A Message to Sisters: Find Your Mission

Just over a year ago in the October 2012 Saturday Morning session of General Conference, President Monson announced the age change for when Elders and Sisters can be recommended for service as full time missionaries. As you all probably know Elders can now serve at the age of 18, while sisters can serve at the age of 19. Because of this announcement there has been a flood of missionaries, both elders and sisters, in to the mission field. Although this change has allowed for many elders and sisters to serve missions it has not changed what the first presidency has taught in regards to elders and sisters doing missionary service.

After the announcement of the age change President Monson said:

“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.”

An earlier letter from the First Presidency stated that “sisters....may be recommended to serve full-time missions. These sisters make a valuable contribution, but they should not be pressured to serve.”

As it has been stated the sisters who have served, are serving, and who will serve make a very valuable contribution to the mission field and have changed the lives of so many. However, it is important for sisters to recognize that serving a mission is a personal decision that should not be taken lightly. It is a decision that is unique to each and every sister and should be prayerfully and carefully considered.

There are sisters who have never felt a desire to serve a mission who do end up going.

There are sisters who have never felt the desire to serve who don't end up going.

There are sisters who have always felt a desire to serve a mission who do end up going.

And there are sisters who have always felt a desire to serve who don't end up going.

I actually fall under that last category.

My Story

On June 7, 2009 I wrote in my journal “I will serve a mission”. I remember so specifically how much I wanted to go. I had determined that day that nothing would or could stop me from serving a full time mission. And so I planned and prepared to go. A little more than two years later on August 28, 2011 I received a priesthood blessing at the beginning of the school year where I was counseled that “in regards to serving a mission (I should) prepare as if I was going, and then let the Lord guide (me)”.

For nearly 9 months following that blessing I did everything that I felt like a pre-missionary should do. I studied the scriptures daily, attended the temple and Preach My Gospel study groups weekly, kept a journal, went on exchanges with the sisters missionaries in the area and saved my pennies. During this time of preparation there was not a day, and often not an hour that passed by where I did not stress and wonder about whether or not it was right for me to serve a mission.

As the months progressed, so did my prayers. They started out as “please let me go, please let me go, please let me go” and soon changed to “Do you want me to stay?” followed closely by “Can I go” which turned into “will you let me go”. Finally when the time came when I could submit my papers, I humbled myself enough to say “Lord I will follow thee” and “I will go where you want me to go”. I made a very personal decision that was influenced, guided and directed by the spirit and recognized that although going on a mission is a very good thing, there were very great things that I personally needed to accomplish where I already was. Although I didn't and don't wear a name tag I have been serving and fulfilling my mission here.

I echo the counsel that I was given in my blessing and pass it along to all of the sisters here who have not yet served a mission and who are deciding whether or not it is the right thing for them to do. Prepare as if you are going. Do everything that you can to be prepared to receive your call. Attend the temple regularly, pray always, study the scriptures and the Preach My Gospel manual and keep a journal. Talk to returned missionaries and know the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that you will face as a missionary. Counsel with your parents and priesthood leaders about your decision regarding if and when to serve a full-time mission. Then let the Lord guide you as you make the decision of whether or not it is right for you to serve a full-time mission at this time.

For those Sisters who have gone through this process and for one reason or another have felt that it was not right for you to serve a full-time mission I want you to know that it is not because you aren't good enough. It is not because you aren't needed. And it is certainly not because Heavenly Father doesn't love you. He just has a different mission for you here. Find your mission.

I would also ask you to consider that maybe your wouldn't have learned or grown as much on a mission as you have or will here. You will have different experiences than you would on a mission, but you will learn the things that you need to learn at this time in your life.

How we can be Missionaries Now

So for all of us, wether you have served a mission or have yet to serve, what can we do now to be missionaries? Even here in Provo Utah.

First, I would like to get rid of the stereotype that because we live in Provo there isn't really anything that we can do.

I contacted the Sister Missionaries who serve in this area and they were able to provide me with some of the statistics for the Utah Provo Mission, which covers from the point of the mountain, or Lehi area, down to Payson and also includes Vernal and Roosevelt – which, according to the missionaries is mostly made up of cows.

During the month of October the Utah Provo mission had 105 baptisms. As of the 4^th of this month they had already had 22 baptisms. Their year to date baptisms are 1,077. On average their mission teaches around 2,074 lessons every week. There is work that we can all do.

