SISTER CARIBBEAN: Emily's Mission Assignment

Note from Emily's mom: This is a little bit of the story behind Emily's mission call. Of course, like all the young men and young women who volunteer to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Emily had no idea where she might be assigned to serve. It could have been somewhere in the United States, or anywhere abroad. It could have been an English-speaking mission, or one that required her to learn a foreign language. It takes faith and courage to respond to these assignments, and the opening of "the call" is full of nervous anticipation and excitement for the soon-to-be missionary and his/her family.
So here are some photos taken Jan 4, 2013--the night Emily learned her particular assignment was to the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission--Spanish speaking--to leave the end of the month. Most assignments allow a preparation time of 2 - 5 months; Emily's preparation time was just 26 days! Upon opening her letter, she learned that her assignment was to some of the loveliest places on earth: multiple islands within the Caribbean (US & Brit Virgin Islands, Antigua, Dominica, St Kitts & Nevis, and of course, Puerto Rico). But she is not going to these place to take a vacation. No, she is sent to these islands to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ: inviting people to make baptismal covenants, looking for ways to strengthen Christian faith, and giving service to people in and out of the church--with no regard to race, religion or political belief. She will preach of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. She will offer her hands and heart in His service, full time, for a period of 18 months. And she will study Spanish in a language training center in the Dominican Republic for six weeks, then report for her first area of assignment. Emily's expressive face captured the many emotions and reactions of the thrill and surprise of opening her "call." See below :)