Tender Mercies

I wrote this all neat and paragraphy, but the internet bummed out when I was about to post this and for some strange reason it won't let me have paragraphs. You'll just have to imagine them and not be scared by the hugeness of this post. Tender mercies are all over the place. I guarantee it- you just have to look for them. It may seem the more grateful you are for these tender mercies, the more tender mercies are given to you. But I actually think the more you recognize the tender mercies in your life, the easier it becomes to identify these mini-miracles. My first tender mercy: a couple days ago my mom, on facebook, commented on her friend's post about his daughter's blog. Complicated, I know. I noticed the title of the blog was "The Life of a Sister Missionary". I was drawn to it for obvious reasons. But I never realized how much it would bless my life. This sister- her name is Sister Morey- is such a huge example of faith. I can't even describe how incredibly faithful she is. Sister Morey was called to Taiwan. She lived in Taiwan when she was little and took several years of Chinese in school, even when it didn't make sense for her major. She felt it was right so she kept taking these classes and studying. After entering the MTC and taking a test to see how her Chinese was, she found out she could go to Taiwan in four weeks. FOUR WEEKS to learn the Mandarin Chinese the that she'd need for the mission field. That would be so intimidating to me. After being in the MTC for 3 weeks, almost ready to go to Taiwan, she learned her visa hadn't gone through so she would be re-assigned to a mission in the states until her visa has gone through. She was to be assigned to Moscow Idaho. That would be a test of faith in and of itself. I know people in Idaho need the gospel, but it would be tricky to be excited when she's got her heart set on going to Taiwan. She still went forward with faith and actually met Chinese people while tracting in Idaho and got to use her Chinese. Heavenly Father knows us so well. He is so aware. One thing I really loved that she said was this: "There have been countless times where I've lost keys or something silly like that and I've prayed for help to find them and the image of where they are will pop into my mind and even before I end the prayer I thank Him for helping me find the keys because I know they'll be there when I get off my knees." I love this example of faith. I really want to put it to use. Second tender mercy, the one that is most tender at this time: My roommate Kyra invited me to go to her institute class. What the spirit spoke to me there was absolutely incredible. We were talking about Humanitarian Aide and how there are people all over the world that know the truth, and desperately want to go on a mission and bring this truth to others, but they are too poor. We talked about serving them by giving them gently used clothing and other materials that could be used for a mission. It made me think- what if I were in that position? What if I had this desire to go on a mission and wanted to share this gift with others, but the only thing that held me back was that I couldn't afford to go? How helpless I would feel? Then it made me realize: I am blessed beyond measure. I have a family that has the same beliefs as me. I have their full support and encouragement. I will definitely not be able to pay for this by myself, but my family is willing to help me make ends meet. I have money and access to nice clothes that will let me stand out as a representative of my Heavenly Father and share His love and gospel. Matthew 10:8 goes along with my plaque scripture Isaiah 61:1. It says: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely have ye received, freely give. This is what I pray I will do as a missionary in Germany. I want to give my all. I want to give my heart to these incredible people that are waiting for the truth. Whether they accept the gospel or not, I just want to serve them. I want to serve my Lord. Because "Inasmuch as [ I ] have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, I have done it unto [Him]." As I serve my brothers and sisters, my brethren, I know I will be serving the Lord. This scripture used to confuse me because I couldn't understand how serving other people could literally be serving the Lord. My institute teacher gave me a treasure of knowledge that I hope I don't soon forget. The Lord suffered for each of us. Me, my family, my friends, my neighbors, the people I'll teach in Germany. EVERYONE. And by this suffering, He came to know us perfectly. He knows our desires. Our sorrows. Our aspirations. Our guilt. Our joys. Every single emotion we can think of, He's experienced it. I know this is true. And because our loving Brother and Savior knows each of these emotions, He also knows the feeling of gratitude we get when someone goes out of their way for us. Therefore, having taken on every emotion and feeling, He knows how the person felt while they were being served. So it only makes sense that while we are serving others we are serving the Lord. I'm so grateful for this truth that the Lord so willingly unveiled to me. I hope and pray I won't miss opportunities to serve others. I pray I will take advantage of every chance I get to serve His children. I love the people around me, and I love my Savior. I want to serve Him eternally. It is so incredible that I have the opportunity to go to Germany, where my family hails from. This is the place where it all started. My ancestors, for whatever reason, decided to go to America. Then many, many years down the road, their posterity joined the church. And I had the privilege to be born into the gospel. The most precious gift, just handed over to me on a silver platter- right from the beginning of my life. It is miraculous because my ancestors came to America and learned the gospel, now I get to take it back to Germany. I love it. I am beyond excited. I wish I could leave now, but I know I have much preparation and learning to do. I'm so grateful that my Heavenly Father is aware of me. He knows my needs as well as all of His children's needs. I hope I can forever be an instrument in His hands.