In this past general conference we were counseled by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen to pray for the missionaries and their investigators by name. I would invite you to get out a piece of paper or your phone so you can write these names down. Sister Soper and Sister Perez have asked that we pray for Christian, Abby, and Skye who are currently being taught.

Contact the missionaries regularly, become friends with them on facebook, and ask them how you can help and who you can pray for. Also talk with your ward mission leader. They have a plan for your ward and they need your help.

Another way that you can be a missionary right now is to set up a Mormon.org profile. These profiles, which are often turned in to advertisements and commercials, are used regularly by the missionaries to help investigators. In fact, Mormon.org is the busiest mission in the world.   

Similarly, the social media sites that most of us visit and use on a daily basis are an important tool to help spread the hope that the gospel brings. I would encourage you to set a goal of how often you will post or share a gospel message whether it be a photo, a quote, or a video.

My last suggestion on how to be a missionary here and now is to live your life in such a way that if you were to receive a call today, you would be prepared to serve a full time mission. Evaluate the choices that you are making in life, including the music you listen to, the movies you watch, the quality of your prayers, and the depth of your scripture study.

Live your life in such a way that if you were to receive a call today, whether to serve a full time mission or to walk across the street and talk to someone, you would be prepared to respond to that call.

There are mission calls that come from Heavenly Father in the form of a letter signed by the prophet and there are mission calls that come directly from our Heavenly Father in the form of a prompting from the spirit. Either way we are being called to bring souls unto Christ.

I testify that God lives, that his son Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that they love us perfectly, personally, and completely. I testify that the Holy Ghost is real and that he can speak to us as we live righteously and seek his companionship. I testify that the windows of heaven are open and that answers to prayers do come. I believe that we have the right to receive revelation and guidance in our lives when we live as if it depends upon us and pray as if it depends on the Lord. Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

So, I Spoke in Church Today....

I spoke in church today and I thought that I would share my talk with you all as well! I was so grateful that I had the opportunity to ponder, pray, and study about Christ so much this past week as I prepared to speak in church.

I love our Savior and I love his gospel. I am so glad that I am able to share my testimony of him.

Today I was asked to speak on the topic I Believe in Christ. I wanted to start by addressing the question, what does it mean to be a believer?

This is not to be confused with a “Belieber” who is one with an almost unhealthy love of Justin Bieber.

In Mormon Doctrine it says that a believer is one who believes in Christ, accept his doctrines, and cleave unto the disciples whom he sends to declare those doctrines and to administer the ordinances of salvation.

What does it mean to be a believer in Christ? I would like to briefly talk about four qualities that are found in believers of Christ.

1. A believer in Christ has sought after and received a confirmation that Jesus is the Christ.

This means that you have actively worked towards receiving a testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior. For some of you this testimony may have come as a lightbulb, suddenly and brightly. For most of us it came as the sun does each morning, slowly and almost imperceptibly. Either way it is a testimony which you have worked to receive and that now enlightens your soul and your life. This knowledge, or this light, ultimately influences your thoughts and actions, which ultimately determine who you become. If you feel that you do not have a testimony that Jesus is the Christ, I would invite you seek after one. Study and prayer so that you can know for yourself that you have a Savior who loves you perfectly, personally, and completely.

2. A true believer in Christ obeys Christ's commandment “Come, follow me”

Christ asked in 3^rd Nephi “What manner of men ought ye to be? His answer was “Even as I am”. Part of following Christ means that we become like him, in word, thought, and deed. We become Christ-like. This process of becoming like Christ requires daily spiritual growth and takes a lifetime to achieve. One of the best ways to become like him is to study him. Find out who he is, what he has done, and in what ways we can follow him.

In Preach My Gospel there is an entire chapter devoted to this process of becoming Christ-like. Chapter 6 which is entitled “How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?” teaches about several attributes including: Faith, Hope, Charity, Virtue, Patience, Humility, and Obedience. By studying individual attributes our minds will be enlightened to ways that we can change and become more like our Savior.

3. A true believer uses the power of the atonement in their life to be forgiven, but also to be enabled.

A person who is a believer of Christ, also believes Christ – they believe that he can set them free from Satan's grasp, the woes of sin, and their grief and pain. They seek forgiveness from sins and strive to do and be better. They also recognize that the atonement is for more than overcoming sin, it is a source of strength and power. It enables us. In Elder Bednar's talk “In the Strength of the Lord” he says:

“Thus, the enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity. In the strength of the Lord and through His grace, I know that you and I can be blessed to accomplish all things.”

