The Beginning of Something Wonderful

Well, I'll be honest. I've never had a blog before so I'm not really sure how to go about writing my first post. I suppose I should tell a little about myself- my name is Stephanie Granado. I'm from Arizona and I have spent the past two years attending Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Go Aggies! I absolutely love living in Logan (just don't ask me during the winter months)

But let's get down to the nitty gritty.

I'M GOING ON A MISSION!!!

And I made this blog to talk about my journey in the church, my journey to a mission, my journey to myself. So here's a little background to get us started on what I hope will be the greatest blog you have ever followed in the history of time. I get my hopes up sometimes.

I started investigating the church after seeing the happiness it brought to my friends. I had also begun to notice how my relationship with Heavenly Father, or lack there of, was affecting me. Luckily, I was blessed with the most loving friends I could have ever asked for. I was fellowshipped into the La Pradera Park ward in Glendale, Arizona and they were so amazing in welcoming me. I soon met with the missionaries, attended seminary and church and read the Book of Mormon. I wanted to get baptized more than anything.

After about eight months of investigating and learning and showing my family that this wouldn't change who I am... I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in July of 2011.

It was a perfect day to say the least. Almost all of my wonderful ward family was there to support me, as well as friends from school and, most importantly, my family was there for me on my special day.

I'll never forget that feeling of coming out of the water that day and having my very best friend there to give me a hug.

 

It was the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Two weeks later I moved to Logan and began attending Utah State. I also became very close to who I consider my second family. I spent Thanksgiving with them. I shared Christmas dinner, birthdays and countless Sunday dinners with them. I was so blessed to be able to have a home away from home and the Buttars family to go to when mine was far away. 

Logan is the place where I continues my journey as a member of the church. I was called to different positions, gave multiple talks and even became and instructor of Relief Society!

I attended the Brigham City temple open house in August of 2012 and while I was walking around I suddenly knew that I was going to go on a mission. Let me make this clear. I did not decide to go, I knew I was going to. It was almost as if I were told, and it scared the heck out of me! for the next month or so I couldn't stop thinking about it. My mission and what I needed to do to prepare was constantly on my mind. I kept telling myself not to worry about it because I was only 19 at the time and sisters don't serve missions until they're 21. 

Or so I thought.

In October 2012, this historical announcement was made.

"Today, I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women, who have the desire to serve, may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age nineteen instead of age twenty one."

-President Thomas S. Monson

And, as I'm sure countless others did, I felt as if President Monson, no, I felt as if God was speaking directly to me. So, I went in my bedroom, knelt down and spoke to Him for a while. And when I stood up, I picked up the phone and set up a meeting with my bishop to start the process of putting my papers in.

Eight months later I received my call to serve in the California San Bernardino Mission (now the Redlands mission) by way of the Mexico MTC.

The tender mercies don't end there. Remember how I said I had the best missionaries in the world? And how I found my second family in Logan? And how my baptism was the best day ever? It was, until this day.

The day that I received my endowments, both the missionaries that were at my baptism were there. One of which drove 13 hours from Canada just to be there. I mentioned I'm a lucky girl, right? Because I am.

Preparing for my mission has been the scariest and coolest and best thing I've done. I want to bring the gospel to others. I want them to come to know Christ and develop a relationship with their Heavenly Father. I want to help them gain knowledge of the gospel but most of all I want to share this HAPPINESS with others! Because I don't know where I'd be without it.

I can't wait to get out there!