You Are Hereby Called to Serve....

Dear Sister Niebergall, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You have been assigned to labor in the Germany Berlin mission!!!!!! Except it didn't have the exclamation points :) Wow!!! I'm going to Germany speaking...........well....German! Who'da thought? Really though, I was seriously anticipating South America or states, Germany never crossed my mind. Well it did in a fleeting thought, but I thought "No, all my cousins have gone to Germany" And went on thinking about the next place I could possibly be called. My cousin Michelle, who went to Germany, was there when I opened my call and she was so excited for me. My little sister Sarah is taking German in junior high right now and she was just sobbing and it was so sweet to see. My mom was also crying so hard and it was just great to see the joy and support from my family. I wish there wasn't so much happening at once so I could've taken in what was happening better, but it was so crazy- everyone competing for my attention. Super overwhelming. The people there were Mom, Dad, Jeff, D.J., Sarah, Rachel, Brittany, Nathan, Chelsee, Michelle, Krista, Bruce, Melanie, Kyra, Katie, Samantha. So there were tons of people there. It was so insane. Plus I had 6 people on phones listening and I just wanted to give everyone attention, but it was impossible. I am so stinking excited, I can't believe I know where I'm going and I'm old enough to know where the Lord needs me. I'm going to bear my testimony in German, according to google translate. I'm sure I'll look back on this and shake my head, but I'll still go for it. Ich wissen die Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage ist die wahre kirche. Ich wissen mein Heiland liebt mich und wissen seine kinder. Ich wissen das Buch Mormon wahr ist. Joseph Smith ein wahrer prophet und sah den Himmlischen Vater und Jesu Christi. Gott rief mich an und ich werde gerne dienen. Im namen Jesu Christi, amen.

Boy Am I Waiting!!

I'm waiting. And waiting.............

And waiting.

.................................................................And waiting.

My papers went in about three weeks ago and as of Friday my status is "to be assigned", which I'm guessing means....... I haven't been assigned yet. Apparently the routine is the Brethren assign mission calls on Thursdays, so if my call status is "to be assigned" on a Friday, there's pretty much no way I'll get it this week. I just wanna cry. I suppose it's my own fault for praying for patience in waiting for my mission call. But it's really really hard when people come asking me "Hey! Have you gotten your call yet?!?" And I have to say "No......"

Two friends and I put our papers in at the same time. My friend Brittany Hathaway got her call last week to Chile and I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO thrilled for her! She is going to be such an amazing missionary. We've been helping each other out with doubts, Satan attacks, practicing eating foods we don't like, and sending each other scriptures that we feel applies to us. It's been really nice to have that support from someone that knows what I'm going through and is most likely going through it at the exact same time as me. My other friend Mikey's mission call is on the way right now. I'm so excited to find out where he's going too!

I've heard of people waiting 5 weeks to 4 months for their calls...... oh please don't let that be me! My good friend Leslie waited 6 weeks, man I commend her for her patience. I'm dying and it hasn't quite been 3 weeks yet.

Brittany and I are funny. We are comparing waiting for a mission call to pregnancy.
1. We're emotional for no good reason and can't figure out what's wrong with us.
2. We have dreams about it allllll the time.
3. When one person gets their call we get jealous and wonder when our call is going to be here.
4. When we see mission pictures or missionaries we get "mission hungry".

I can't think of any other parallels right now, but I know there were more.

I can't help but worry that maybe they've lost my call at Church Headquarters and it'll never be found, so I'll never be called and will just have to move on with my life. I know that's an irrational fear, but a real fear nonetheless.

I know that when I get my call won't effect when I'll leave, I'd just like to know! I'm going to trust in the Lord and remember that "Trusting in the Lord is trusting in His timing." I know He knows me and I know He's looking out for me and won't forget my needs or the desires of my heart.

Matthew 6:32-34
32. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have the need of all these things.
33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.
34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Ahhhhhh....that's a good scripture. I feel better. :) It'll all work out.