4. A true believer testifies of Christ in both word and in deed.

It is important to ask ourselves often, if not several times each day “Do I carry myself in such a way that people recognize me as a believer? Do we testify in the way we talk and the things that we do that we believe in Christ and follow his example?

I would like to take this opportunity to testify of Christ.

I first echo Elder Bruce R. McConkie in his final testimony when he said quote “In speaking of these wondrous things I shall use my own words, though you may think they are the words of scripture, words spoken by Apostles and prophets. True it is they were first proclaimed by others, but they are now mine, for the Holy Spirit of God has borne witness to me that they are true...”. close quote

I believe in Christ. I believe that before we came to this earth, the great plan of salvation was created by our Heavenly Father, to enable us to advance and progress and become like him.

We dwelt with our Father in the eternities that preceded this life. We were present when the great cry went forth from him through the midst of eternity: “Whom shall I send to be my son, to work out the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice, to put in full force and operation the terms and conditions of my eternal plan?”

I believe that it was then that our elder brother, Jesus Christ the beloved son lifted up his voice and said “Here am I, send me” “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever”.

I believe that Christ was the firstborn spirit child of God the Father and thus the eldest brother and preeminent above all other spirit children of God. He had, in his first estate, become more intelligent than all other spirits, was “like unto God” and served as the representative of the Father in the creation of “worlds without number”.

I believe that it was by and through Christ that all revelation since the fall of Adam has been given. He was the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God-Lawgiver on Sinai, the Holy One of Israel. “None of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ”.

I believe that a little more than 2,000 years ago, the Redeemer of humankind was born in Bethlehem of Judea. While yet an infant He was brought to the temple in Jerusalem. There Mary and Joseph heard the wonderful prophecies spoken by Simeon and Anna about the tiny babe who was destined to become the Savior of the world.

I believe that his life was one of moral perfection – he was sinless and completely submissive to the will of the Father. He was the only perfect man to walk the earth and he invited all to “come follow” him as he spent all his days in the service of others.

I believe that he performed miracles. He performed them in his Father's name to bear witness of his divinity and that others might believe and have life through him. He healed the sick. He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He raised the dead, fed the multitudes, and cleansed the temple. And then, as he had promised, he took upon him the sins of all men on condition of repentance in a garden spot outside the walls of Jerusalem.

I believe that he performed the atonement for us. We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane. He experienced the physical and spiritual “temptations, pain, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death. It was the Savior's dual nature – being both a man and a God – which enabled him to make an infinite atonement, an accomplishment that no other person, no matter how capable or gifted could do.

His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. As near as we can judge, this suffering continued for three or four hours. But it was necessary, for nothing which was short of an infinite atonement would suffice for the sins of the world.

I believe that this suffering continued on the cross of Calvary, just a few hundred meters away from the Garden of Gethsemane. It was here that the Savior, after being betrayed, scourged, and mocked, was laid upon the cross of Calvary. With great mallets they drove spikes of iron through his feet and hands and wrists. He was raised that all might see and gape and curse and deride. Then the heavens grew black and for another three hours he again suffered the infinite agonies and merciless pains of Gethsemane. Finally, when he had fulfilled the will of his Father in all things, he then said “It is finished” and voluntarily gave up the ghost.

I believe that it was only through this suffering that Christ could satisfy the demands of justice, ransom penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and make mercy available to those who believe in his holy name. This was the intent of this great and last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

I believe that He ransomed, reconciled, expiated, redeemed, reclaimed, absolved, propitiated, made amends, and paid the penalty. He ransomed men from the effects of the fall of Adam in that both the spiritual and temporal deaths could be conquered; their lasting effects nullified. The spiritual death of the fall was replaced by the spiritual life of the atonement.

I believe that after three days our Blessed Lord rose again. He took up his body and arose in that glorious immortality which made him like his resurrected Father. He appeared to Mary Magdalene, his apostles, and to the people in the Americas. He was then received up into heaven and he now sits on the right hand of God.

I believe that Christ does stand supreme. That from him we can obtain our fondest dream. That while we strive through grief and pain he is there to love, comfort, and guide us. I believe in Christ, and because I believe in him I know that I can have a “come what may” outlook on life because I know that regardless of what happens, good and bad, it has been for my good and he will help me. I believe that one day he will come again to rule among the sons of men, and that if we live righteously we can stand with him in that great day.

Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Service: Part 2

The purpose of this post is to give you resources to help you know how to be more involved in your communities and where to start. It is not in any way meant to discourage you or make you feel like you aren't doing enough to contribute to your community. There are a million ways to serve and this is in no way a complete list or the only ways to serve-although I highly recommend them.

I would love to hear what you have done to serve and be involved so I can add to the list.

Red Cross-Disaster Action Team
The opportunity that I had to go to New York as a volunteer after hurricane Sandy was due to my involvement with my local Red Cross chapter's Disaster Action Team. Local teams will respond to house fires, forest fires, mud slides, earthquakes, and other natural or man-made disasters. They will often be found passing out water, filling out paperwork with the clients, and opening and running shelters.

If you don't do well with blood, guts, and gore, this is an awesome way to go. You can choose the jobs that you are assigned to. You can go on scene to the disaster, set up cots, clean tables, do paperwork, join a security team, pass out water, drive an Emergency Response Vehicle, or pass out cookies in the shelter. There are options for anybody and everybody who would like to be involved to help.  Because it is volunteer work they will make arrangements to fit your availability. The more flexible you are the more you will get called out and be involved, but they will always accept help.

For National disasters they will first request help from their surrounding chapters or states, and then go nationwide depending on the severity of the disaster. They request that you devote at least 2 weeks if you are going to volunteer nationally. So keep that in mind. While I was out in New York there were several people there who had been deployed with friends and family members-so get people to sign up with you!

There are a couple of classes you will need to take to be on the DAT team but they are all FREE. Whether or not you want to be deployed locally or nationally, I would recommend that you take these classes to be better informed and prepared to respond to a disaster.

FYI: All medical personal and psychologists are extremely welcome. They always need a nurse and a mental health specialist at every shelter.

Find you local Red Cross Chapter and sign up to volunteer by visiting:
http://www.redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter

For those here in Utah click on this link to sign up as for volunteer

http://www.redcross.org/utah/volunteer/adult-volunteers

There is a short volunteer orientation you will need to complete online. Don't get discouraged! Dedicate the 30 minutes it takes to finish it. I promise it is worth it!

Red Cross-Certification Classes
One of the scariest experiences that I had in New York was when someone yelled across the cafeteria for help because someone was choking. Thankfully I did not have to perform the Heimlich maneuver because the guy was okay by the time I ran to him, but I can not begin to tell you how grateful I was that I had been certified by the red cross for CPR, First Aid, and AED.

The Red Cross offers several classes that you can sign up for so that you can be better prepared to assist in just about any situation you can encounter. The class that I took included, students, a nurse, a veteran, and a couple of Mom's. All of them just wanted to be aware and prepared so that they can help.

Some of the classes are free but most of the certifications are going to cost you a little bit. Check around in your area to see if there is anything cheaper, but Red Cross is always a good way to go.

Visit here to sign up for classes in your area:
http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class

Give Blood:
This is one of my favorite ways to volunteer. Partly because it is so easy, it doesn't take a lot of time, it can be competitive if you do it with friends, and they give you cookies and juice afterwards. I know that this isn't for everyone because some people don't qualify or you have a fear of needles, but if you can't donate encourage others to donate or you can volunteer to check people in or hand out cookies.

Here are a couple of facts on donating blood:

1. 4.5 million Americans will a need blood transfusion each year.
2. 43,000 pints: amount of donated blood used each day in the U.S. and Canada.
3. Someone needs blood every two seconds.
4. Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10 percent do annually.**
5. About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood.
6. One pint of blood can save up to three lives.
7. You can donate blood every 56 days-which is every 2 months. 

For those here in Utah you can visit these two websites to find a local blood drive:

ARUP Blood Services: https://www.arupbloodservices.org/index.cfm?group=op
Red Cross: http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation

For everybody else, check out these websites to find a location to donate blood:
Red Cross: http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation
America's Blood: http://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=NBDR.ShowForm

Utah County Medical Reserve Corps

This service opportunity is specifically for those with medical experience. The Medical Reserve Corps is a network of community groups and volunteers who focus on improving Public Health, emergency response and resiliency of the communities in which they live. They are called out for large scale disasters and emergencies that may overwhelm the local hospital resources and staff.

