"Sisters, your sphere of influence is a unique sphere — one that cannot be duplicated by men. No one can defend our Savior with any more persuasion or power than you, the daughters of God, can — who have such inner strength and conviction. The power of a converted woman's voice is immeasurable, and the Church needs your voices now more than ever."  -Elder M. Russell Ballard

I Accept

Dear Brethren:

I gratefully accept my call to serve. Words cannot express the joy I feel as I accept this call. I'm ready to commit the next 18 months of my life to preaching the wonderful gospel. It brings me so much happiness and I want others to know the joy it can bring. I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to serve to people of Chile. I have had a desire to serve a mission since I was young. With this desire I will strive to develop christlike attributes. Being a missionary is not easy but I pray for strength to be and do the best I can. I have a strong testimony of the gospel and I will serve the people of Chile with all my heart, might, and strength. Again, I am humbled and thankful to accept the privilege of being part of this great work.

Madeline Steele

The Call

Dear Sister Steele,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Chile Osorno Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, October 9, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

I have started this blog so that my family and friends...maybe stalkers...can keep in contact with me for the next 18 months. While I'm away my mom (or Sydney) will be updating my blog. So if she forgets don't give her a hard time! I could not be more excited about my call to Chile! Although I am nervous to be speaking spanish I know that the Lord will bless me as I try and learn the language. I read my call on Friday, August 23, 2013. I really didn't have any guesses on where I would go. But as soon as I read Chile I knew someone there needed me and that's where the Lord wanted me. I couldn't believe I left 45 days after I opened my call...especially since I was leaving the country! Everyone else getting calls to leave the country are leaving the end of December or January! Maybe it's because I already have a passport but who knows. It's all on the Lord time. I have so much to do and so little time! But I'm glad I get to leave soon and get out there. 

I don't know much but about Osorno except that it's very south. Osorno has 4 seasons. It is cold but it doesn't snow there. It usually doesn't get much hotter than 86 degrees! It is very humid and dry. There are some active volcanos in Osorno. From pictures I've seen and what I've heard it's beautiful there and I'll be seeing some pretty famous sights. I could not have asked for a better place to serve the Lord!