OCTOBER 2012
I am pleased to
announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young
men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent,
regardless of where they live, will have the option of being
recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18,
instead of age 19. . . .
As we have prayerfully
pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary
service, we have also given consideration to the age at which
a young woman might serve. 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 19,
instead of age 21.
We affirm that
missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we encourage all
young men who are worthy and who are physically able and
mentally capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young
women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to
serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the
Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as
missionaries, and we welcome their service.
DECEMBER 2012
After waiting to get to
home base in Nashville, Tennessee. I began to apply for the
journey of a lifetime. My application, something that normally
takes months, was completed in under 4 days. I don't know how
many doctor and dentist appointments I went to in those few
days, but all my requirements were filled
and I was healthy and spiritually capable to serve the Lord. My
application was sent to Salt Lake City.
JANUARY 2013
Back at school, the big
white envelope arrived in the mail. With friends around me and
family on Skype, I got the call. "Sister Copeland, you are
hereby called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints." I was about to go to the opposite side of the world. My destination: third-world Asia.
MAY 2013
I entered the Missionary
Training Center in Provo, Utah. I would receive Tagalog
language training as well as teaching training. I think it was
my first day at the MTC when I really realized what I had signed
up for. For the first time I put on my black tag, something I
would wear everyday for a year and a half. It said "
Sister Copeland" and under my name was the name of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is really
something to wearing a name tag and giving up your first name
for 18 months - it is giving up some of your personal identity
and accepting to serve Jesus Christ fully. I wasn't Leah
anymore; I was a representative of Christ and His church.
NOVEMBER 2014
I am about to be Leah
again. I cannot really believe it. I feel like I only blinked
five times on my mission - once in San Nicolas, then in Laoag,
and Sanchez Mira, then in Aparri and Laoag again. The Lord has
given me the opportunity to touch a few lives during this
journey and I hope they remain touched. I love the people that
I have served.
Before I became a
missionary, I thought a mission was for perfect people to help
imperfect people. I have now come to realize that missionaries
are on a journey leading to perfection and encourage others to
join them on the way. I hope some of those I have met and taught
will stick with me and not forget the eternal goal.
This week I will board a
plane, go home, be officially released as a missionary, and I
will remove my nametag. I am not sure what it will feel like.
I know I will cry a lot. When you give up everything for 18
months, it is hard to imagine what it was like before your
pre-nametag days and what it will be like in the future.
I want to thank you. I
am grateful for the love you have sent through your prayers and
mail. I didn't really realize in October 2012 what I was about
to do, what sacrifices I would be required to make, or who I
would become. I don't think I have changed that much, but I
have improved myself and started a lifelong journey of coming
closer to the Lord. I thought that 18 months would be enough,
but not even a lifetime provides the needed time to learn and
grow. It is a good thing that we don't finish progressing here on earth but
that we will continue for the eternities.
At
sa wakas, para sa mga brothers at sisters ko sa Ilocos at
Cagayan. Mahal ko kayo at mamismiss ko kayo. Di ko pa alam
kung kailan ako makakabalik, pero hindi ko makakakalimut ang
mission. Di nyo alam kung gaano kagrabe ang epekto nyo sa akin
buhay. Magtiis kayo, ah? Narigat ti biyag ngem Ti Simbaan ket
pudpudno. Walang iba. Kita kits sa Celestial.