my Living Prophets quiz
• Played drums and danced like a crazy person in my Elementary Music class
• My family is coming this week
• General conference is this weekend
• It is absolutely beautiful outside. I love fall here.
• I have the best roommates ever
• BYU devotionals every tuesday
• Seeing a huge group of missionaries bowling in the Wilk (Is that totally weird that can make me so happy?)
• Writing letters to Daniel
• We finally won a football game
• My ward is so great
• We have Christmas lights up in our apartment
• BYU creamery ice cream is the best. And creamery chocolate milk. I could pretty much live off of those.

100 DAYS!!!

Daniel has been out 100 days!!!!

Crazy!!! It feels like forever since I've seen him, but at the same time I can't believe it's already been 100 days!

And only 630 more days to go!!

I haven't heard from him for a while... but that is ok. Between him being super busy and the mail taking forever to get here from Chile, I can't expect a letter every week. Although my roommates say I am a little obsessed with checking the mail... haha :)


On a side note, I get to see my family in less than a week! They are driving down for general conference and a football game. I am so excited!! Pretty much I have the best family ever :)

Temple Dedication

Today my roommates and I went to the Brigham City temple dedication. It was SO AMAZING! I honestly don't have words to describe it. I have never gotten to go to a temple dedication before (at least one that I was old enough to remember...) so this was a new experience for me. We watched a broadcast of it in the Marriot Center, and let me just say that I can not remember a time that I have felt the spirit that strong. And when we all stood and shouted hosanna and then sang The Spirit of God! Oh my goodness! It was all just so beautiful and peaceful and just amazing!

Birthday!

I finally got Daniel's birthday package mailed off today! I am so excited!! I basically sent him a birthday in a box- complete with birthday tiaras (one for him and one for his companion), spongebob noise-maker thingies, balloons, a pin the tail on the donkey game, and some other great birthday goodies. I also got a little photo book full of quotes/scriptures and pictures of the two of us... just in case he forgot what I look like ;) 

And then I attacked the outside of the box with "Feliz Cumpleanos" and "Happy Birthday". 

The guy at the post office said, "Woah! This is one happy package!" haha :)

Happy almost 20th birthday Elder Kelly! :)

Get baptized maybe?

I got Daniel's first letter from Chile!!!!!! Well actually I got TWO letters!!!!

 Pretty much made my whole day. Or week. Or past 2 weeks. But anywho... He is doing so great!!! He is absolutely loving being there and it is so much fun getting to hear all his stories. He says the food is absolutely delicious! Which for anyone who knows Daniel is crazy!! He is pretty much the pickiest eater on the planet... haha :) He also says he is in the "gangsta part of town with lots of interesting people and graffiti".... But he loves the ward and his companion is great and he just sounds so happy to be there :) And I am just so happy for him! :)

And I found a pretty great meme to send in next week's letter... haha :)

Lucky

I sure do love this boy :) And I sure am lucky even if he is a few thousand miles away :)

Letters!

2 letters in 3 days + 2 more emails = One happy Jaime!!! :D

Back at School

Well I am back at BYU. Before my family dropped me off here, we decided to take a huge road trip to Louisiana! It took us 4 days to get there, but we made it! We got to spend 5 days there with my grandma, going to New Orleans, inner tubing down a lazy river, visiting the Baton Rouge temple, catching frogs and lizards, and lots of other fun stuff! It was a very fun trip :) The downside of it though, was that I didn't get a letter for 2 weeks... I just barely missed Daniel's letter he sent to my house, and then I had given him my grandma's address so that I could get a letter there, but it came the day after we left! Bummer!! I still have gotten his emails though :) AND... He is now in CHILE!!! This was his first week there! I haven't heard from him since, but I am SO excited for him! 

I am pretty excited for this semester! I have great roommates and classes and everything! And I am almost all unpacked and moved in now. Today I started my job at the cougareat- which let me just say I and SO happy to not be waking up at 3:45 in the morning to go clean toilets like last year! Hopefully this job will go well!

Walking around on campus today was WAY harder than I expected though. Everything reminds me of Daniel. I kept hoping I'd be able to meet up with him for lunch or show him my new apartment. Or I'd see a tall red-headed boy on campus who looks kind of like him from behind. Or I'd walk past our classrooms or his apartment from last year... As hard as it is, I am so glad that I got to have one year here with him before he left. And in 22 months he will be back here with me :)

Blue and Yellow

Last week I sent Daniel and blue and yellow care package! Blue is Daniel's favorite color, and mine is yellow. It has always been our thing to have everything be blue and yellow. Like whenever I'd eat at his house, they would make sure to give us the blue and yellow plates, only I'd have the blue one and Daniel would have the yellow one. Or whenever anyone in my family sees ANYTHING that is those colors they say "Awwww look! It's blue and yellow!" :) So everything in this package is blue and yellow! 

Waiting

Hello! My name is Jaime Turley and I am a little over one month into waiting for my absolute best friend in the whole world. Elder Daniel Kelly is currently serving a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Right now he is in the Provo MTC right learning Spanish and preparing to teach in the Rancagua, Chile mission. I cannot even begin to say how excited I am for him and the opportunities and experiences ahead of him. I am so proud of his decision to put everything else on hold while he serves the Lord for 2 whole years. That being said, it is also so incredibly hard being away from him and only getting to hear from him twice a week through letters and emails. But, I know that he is where he is supposed to be, and I wouldn't have it any other way! :)


Here's a couple of pictures of the two of us :)

 At his missionary open house :)


Elder Kelly with me and my family right after he was set apart :)