The Past Week...

          The past week and a half has been one that I will remember forever. Eric and I walked into church two Sunday's ago and as soon as we walked in, the bishop asked if he could talk to us. He went on to tell us that he had some new callings that he wanted to extend to the two of us. This meant being released from Cub Scouts and Nursery and to be honest, I think both Eric and I were a little nervous about what he was about to say. He first talked to me and asked me to serve as the Young Women's president. He then went on to ask Eric to serve as the 1st counselor in the Young Men's organization. The bishop asked that I pick counselors and get back to him.            I walked out of the bishops office and had a rash on my chest. I was so shocked that a 21 year old girl that was in Young Women's only 3 years ago was just asked to be the president of the organization in the ward. Eric and I went into sacrament meeting and we started talking quietly about what had just happened. Was this for real? Was the bishop sure that I was the right one? As Eric and I discussed what had just happened, we both started to get tears and a little choked up. We both remembered that in my patriarchal blessing, there is a paragraph about serving in the Young Women's auxiliary.            I went home and I could not get it off my mind. So many different things came to my mind. When I am in a family ward of so many women that are capable to be the Young Women's president, why me? I am so young and there is no way that I have enough experience to teach these girls do I? Girls camp?! Ah! How am I going to pick counselors? How am I going to finish school within the next four months and still do everything that comes with this calling? Are these girls going to be okay with the change that is coming on Sunday? How am I supposed to be their leader but also their friend? We have only been in the ward for 10 months so do these girls even know who I am? What even happens at Ward Council?            I had many emotions running through me last week and I feel like I was on my knees talking to my Heavenly Father the entire time. I talked to him about all of my concerns and worries. I found myself praying for these 25 young women that I am so worried about the day after the bishop asked me to serve in this calling. I decided that I needed to get together a list of women and go to the temple with my list. I prayed about it, fasted about it, and then made my decision. I went to the temple and had the impression that the women on my list were not the ones that needed to be called.  In fact, two women came into my head in the temple that day that I was not planning on choosing and it was crystal clear to me they were it. I felt the spirit so strong and there was no way that I could go against this feeling.

          My counselors and I were sustained on Sunday and it was an incredible day. I have felt so close to my father in heaven and am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be in this organization. I hope that I can be as influential in these girls' lives as I know they will be in mine. I have been reflecting on my young women years and am so grateful for good leaders who put so much time and effort into everything for us. I am grateful that I was taught everything that I know now. I am feeling so blessed to work with such incredible ladies. As overwhelmed and stressed as I am feeling, I know that this is where I need to be and I am excited to work with these young women. I have not listened to anything other than Hilary Weeks and Jenny Phillips in my car over the past week and a half. My dad is an incredible man and he called me last week when I wanted to break down in tears I was so terrified and said, "Madison, whoever the Lord calls, he qualifies." I am so glad that I am apart of the Lord's work and am able to serve in this church. The gospel brings me so much happiness and I will be forever grateful to be apart of it. These girls truly are daughters of a King and it is my hope and prayer that I can help them realize how important they are to their Heavenly Father. I already love these girls more than they know. Eric and I are so excited to be working with the young men and young women.