The Utah County MRC has not had a lot of emergencies to attend to recently, but they also have free classes and drills that you can attend to learn and practice the skills you need to respond to emergencies. I have loved attending the classes and learned a ton!

For Utah County Residents:
http://www.utahcountyonline.org/dept2/health/EmergencyPrep/MRC/index.asp

For Everyone Else:
http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/FindMRC

CERT-Community Emergency Response Team
As the name describes, this is a community team that is trained to respond to large scale disasters when local services are not able to meet the needs of all of the community members. I started my training this last week and am so excited to have a cool green vest and official looking helmet. They teach you how to triage people, use equipment, and what to look for in an emergency.

This is a little bit more of a time commitment for the training, but they get it done fairly quickly and teach you a lot. Some areas will often offer followup training as well so you can keep up on your skills.

Find your local CERT team training programs here:
http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/searchCert.do?submitByZip

You can also take the classroom portion of the CERT Program online. Whether or not you actually become certified through your city this online class has A LOT of great information on how to respond to a disaster and what you can do to be more prepared. I definitely recommend it!

You can take the online class here:
/http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/IS317/

Community Action-Food Drives
Food Drives! This is the generic answer that is often given in Sunday School and discussion groups of how to be involved, and yet how many of us have actually hosted a food drive or gone to the food bank to volunteer?

The food bank is awesome! It is cool to see how local businesses and individuals pull together to try and help the community. Whether you donate a couple hours or a couple days this is a fun and easy way to serve.

I volunteered with Community Action here in Provo and loved the people that I met and the things I was able to do. I was there for a couple hours, got a lot of work done, and then left. Simple, easy, no elaborate forms or classes to take.

For those here in Utah County: 

www.foodandcare.org/
www.communityactionprovo.org/

For Everyone else:
Food banks and coalitions will vary from area to area. Search for one closest to you and contact them about volunteer opportunities. 

If you have any questions about any of these opportunities contact me! I am happy to answer questions, give you direction, and even go with you to classes or service opportunities. 

Service: Part 1

I have been meaning to write this post since before I left to New York, and have in fact attempted to write it on several occasions (including the time that I almost finished it and then it was accidentally deleted-sad day). But I have also hesitated to even begin because of how important the content is to me. I want to adequately express its significance, although I am well aware that I will fall short regardless of the time I put in to it.

The topic: Service. 

For many years I have known that I wanted to spend my life in the service of others. I remember where I was and the exact thought that passed through my mind when the idea stuck. 

It was my senior year of high school and I was home alone because I didn't have a class at that time of day. I remember that I had been trying to figure out what I wanted to do with life and consequently where I would go to school after I graduated. My family’s home teacher had come by to visit us a couple of weeks before and he had recounted a story about a group of kids he had taken over to Romania to do service projects. When he had initially told us about his experiences I thought they were pretty cool, but didn't really think on them much. As I was walking through the family room several weeks later, that thought crossed my mind but this time it really had an impact on me.

The thought process probably went something like this:

What am I going to do with my life?

Where am I going to go to school?
I hate making decisions.

Hmm…that is cool that our Home Teacher took those students over to Romania to help people.

I wonder if he would take me some day.
That would be sweet.
I wouldn't mind going on a lot of trips like that.

That would be awesome if I could take people on service trips like that.

Hey! I should take people on service trips!

I stopped walking and stood there for a few seconds thinking how incredible that kind of opportunity would be. I could travel the world meeting incredible people and make a difference in the lives of those that I took with me as well as those that we served. Those few seconds changed my life and I knew without a doubt that I really did want to spend the rest of my life doing service.

Once that decision was made it was easy to choose which university I would to attend. One of the unofficial mottos of Brigham Young University is "Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve". I began attending BYU  in the fall of 2009 and began as an International Relations major. In the fall of 2011 I changed my major to Public Health with an emphasis in Health Promotion and a minor in Management. 

Since then a lot has happened, but to make a long story short I will just say that in the last year I have decided to go in to Emergency Management which is focused on emergency preparedness and disaster response. It has been amazing to see that since that decision was made so many doors have been opened to me to learn, grow, and gain experience in this field. I have been involved with The American Red Cross, and specifically with hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. I was so blessed to be able to leave for 2 weeks during the semester to fly out to New York as a volunteer and help those affected by the storm. You can start reading about my experiences in New York by clicking here. I am working with the City of Lindon on their Emergency Action Plan and City Drill Down. I have met so many individuals who have been so kind to give me information, guidance, and instruction in regards to the Emergency Management field and the opportunities that are available to me. I have also been asked by sweet friends to speak at Relief Society meetings to share my experiences and the things that I have learned. I am so humbled at the opportunities that I have been blessed with. 

