Hermana Starke: so long, farewell

After giving my farewell talk in church, i decided to come home and write it all down from memory of what i remember saying, so that i can have it forever. It was such a perfect day and i have never felt so loved. A big, BIG thank you to everyone that was able to come support me. I love you you all. I can't wait to be a missionary!

As the time has gotten closer to leaving, everyone keeps asking me:

"Are you excited? Nervous? Anxious?"

And i am, i guess. But honestly, i've mostly just been nervous to give this talk!

But i shouldn't be, as i look out, i see so many faces of my friends and family here to support me and show their love. It means the world to me. I feel so blessed. I'm glad you made the choice to be here.

Speaking of choices...

Have you ever really thought about them? We make so many choices all the time. Studies have shown that the average person makes around 35,000 choices in a single day! Some we make without even realizing it, and some that change our lives. But big or small, the choices we make influence our lives and shape us into the people we are today, right now.

Elder Boyd K. Packer says that we have two choices in this life...good or evil.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks tells us that we can put those good choices into three categories...

Good, better, and best.

So today i want to talk to you about what i believe will be one of the best choices i will ever make in my life. Which is deciding to serve a mission in San Jose, Costa Rica.

As members of the church, we make a lot of choices. Especially ones that don't agree with what the world would choose. We do a lot of different and uncommon things. But from experience, i know that we are always blessed for them. I know that because i have seen in it my own life. I also know that the best choices we can make are the most uncommon ones.

For example, Seminary.

I mean it's pretty uncommon for a teenager to wake up extra early to attend seminary at 5:50am every morning to study the scriptures. But sure enough (with the help of my parents dragging me out of bed) i did it for 4 years throughout high school.

Was it easy? No

Was i always on time? Definitely not

Did Brother Snow think i would make it on a mission before a boy snatched me up? Nope

But was it one of the best choices i've ever made? Yeah

And the reason why is because it was there that i learned to be obedient. I didn't always want to go, and trust me there were plenty of times i would have much rather slept in! But if you never do the little things, God can't ask you to do the big things.

And i really feel like if i hadn't done the little things like going to seminary, as well as many other little choices, then i wouldn't be ready to serve a mission.

Like Alma tells us, by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass!

It's crazy- I've spent hours and hours in this church building. For seminary, for church, mutual, dances, church b-ball, youth conference and all the other things we do here. I grew up here and was baptized here as well. It's crazy that i will have to leave it behind along with everything and everyone else. The people in this church aren't just members of the ward, they are my family and have helped raise me. I'm just so grateful for all the examples i've been blessed with.

Especially my Dad, when he also made the uncommon decision to give everything up and serve a mission at my age. My Dad has definitely taught me what a mission is all about. Finding a spouse! Right Dad???

Juuuuust kidding :)

For those of you who are confused, my Dad met my Mom while he was on his mission and after he got home, they dated, got married, and had this super awesome daughter named Jessicah.

People always say, "I don't know where i would be without the gospel!" Well i do. Shoooot, i wouldn't even be alive! I guess it's safe to say he got a lot more out of mission then most people do.

But i am so grateful for him and to both my parents for their love and support and examples. They are the best. I hope they can put the gospel to use and forgive me for embarrassing them today.

So now i'll embarrass myself for a minute.

While i've been home, i've had the opportunity to be a primary teacher. So to the parents of all the 6 year olds, i must apologize...

First, i'm sorry for the treats and water i accidentally gave them on fast sunday. Oops

I'm sorry for the extremely annoying, obnoxious necklaces i gave them that they threw around primary

and at each other.
And, I'm sorry if when you picked up your child from primary, they had less teeth then when you dropped them off.

Then there's that one time i taught them about the restoration. Or at least tried to teach them about the restoration. When they wouldn't answer my question "which church was Joseph Smith supposed to join?" I jokingly said,

The church of mermaids? (Nooooo, Sister Starke!)

The church of bananas? (Noooo, are you crazy!)
The church of turtles? (Um, by this point they are DYING of laughter)

So once again, i'm really sorry if when you ask your child any question about our church or the gospel and they answer...

The church of mermaids.

But that my friends is why i am going on a mission and NOT becoming a mom right now.

But really, I loved teaching them. And the truth is, they taught me. They know that Jesus loves them and it makes them so happy. To them, that's all that matters. They know the best choice in life and that's to C.T.R! You can never go wrong with that one.

And i really do love teaching the gospel (I mean i better, i'm going to be doing it for the next year and a half of my life). But my love for it began this summer when I was an EFY counselor. I had the time of my life and learned so much about myself and about others. I loved every second of it and wish i could do it forever. One return missionary counselor actually told me that being a counselor was very similar to a serving a mission. So i was like oh, i can do this for 18 months? Okay!

SIGN ME UP!

I also met the most incredible youth there! One in particular named, Katie. The first thing i noticed about Katie was her beauty. But when i got to know her, i realized there was so much more to this sweet girl.

Katie was in an accident that left her in a coma. When she woke up, she was only certain of one thing. That the church was true.

As i watched and admired Katie throughout the week i noticed the uncommon things she did. A lot of people come to EFY to meet boys or to have a good time, but not Katie. She befriended a girl with special needs and made her feel loved and important. She went out of her way to show her gratitude to the leaders and counselors.

Katie is one of the most Christ-like people i have ever met. And also one of the most uncommon.

When you think back on history and think about all the people who have made a difference, and think about your heroes, you'll notice something they all have in common. They are uncommon.

Because in order to make a difference, you have to be different.

EFY was another one of the best decisions i've ever made. It's experiences and people like that, that have inspired me to want to serve a mission.

And of course the greatest example of someone who lived an uncommon life was the Savior.

Throughout his lifetime he performed many miracles.

He turned water into wine

He rose the dead

He walked on water

He forgave perfectly
He died for us.

Surely i can give up 18 months of my life to serve him. I know that when we give everything, he gives us so much more in return.

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life." (Elder Ezra Taft Benson)

When i was deciding if a mission was right for me, i read a scripture that really helped me find my answer. It's also the scripture i'm putting on my plaque.

"For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy." (Mosiah 3:4)

The gospel can be complex. We have lots of standards and rules and commandments and scriptures. But to me the gospel is just one thing. And that's happiness.

As i have lived my life, i know that when i choose to live righteously, the way my Father in Heaven would want me to live, i am happy.

And as i read this scripture it was like the Lord was saying to me that he has heard my prayers (he knows i don't know what i should do with my life right now) he has judged my righteousness (he thinks i am worthy and ready to do this) and has sent the scripture to tell me that i can rejoice. Because he wants me to spread the great message with others so that they can also be filled with joy!

Pure happiness.

Although there are times i feel inadequate, sometimes it's not about how much you know about the gospel. It's how you feel about the gospel.

I know serving a mission will be hard. I know that learning a new language will be very difficult. But i wouldn't be wasting my time if i didn't know this church was true. It will be hard giving up my time and family and friends and cute clothes. But i know that I can do it because i won't be alone. And i know that the best life we can live is one that is uncommon. I know the Lord thinks that i am good, he can help me be better, and that through him i can be my best.

My sister and I sang one of my favorite songs, ever. "I am His daughter"