Many years ago, there lived a young girl who attended the Provo Peaks 7th Ward in Provo, Utah. Here, she learned how to pray and read her scriptures. She was taught the importance of daily prayer and scriptures as well as the importance of attending church and partaking of the sacrament each week. In primary, she learned song from the Children’s Songbook like I Am A Child Of God, I Love To See The Temple and I Hope They Call Me On A Mission. In Primary Valiant 7 class, she learned that she was part of a chosen generation; sent here to Earth at this specific time to fulfil her divine potential as a beloved daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. When she turned 12 and progressed into the Young Women’s programme, she gained a greater understanding of her divine potential and had a strong desire not only to cultivate her own growth but to help others recognise and nurture their own potential. She understood she was a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loved her and she loved Him. She made a promise that she would stand as a witness of God, at all times and in all things and in all places as she strived to live the Young Women values which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity and Virtue.
This young girl is me! Tia-Mariana Karlek Turepu Roos. The oldest of three children to two wonderful parents. I am a self-proclaimed “Amaorican” having Swedish-American and Cook Island Maori ancestry. I was born in a small hospital in Kahuku, Hawaii where I lived for the beginning of my childhood and where my brother Teariki was also born. We later moved to Provo, Utah where our family grew from four to five with my little sister Maiakawanakaulani being born. Provo was home. I attended and graduated from Wasatch Elementary in 2008 and attended Centennial Middle School for the first semester. In January 2009, my family made the big move to New Zealand and we have been here ever since! 7 years, 10 months and 7 days to be exact, but who’s counting?
When I think about where I am after almost 21 years of my mortal life and I reflect back at the little girl that sat in the Chapel on 200 E 500 N in little ol’ Provo, it is amazing to see how the Lord’s merciful hand has continually been stretched forth.
Just as a sculptor starts with a solid block, gradually removing material by a subtractive process, using chisels and other specialised tools to eventually reveal a finished masterpiece; Heavenly Father has been gradually shaping me into the person – the masterpiece – I was sent to Earth to become!
While growing up in Primary and Youth, I had no desire to serve a full-time mission. When I sang ‘I Hope They Call Me On a Mission’, I knew the importance and the sacred duty of serving a mission but it was not something that I saw myself doing. I knew that I did not have to serve a full-time mission to serve the Lord. My only goal was to finish High School, get straight into Medical School and then specialise so that I could become the first Cook Island Maxillofacial Surgeon and that was it!
Then one day, during my third year of Seminary, the question was posed to the class “Do you want to serve a mission?” followed by the invitation “If you don’t know, I invite you to pray about it and you will receive your answer by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost.” Although serving a mission was not part of my plan, it was definitely a part of Heavenly Father’s plan for me. After sincerely praying and asking the question, my answer was a sure and simple YES. When I received my patriarchal blessing the following year, serving a mission was again reiterated as it said “your mission call will soon arrive.”
Fast forwarding to 2014, my first year at University, I prayed to Heavenly Father and presented my plan that I wanted to submit my mission papers at the end of the school year and asked for confirmation. My answer was a simple “You are going on a mission but not now.” I was completely gutted. 2015 rolls along. I prayed again, presented my plan that I was going to submit my papers at the end of the school year and asked for confirmation. Again, I received the simple but sure answer “You are going on a mission but not now.” There came some moments when I thought I would forget about going on my mission and just stay in school but the words from my patriarchal blessing were always brought back to my remembrance. At the beginning of this year, my parents encouraged me to petition the Lord again. I prayed and asked him if this year was the year to complete my mission papers and submit them and to my surprise and utmost joy, the answer was “YES! Now is the time!”
I have received some very significant pieces of paper throughout my life so far – Elementary and High School graduation certificates, my baptism certificate, my Patriarchal Blessing, Seminary Graduation diploma, Institute recognition certificates, my full driver’s license, University Certificate in Health Sciences, my temple recommend and now… my Mission Call!
On September 29th 2016 words were unable to accurately describe the excitement that I felt when I read:
“Dear Sister Roos,
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 Australia Sydney South Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the New Zealand Missionary Training Centre on Thursday, January 19, 2017.”
I am eternally grateful to my loving Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity to serve a mission and for placing me in the midst of so many amazing and influential people, who have helped guide me along the strait and narrow path. I am grateful for the three years that I waited to submit my mission papers. The experiences and trials I faced and overcame have helped me to become more reliant on the Lord during the hard times but also during the good, and have strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ and His atonement. I have seen the Lord’s hand working in my life continuously as he has been chiselling away, helping me to become His masterpiece. I know that the Lord is in every detail of our lives. He knows all! We simply need to be willing to listen and follow the direction he gives to each of us.
I cannot wait to serve my brothers and sisters in the Australia Sydney South Mission! I love them from the apex of my heart to the base and I can’t wait to meet them all!
Watch out Sydney South, I’m coming. I’m excited. I’m ready to work!
Love,
Sister Roos xoxo (: (:
Ps. It’s All About Becoming
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