To Serve or Not To Serve?

Ia Orana. My name is Sister Hayley Spackman. In January of 2014 I was called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was assigned to labor in the Tahiti Pape'ete Mission speaking French and Tahitian. I will be serving from June 2014 to December 2015.  I could not be more excited!

President Thomas S. Monson announced the lowered age for young men and women missionaries in General Conference of October 2012. At first, I was resistant to go on a mission. I told myself that a mission was definitely not for me. Then one day, while praying to know where to apply for school, I received an answer that I could not deny. The Lord needed me to serve a mission.

Since then, maintaining the desire to serve and the motivation to prepare has not been easy. My heart wanted to go, but my mind would try to justify staying home to make money or to complete my education. These past few months have been some of the most trying months of my life. My testimony has been challenged and many temptations have been thrown my way. During these trials, my life was hard, but looking back, I wouldn't have traded any of them for something else. Every single hard time was worth it because through them, I have been able to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ exponentially.

To all you brethren and sisters out there who are trying to win the fight against the Adversary. Keep fighting. I testify that God is on your side. And if God be for us, who can be against us? {Romans 8:31} He will lift you up and strengthen you. Heavenly Father knows your divine potential and He will push you to your limits because He knows you can reach past them. But because of His infinite grace, the Lord will be there with you every step of the way. I testify that He loves you and He knows you. Sometimes we may be surprised with where life takes us, but I know that everything happens for a reason.

More than a year after receiving an answer about going on a mission, I still don't think that a mission is for me. But I know without a doubt that my mission is for the Lord and the people of Tahiti. Why?... That I do not know, but I cannot wait to find out!