When one of my teachers asked earlier this year "What is Happiness" I immediately thought of service. There are few things that give me more joy than to "be in the service of my fellow men" (Mosiah 2:17)

I have seen the light that it brings in to the lives of others and I have also seen how it relights the flame inside of my own soul. I realize better now who I am because of who I have served. 

President Kimball once said that “The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become more significant individuals as we serve others. We become more substantive as we serve others—indeed, it is easier to “find” ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!”

I know that this is true. I know that it is easy to get lost in this world and to not know where to turn or what to do. But I also know that service can fill emptiness, bring joy, give purpose and meaning to a life that seems worthless, and that you can truly find yourself when you get lost in the service of those around you. 

There are two things that I hope you will take from this message on Service. 

1. There are blessings that come from service that you cannot find anywhere else in this world and it is absolutely worth every minute that you put into it.
2. Don't sell yourself short. You can do better. Smiling at strangers is good, but you are capable of more than that. I don't believe that is the best you can do, because we were created with the capacity to perform miracles and change lives. YOU can make a BIG difference. Don't ever believe otherwise. 

Part 2 of the Service Posts will be up next and includes information on how to get involved in your community and make a difference! 

Post Disaster Response Thoughts

This is super delayed....but while unpacking all of my stuff when I got home, I was reminded of some of the things that I packed that really came in handy, as well as the things that I didn't pack and severely missed while I was away. I figured I would share some of those things so that if you do ever respond to a disaster then you can have an idea of what to pack. You can also use some of these ideas for a 72 hour kits, Bug Out Bag (BOB), or a Go Bag. It is nowhere near a complete list, but will hopefully be a good start or reminder.

To start with, I have to say that as a Red Cross volunteer, or any disaster response volunteer, you need to plan on packing heavy. Like, really heavy. Pack anything and everything that you might even think about needing while away from home. If you use it regularly, or might use it in the next couple of weeks, take it. You need to always keep in mind that if you can't take care of yourself and function on your own, there is no way that you will be able to help the people that need you. Your first priority will always be your own well being and then the well being of those around you. Point being, pack heavy.

Important things that I did pack that I would absolutely pack again:

1. Clothing for the Climate. Obviously you need to pack clothes for any trip, but it is so important as a volunteer to be prepared for any and all weather conditions. If there is any chance of snow, freezing temperatures, or just cold weather, plan accordingly. I didn't know when I left that I would spend two 12 hour days out in the cold cleaning cots. When I was given that assignment, I was so grateful for the 3 jackets, beanie, gloves, and long sleeved shirts that I had packed. Don't assume that you will be inside all day every day. Be prepared with clothing for any assignment in the area.
2. Clothing for Events. Not everyone is a church goer like me, but I packed a skirt and shirt that I could wear to church, the temple, and any other event that may come up which required nicer clothing. Whether you are going to church or out on the town, pack some nicer clothes that you will look and feel good in. You never know when you will need them. 
3. Chap-stick. We all know that in all reality you shouldn't ever, like never ever, leave anywhere without Chap-stick  but it is especially important for moments after a disaster. Nothing is more miserable than chapped lips when you are busy trying to get things done and help others. You also don't know how often you will be able to stop somewhere to get chap-stick. The same thing applies to lotion.
4. Cash. This is absolutely necessary. The amount that you should have will vary depending on where you are going, what disaster occurred, and what your assignment is. The recommendation that is consistent with this is to carry small bills. Absolutely nothing bigger than a 20, but preferably 5's and 1's. I found it super helpful to have $1 coins because they were easy to grab out of a pocket in my jeans or bag. Also, store your cash in at least 2 different places but always have a last some of it on your person at all times. 
5. Camera/Journal. You will have experiences and meet people that you would not anywhere else. Be your own Public Information Officer and record all the information that you can for your own records and to share with people back home. They will appreciate it. Because my phone has the ability to take pictures and post them to my blog it became my primary picture taking and journaling device and literally saved my life sometimes. I was so glad that I had it as proof of my adventures when I finally made it home and realized how much those 2 weeks felt like a dream.
6. Something to Help You De-stress at the End of the Day. Bring something that you can make in to a routine that will give you a sense of control over your life and that will help you de-stress. The more of a routine that you are able to develop, the better. I brought scriptures and music. I didn't usually have a ton of time to read or listen to music, but even a few minutes before bed each night helped me bring everything in to focus, sleep better, and continue to function. Another example: one Jackie brought a yoga mat and she would do yoga in the room below us each morning. 
7. The IV Line. Just about everyone, if not everyone, has some kind of food or drink that they need in order to get through the day. Many drink Coke, others choose Pepsi, and some need to down an energy drink or coffee to survive. I chew gum and spit sunflower seeds. It isn't a NEED, but it was nice to have when I am driving or working night shifts. If you can pack it, bring it. If you can't pack it, but you know you will need it, plan ahead of time so you know when and where to get it while deployed.
8. Phone/GPS. If you don't have a phone, it is worth getting one at least for the trip. If you don't have a phone with a GPS, find a map of the area to take with you. Almost every time that I left my hotel in Manhattan I pulled out my GPS to find my way somewhere, or to find my way back. Without it I would have been in a lot of trouble and horribly lost. 
9. Important Documents
1. Personal Documents. Whenever I leave on a cross country trip I have made a copy of my drivers license and any debit/credit/insurance/other cards that I took with me. If I lost any of them, there was always a backup at home that I could have sent over to me. Always leave a copy at home, but it might be a good idea to bring a copy with you and pack it somewhere super random so nobody accidentally finds them.
2. Reference Information It was recommended to me that I take a condensed folder with me on all Red Cross assignments that had reference information that I had received in training for shelters, client casework, First Aid/AED/CPR, and the orientation for the disaster response. This is something that I didn't use a lot while I was out there, but I did refer to it now and again and I definitely see the importance of having it available. I also kept the documents that they gave me at orientation when I got there, which included information on how to take the subway and how to hail a cab. 
10. An Awesome Bag. My burton bag held everything that I needed and then some. It was super convenient to be able to grab it and go and had pockets for just about everything.

