.dreams.come.true.

After not making it past the first cut at BYU Young Ambassador auditions, I was mad. I felt stuck. Stuck with nowhere to go. For those of you who know me will know that performing is my life. It's what I live for. It's my passion. I then made a promise to myself that I will audition again and again. A few weeks later I felt like I needed to text my friend Laina asking about Noteworthy auditions. **Noteworthy is an all girl acapella group at BYU.** Auditions weren't until fall so that gave me 4 months to prepare. A few minutes after this conversation she sent me a picture of a flyer advertising a new acapella group that was forming at BYU. A coed group. Auditions? 6 days. As soon as I received that picture I jumped on my laptop looking for song ideas for my audition. Every day after that I practiced and practiced. A few days before the audition I got the flu followed by a sinus infection. (my life!!!!!!) The day before the audition I woke up with no voice. I panicked. I did everything I could to get my voice back. Voice rest. Nasty drinks. Steamy showers. I auditioned the next day and did surprisingly well considering the fact that I had no voice. I got a phone call that night asking to come to call backs. I cried. CALL BACKS! 2 words I wanted to hear! 

Call backs came and I found myself discouraged. I walked into the room and found more people there than anticipated. I panicked. Then I heard some of the girls sing. I panicked...again. I had no voice. And with no voice came no confidence. "Well..I'm screwed!" I said to myself. My mom then texted me at the perfect moment. "You will be great. You are great! Lets have a joint prayer right now. Love you!" Man my mom is good! I then knew that I needed to say a prayer. I paced around in the back of the room while others were singing. It was a very simple yet important prayer. I sang and gave it my all. Still, not much of a voice to show. I found myself starting to get a little emotional. Tearing up inside. I wanted to leave. But I knew that this was my chance. That I needed to be there. So I stayed and finished my call back. 

Leaving the call back was discouraging and heart breaking. I didn't think I had any chance. I found myself giving up and accepting the fact that I was "stuck". Later that evening, I was with my sister Jessica and I looked at my phone and had a missed call and voicemail. Long story short, I was asked to go back to the audition room the next morning for a meeting with the 2013-2014 BYU Coed Acapella Group. I made it! I couldn't believe it. I immediately said a prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father. I finally feel apart of something. I am truly blessed. This is a dream of mine. This is silly but after watching the movie Pitch Perfect, I had this dream to be apart of a group like that. Now I am. It has all happened so fast. I love it.

.healing.power.

I had an eye-opening conversation with my sister, Jessica, the other day and there were things that were said that I will never forget. Our conversation involved so many topics but a topic that really hit home for me was the topic of missionary work. A few months ago I started and finished my mission papers. All that was left was my interview with my stake president and bam. They were done. However, I never had that interview. I needed to take a step back and figure out WHY I, Anna Marliyn Pinnock, was wanting to serve a mission. I needed to figure out WHY I was wanting to put my life on hold for 18 months to serve my Heavenly Father. I found myself confused and discouraged. I decided to take time to figure this out. Mission papers were put on hold. This was one of the hardest decisions I had made in a really long time. But I knew it was what I needed to do. I then auditioned to be a young performing missionary in Nauvoo. After receiving an email saying I hadn't made it, I called my mom in tears. I was scared to tell her I didn't make it. My biggest fear in life is disappointing people and putting my mission papers on hold and then not making this audition was a huge disappointment to me and I would hate to disappoint my own mother. After telling her the news, she immediately comforted me and told me she loved me and was proud of me. Her next comment came as a shock to me. "Let's look into India. Let's get you over there this summer!"....India...of course! My next course of action was applying, getting accepted, interviewing and preparing. It felt like preparing for a mission almost. 

Now this is where my conversation with Jess comes in. There are still times I feel like I have disappointed people by choosing to not continue on with my mission papers. I told Jessica that I still feel like I have disappointed loved ones by choosing India over a mission. I said, "I know that I won't be PREACHING and TEACHING the gospel to children of God." Jessica then said something that really hit home for me.... she said, "Ya, but Annie, you will be HEALING the souls of children of God."...wow. Wow. HEALING the souls of children of God. This really put it into perspective for me. 

When Christ walked this earth, he taught and taught and taught. He shared the gospel and taught people gospel principles. Not only did Christ teach, but he HEALED. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to HEAL. Will I make the lepers clean as Christ did? Will I be able to make their sores go away? No. BUT. I will HEAL their hearts and souls. Thank you Jessica for helping my focus on my current mission in life. 

Healing the souls of the children of God.

.india.

