January 18th, Alaina was set apart by President Chacon to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for the Maceio, Brazil mission.  Both Bishop Larsen and Glen and Ann Hawkes joined us.

Alaina's setting apart to be a missionary was such a sweet moment.  President Chacon is a very humble man, and he said something that really struck me.  He told Alaina that her mission wasn't to bring people to be baptized into our church, but it was to bring people closer to God and Jesus.  Of course, the way he had said it really brought the focus to the real purpose of being a missionary.  It is a fine thing to find people who are looking for a community and for a church to join.  It is a whole other thing to help people find God and for them to feel His healing grace in their lives.  

Since I am writing this post a whopping 9 months after Alaina was actually set apart, I can say that she has been able to make this goal of bringing people to Christ as her driving force.  She has found true joy in watching the lives of her friends change with the gift of having Christ in their homes and with their families.  It has been humbling to see the energy and dedication that she puts into each week to be a light of Christ and to share His message.  

And to think that it all started with this moment.