Important things that I did not pack, that I would not leave home without next time:

1. Sleeping Bag. It was a sad sad moment when I found out that I would be sleeping on a cot and all that I brought was one fleece blanket. I can not tell you what I would have given to have a sleeping bag to stay warm and to cushion the cot a little bit. Actually, I can tell you. I probably would have given my left hand at the time. That is how important it is to pack a sleeping bag. It is worth the space that it would take in your suitcase to be able to sleep at night so you can function during the day. 
2. Pillow. This was the other half of the sad sad moment when I found out that I would be sleeping on a cot. I didn't think it would be a huge deal to not have a pillow because I could just use my hoodie or an extra blanket from the Red Cross. But the difference that it made when I finally got a pillow was huge! I will never forget a pillow again, and neither will you.
3. Cold Prevention and Treatment. Do not ever leave on a disaster response assignment without taking some kind of Vitamin C booster. Whether it is airborne, emergen-C, or some other supplement, it is worth the investment to keep your immune system up and running. This goes back to the "you can't help others if you can't help yourself" idea. It is also important to bring medicine just in case you do catch something while you are deployed. When I started to feel sick I went to the Walgreens (in Time Square!) and loaded up on medicine, cold-eeze, 2 bottles of naked fruit juice, and a big container of mixed fruit. I downed all of it in 1 night and I definitely believe it helped me avoid getting more sick, which I am extremely grateful for. But we all know that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Tylenol and tissues will also come in handy on any disaster response. 
4. A Really Good Flashlight. The flashlight that I meant to pack ended up falling off of my bag and under my dresser. I searched for it frantically for it while I was deployed but didn't find it until I got home. Thankfully I had a flashlight on my phone, but boy did I miss the one that was sitting under my dresser for two weeks.
5. Toiletries Bag. I ended up sleeping in the staff shelter where all of the girls shared one bathroom with 2 bathroom stalls, 2 showers, 2 sinks and no outlets. Because of the lack of space we were sometimes leaning over one another to get to the sinks or share the mirror, and there was often a line for the shower. (nothing that I wasn't used to already being the 10th of 16 children) Your life will be easier if you have EVERYTHING that you take to the bathroom to get ready for the day or for bed in one bag that you can just grab and go.

I hope that this will be helpful for someone sometime! I know that I will definitely follow my own advice next time I am deployed with the Red Cross. 

Keep an eye out for my next post about how to get involved!