The Flag!

This is the Nicaraguan flag! I like the "antique" look to it!

Oh! and here is the URL to my "Called to serve in Nicaragua" pinterest board, for all of your future sister missionaries who are looking for clothing, shoes, and hair styling ideas! :)

http://pinterest.com/bean9/called-to-serve-in-nicaragua/

CALLED TO SERVE

As Some of you know, I have been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...

"Dear Sister Bean
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Nicaragua Managua South Mission!!! You should report to the Mexico MTC on Wednesday October 2nd, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish Language."

Im going to Nicaragua!!!!!!

I can't tell you enough, of how excited I am to go forth and serve the Lord. I am looking forward to sharing the gospel with the people of Nicaragua! I originally wasnt going to go, due to financial concerns. I had been praying about it for 2 years, and never felt like I would be able to afford it. Then April 1st, 2013 rolled around... and everyone knows, that that's April Fools Day. I decided to play a prank on my dad, and called him up. Our conversation went like this...

Dad: Hello Lauren!

Me: Dad, Im going on a mission!

Dad: Great!

Me: wait, really?

Dad: Yeah! You'll make a great missionary...

Me: I thought we couldnt afford it???

Dad: You can't afford not to go, Lauren.

That day, I scheduled for my bishops interview and met with him the very next day. Between the 2 semesters of school, here at BYU-Idaho, there is a week long break. I had gone home to be with my family and friends. I was SO incredibly thankful for all the love and support I had received from everyone. I was also able to do some much needed dental work! i still have a few more cavities to get filled, unfortunately. i dont like going to the dentist very much. all the tools, and the obnoxious sounds they make hitting my teeth, and that high pitched squealing... thats the worst!

I had planned on my availability date to be November 1st, 2013. After much prayer and deliberation  I moved the date to October 1st. When I went in for my stake presidents interview on May 21st, I had wanted to just turn them in, and get it over with! but, with the avail. date being October 1st, i'd have to wait till June 1st! ANYONE who truly knows me... knows that I am NOT very patient at all! So of course I didnt hesitate when the stake president asked me if I'd consider moving up my date to September 1st! President Mendenhall (sp?) said my call should be in my mail box in 10-14 days. I then got my mission call on june 6th! I of course had to wait for everyone to watch me open my call envelope. 

Also, my good friend Jenn had told me about a dream she had about me, just a few weeks earlier! this is what she had posted on my facebook!
"I definitely had a nightmare last night where my mission call came but when I opened it it was addressed to my friend Lauren Bean instead of me ha ha. And I had to send it back and wait all over again. Ya this wait is making me a little anxious ha ha but hey Lauren according to my dream you are going to Nicaragua ha ha"
crazy, isnt it?! :D

heres the link to watch the video... i think/hope it works! ;)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151948787028056

ALSO, here is a link to my MORMON.ORG profile! :)

http://mormon.org/me/CJJK

I just would like to close, and tell you all that I KNOW without a doubt that this church is true. I know that Jesus Christ died for us, and that He atoned for our sins. I know that Heavenly Father knows each and everyone of us by name, and that He will never let us fall farther than our knees. By having faith in our Savior and Heavenly Father, we will be watched out for and taken care of. I also know that families can be together forever. I know these things to be true, and I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Provide, Preside, Protect

Paid For-----Provide (Manage the resources, the location, the supplies etc)     

Planned----- Preside (Take charge, make decisions-not the boss, but an “executive officer”)

·Paired off----- Protect (Sense of security and stability, companionship, keep each other in check morally)

These are the 3 P's of the Priesthood. When in a dating and marital relationship, its important to understand them. For instance, if a guy asks you on a date, did you discuss if he will be providing for the date? or if you will be going "dutch"? I personally dont see the point of asking someone on a date, then going dutch. THAT'S NOT A DATE! When he asked you on the date, did he plan it out, and tell you what was going to happen? this is always important, so that you know how you should dress, and what kind of shoes you should wear. you wouldn't want to be wearing a fancy dress and heels, if he had planned on a hike with a picnic. And lastly, when he asked you on the date, did he say, "date"? or "hang out"? if its a date, that's a lot easier to understand where he stands... but if you're "hanging out", then how do you know if he is interested in you or not? or if he is committed to you, or seeing several of other girls at the same time? 

R.A.M.

Notice how on the image, the sliders go up or down? The reason is, is because the more you know someone, the more you'll trust them. Which means, the more you'll rely, and then be able to commit to them, and touch them. If you rely on someone, MORE then you KNOW them, then your relationship becomes unbalanced.

KEEP CALM AND DATE

Once you get married, the fun shouldn't be over. Married couples can keep going on dates, WITH EACH OTHER. In fact, I recommend going on weekly dates. After a long work week, its nice to get out of the house, get your mind off the "to do list", and just enjoy each others company. Go out to dinner, or to a sporting event. In the movie, "date night" Steve Carell and Tina Fey are a married couple who go out to dinner to the same restaurant  every Friday night and order the same food. they are becoming bored with the routine, but are afraid to "spice things up a bit". You don't have to spend a ton of money on a date. the best dates are always free... or cheap, that is. go for a drive through the country side, and site see. picnics are always a great idea on those warm summer nights. you can also go for a walk through the park or go dancing. the important thing is, is that you are spending QUALITY time together, and that both are having fun. If one didn't have fun, don't do that activity again. Its also important to not get into a "routine" of date options. mix it up, try something new, and go somewhere new.

You want HOW many kids?!

While during the courtship phase of every relationship that is leading to marriage, its important to discuss how many children you want to have. Especially if one person wants 7, and the other may only want 1 child. I know for me, I personally want 4 or 6. NOT 5... The reason I want an even number is because I am 1/3 kids in my family... and I'm the youngest. Growing up, I was always ganged up on, left out, always in the way, or felt like the third wheeler in every situation. When we'd go to theme parks, someone always had to sit by them self .. ME. When w'd go on road trips, guess who got shafted with the back seat, all alone... ME. To this day, my older brother and sister still have a better relationship and I will forever feel like the black sheep of the family. They live a different life and are able to relate more to each other, so they spend more quality time together, and leave me out of it. I know that when I have kids, I don't want them to feel like they don't have anyone to climb trees with, or go jump in those giant rain puddles in the drive way. I want my children to be best friends with each other. I wish I had that relationship, today with my own siblings.

A Working Father

A father who works outside of the home, needs to remember and make an effort to spend time with his family. Not only his beautiful children, but his wife as well. Everyone needs to feel loved and BE loved, and love one another. A father who works 50 hours a week, and is rarely available on the weekends, because hes brought work home to complete before a deadline, or hes out playing golf with the guys, or even sitting on the couch playing call of duty when he should be spending QUALITY time with his family. The children need their father as a role model, and someone to teach them how to fish, play catch, help them with their homework, and to teach them how to wrestle. The wife needs her husband for not only her physically intimacy needs, but also her emotional needs as well. She needs her husband to acknowledge her existence, and to work as a team to raise their family.