As most of you know, I have the amazing opportunity to go to India this summer. Last week we had a huge training day and that is where it really hit me. THIS. IS. HAPPENING. There is no turning back. Heck! I don't want to turn back! As I sat there in the training course, I couldn't help but think about how blessed I am to have this incredible opportunity to go to India and do something I have always wanted to do. For THREE months. When I tell people I am going to India for a humanitarian trip they usually assume I am going for 2 weeks or so. 95% of the time I need to correct them and tell them about this whole 3 month "schpeal". And 95% of the time the reaction is "3 months?! Seriously?! That's a long time!"...or..."3 months?! Good for you!" Yes 3 months is a long time and yes I am extremely terrified. Anxious really. However, the feelings of excitement overpower the anxiety I get from this trip. 

I cannot wait. 

holy.smokes.

Holy smokes is right. It's been almost a month since I last posted and I am so upset with myself. Something exciting or funny will happen and I think "k gotta go home and blog about this one!" The result is usually either falling asleep before I get the chance or having the desire to watch a movie instead. So many things have been going on that need to be shared! Posts on these amazing things coming soon!

.another.missionary.

Welp so far in the year 2013 the Pinnock family has had 3 grandchildren open mission calls. Sarah to Argentina, Stephen to Italy along with Josh. I was surprised to hear that my cousin Rachel had received her call in the mail yesterday. I didn't think she was putting in her papers in until the end of the summer. We all gathered together at Nate and Ali's house to anticipate where Rachel was called to. I sat there with my cousin Sarah and we watched another one of us Famous Four open a mission call. It's so surreal to me to see Rachel who has been one of my best friends since the day she was born embark on an amazing experience.

Dear Sister Pinnock,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are called to labor in the Puerto Rico, San Juan mission! Reporting to the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MTC!

I am so happy for this girl! I am so proud of her decision to serve a mission and I know that the people of Puerto Rico are going to love her!

Good speed Sister Pinnock!

.what.i.think.

I don't know how it is at your university, but I feel like at BYU the professors all gather together in secret meetings. And in these meetings they discuss when they are giving out tests, assignments and projects. Then they make an evil plan to hand out those tests, assignments and projects on the very same week. And with an evil burst of laughter that plan goes into action.

Yup. That's probably it. Or that's just my migraine thinking. Or the fact that I am sincerely stressed out to the point where I want to cry. Or that's really happening on a weekly basis. Or I'm just starving. Probably all of the above. Dang you professors and your secret, evil meetings.

.god.is.good.

I know you have all seen bunches of posts on Facebook about a historical evening the Pinnock family witnessed last night but I just have to blog about it. Without knowing, cousins, Josh and Stephen put their mission papers in on the same day. We had planned on watching them open their calls on March 6th since that was the day we expected their calls to come....however....they didn't arrive. Josh and Stephen, being the amazing boys they are, didn't mind one bit. Stephen would tell me, "It's okay! I've been called and it will come eventually. That's all that matters. I'm not worried one bit!" What a guy! March 7th comes around and I receive a text from my mom: "It came!!" And as luck would have it, Josh's came too. Welp...saddle up! Time for lives to change in just a sentence or two! 

We all gathered at my Uncle Jon and Aunt Laura's house for this moment.  A few minutes before they opened their calls I told Jon that they had to go to the same country...they just had to. Not the same mission...but we were hoping at least the same country. In past conversations our family had talked about predictions as to where we thought Stephen would go. My mom was convinced he was going to the Philippines. I thought either New York or Italy. Jess thought Italy...only because she WANTED him to go there (she is our little Italian). We gathered around these two boys (okay men...) and anticipated to hear the assignment of where they were to serve the Lord for the next 2 years. Stephen, being the oldest of the 2, went first. 

"Dear Elder Pinnock,

You have been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the ITALY, MILAN mission!!"

I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. Is my little brother seriously going to his DREAM MISSION!? Is he going where I predicted?! Is he even old enough to do this?! 

After a lot of cheers, shouts and tears...it was Josh's turn. We again...anticipated.

"Dear Elder Pinnock,

You have been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the ITALY, MILAN mission!!"

Again...even louder cheers, shouts and tears! I thought he was joking, but Josh put his hand to his mouth and immediately started sobbing. This was no joke. This was real. This was happening. This was amazing.

The 2 elders embraced in a long, much needed, hug. They just held each other. Laughed. Cried. Hugged. These 2 brothers from 2 mothers have been called to 1 mission. The Italy, Milan mission. Departing on the SAME day, July 24, 2013.

God is good. He is real....and well...funny. 

I still can't believe this moment happened. I can't believe that my little brother and his side kick of 18 years are old enough to go on missions....let alone, the same mission! Good speed Elders Pinnock!

My Aunt Laura asked me to make a video of this moment and so here it is!