The Field

January 26th, 2018

I had been so anxiously awaiting the arrival of a big white envelope that would contain my call and assignment to serve for almost 3 weeks. I was studying at Utah State University at the time and I remember sitting in class one Thursday morning when I got a video from my mom. I opened it without thinking and saw that big white envelope and almost screamed in an auditorium of 400 students. I couldn't get back to Riverton to open it until the following day since I was still in school so by the next morning I was dying. Literally the minute my classes got out I was on the road toward home. A close friend who was already serving a mission recommended that before I got my call I should start praying to love the people of my mission, wherever it would be. That brought so much peace to my anxious heart. I had been planning on serving a mission ever since I could remember and my parents felt the same way. I'll be totally honest that when it came time to start my papers, I didn't even think to pray about it and ask if it was what I needed to do. I was just always that sure. I stared at that envelope for what seemed like eternity until it was time to open it. I cried like a baby because I'm like that, but I also felt an overwhelming sense of peace being surrounded by my closest friends and family. 

"Dear Sister Skolmoski, 

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 California Carlsbad Mission."

First of all, I grew up going to San Diego and Carlsbad and if I were to get called anywhere in the United States, I would want it to be there. Second of all, my aunt and her family happened to live in my mission and her cute daughter was not yet baptized. That little miracle will come later. 

SPANISH SPEAKING. Okay so I took ASL and French in school. Talk about a plot twist okay? But honestly I was pumped because I wanted to learn Spanish so badly. 

May 8th, 2018 HOLY CRAP. I put my eligibility date for May 7th because I figured I wouldn't get called right then. I'd probably have a few weeks to wait. Nope. Jokes on me because I was about to be on a plane to Mexico City 4 days after finals. Trials of faith, everybody. 

The next 3 1/2 months were spent doing all things mission preparation and as little schooling as I could get away with without ruining my GPA. I was way too excited to focus on anything else. Don't worry, no grades were very harmed in the process. 

March 3, 2018

I have always loved attending the temple, but around the time I started my mission papers, I kept feeling like I needed a little spiritual boost and I wasn't quite getting it. I couldn't figure out what that was until I finally got to go to the temple and receive my endowment. That ended up being one of the greatest days of my life. I remember so many people telling me not to worry about anything except the way that I felt and, thankfully, I don't think I'll ever forget it. Being in the celestial room with my family felt like a glimpse into what heaven will be like and I will keep that with me forever. 

The temple continued to be a huge blessing to me as I prepared to leave. I tried to attend weekly and I'm pretty positive that's what saved my sanity during those last few weeks. The spirit works in interesting ways sometimes though because when finals week finally rolled around, I was totally chill. My work paid off, I passed, packed up all my stuff, and left Logan on May 4th. 

May 7th, 2018

Two of my best friends and college roommates took me out for a little adventure since we were about to be separated for a little over 18 months. They both had mission calls as well, one to Mongolia and the other to Bolivia. Goodbyes are hard, but we were all too excited for each other. 

Later that night my family and I made our way to see my stake president to be set apart. Thankfully, my cute grandma writes real fast and got some of my blessing written down for me. That became a huge strength to me during my mission. He talked a lot about the gift of tongues I would be blessed with (hallelujah), the people and companions I would meet and love, and the power I would feel as I taught and testified. 

May 8th, 2018

Well this day seemed to never come and then all of a sudden there it was. The drive to the airport was pretty silent. My sisters sat close to me and held my hands and cried. I'm a sympathetic crier so you know I was a mess too. My cute little sister Abby put her little stuffed animal moose on my bag before we left that morning and told me to keep it with me. I took that with me my entire mission. We walked in and got up the steps and then my dad said "okay Kam, time to go" and I was like hold the phone we just got here. I am so not ready for this. I hugged everybody and my mom told me not to look back so I got into the security line and just looked ahead with so much uncertainty, but also so much faith. I mean I had been waiting for this day since I was a little girl and now it was here and I was so ready to share the message that I loved the most. 

I was in a group of about 7 missionaries that were headed to the Mexico MTC the same day. Thank goodness for them because I was terrified. Many of them ended up being in my district. The streets of Mexico were a little crazy as we drove from the airport to the MTC, but once we passed through the gated walls, it was like a whole other world. There were only about 130 missionaries there when I arrived and Americans were outnumbered by Latinos about 2 to 1. That was a blessing all on its own. 

I don't remember much about that day, except the moment I put my tag on. They handed us our arrival envelopes and there they were inside. Hermana Skolmoski. SO FREAKING EXCITED THIS IS THE COOLEST THING EVER. I was finally a real missionary and you know I was ready to be the best one ever. 

Kami