Tel Aviv and a great surprise :)

So we had a free day this past Sunday and I had told a group I would go to Tel Aviv with them. I was feeling kind of stressed because I still had a paper to write, mission call coming THAT DAY, and to pack for 4 am departure to Galilee the next day, but I decided to go and I don't even regret anything! :)

Seriously picture perfect scenery. We rented beach bikes to ride for miles along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Then we went exploring. :)

Then we had dinner at a candlelit cute cafe. We all tried fresh fish from the Sea. :)

Then we got gellato and watched the sun set. After that we played truth or dare and Taylor and i were dared to crash a Tye Qwan Do lesson. It was so funny haha!!

Then we drove home to Jerusalem (about an hour from Tel Aviv) and as I walked in the doors of the JC, security told me to go to Dr. Whitchurch's office. I WAS SO EXCITED!!!!!! well like 10 students heard security telling me and they all followed me to his office... and...

MY MISSION CALL CAME!!!

First thing I did was went to find my friend, Laura, (she's going to Russia on her mission) to tell her that it came. All of the students were up studying and were so so excited for me!!! They all wanted me to open it really bad and I was really feeling anxious so I called my parents to see what I should do. haha :) My dad wasn't home yet and my mom really wanted me to open it. SOOO I did and it was just such a fun midnight party :) Two of my teachers (Chadwick and Anderson) ran from their rooms to the student commons and everyone was asking what they could do to make it my "dream mission call opening party".

Seriously, students here are so amazing! Jordan R. and Holly took professional pictures of me as I opened it, Taylor got the whole thing recorded and just having everyone there made it so special :) I wasn't really feeling nervous or super anxious, in fact I think I could have waited until Galilee to open it! Everyone said I stayed really calm and they loved seeing that. I'm just grateful I could have the mindset that wherever I was called, it was inspired, and I would learn so much about becoming a greater, Christ-like person.

So I was just excited to know i get to serve a misison. :)

Well... I did open the call. aannnnnnnd I'M GOING TO SAO PAULO NORTH BRAZIL. :)

I couldn't be happier, excited, and thankful to represent the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! For those who don't know, I didn't decide to serve until Christmas Day and I'm so thankful to take this oppurtunity and really stretch myself the next 18 months. I have so much I need to learn about helping others come closer to Christ and I have a lot of qualities I want to become that I know I will understand through serving a mission in BRAZIL (everytime I say that, it just makes me smile so big :) ) I can't wait!

I report August 26th, 2015 to the Brazil MTC. I can't wait to be a misisonary! I had my first portuguese lesson one hour after opening my call. (Thanks Taylor!) I got one hour of sleep the night before leaving for Galilee, but you know what, it was so worth it. ;) Every detail of that day was perfect :)

XOXO, alyson :)