Vanessa McCloud Hunt didn’t grow up planning to serve a mission—her patriarchal blessing didn’t even mention it. But when life felt stuck and directionless, the Lord found a way to speak to her so personally, she couldn’t ignore it.

In this episode of Called Sister, Sarah sits down with Vanessa, a returned sister missionary who served in the Mexico Cancún Mission (Oct 2022–Apr 2024). Vanessa shares the moment in sacrament meeting when her bishop stood up and said: if you’re thinking about serving, you need to go—and how she felt Heavenly Father speaking straight to her heart.

You’ll also hear:

Getting called to Mexico (and already speaking Spanish)

The shock of how fast mission life starts—and the real physical grind of a walking mission

Learning to listen to the Spirit beyond “numbers” and pressure

How missions prepare you for relationships and marriage (hello, companionship skills)

Why a “successful mission” starts with your own conversion

Her best advice: love your companion and work with the members

If you’re on the fence, coming home, or trying to rebuild spiritual momentum—this episode will remind you that God knows you personally… and He knows exactly how to reach you.

00:00 – Welcome to Called Sister + Share This With a Sister
01:10 – Meet Vanessa McCloud Hunt (McCloud as a missionary)
02:10 – Where & When She Served: Mexico Cancún (Oct 2022–Apr 2024)
03:10 – “Did You Always Want to Serve?” (No—and her blessing didn’t mention it)
05:00 – Utah State, Coming Home, Feeling Stuck
06:35 – Dad’s Dinner Conversation + The Thought That Wouldn’t Leave
08:15 – Sacrament Meeting Moment: “If You’re Thinking About Serving… Go.”
10:30 – Getting the Call to Mexico + Already Speaking Spanish
12:10 – Day 1 Reality: Fast Start, Blisters, Walking Mission Grind
14:40 – What Surprised Her Most: How Personal People Get With Missionaries
16:50 – Spanish on the Phone (the real test)
18:10 – Mission Differences: Vanessa’s Joy vs Clay’s Harder Experience
20:00 – Witchcraft in the Area + Spiritual Discernment
22:30 – How the Mission Prepared Her for Marriage + Meeting Clay
26:00 – Learning to Hear the Spirit After the Mission
28:30 – Numbers vs People: Finding the Right Focus
32:10 – Companionship Conflict + The Red Nail Polish Story
36:00 – Advice for Future Sisters: Love Your Companion + Work With Members
38:50 – What Makes a “Successful Mission” (your own conversion)
41:00 – Vanessa’s Testimony
42:30 – Closing + You’re Stronger Than You Think

💛 Called in a Personal Way

“My patriarchal blessing didn’t mention a mission… so I thought I was free.”

“I felt it to my very core—Heavenly Father was speaking to me.”

“I knew He knew what I was thinking and what I was going through.”

🌿 The Real Mission Experience

“The first 10 minutes out, I got a blister—because I didn’t have the right shoes.”

“On day one, you’re like, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ They’re like, ‘Cool—let’s do it.’”

“It surprised me how personal people get with missionaries.”

🕊️ Spirit, Focus, and Growth

“I struggled between focusing on numbers and focusing on people.”

“Praying every day—and talking it through—helped me get out of the rut.”

“The mission teaches you how Heavenly Father communicates with you.”

🤍 Companionships & Marriage

“If you can’t have peace with your companion at home, it’s hard to do it in the street.”

“The mission prepared me for marriage—living with someone you don’t agree with 100%.”

“Clay’s like, ‘We have to talk about this now.’”

✨ Success Definition

“If you were the number one convert, you had a successful mission.”

“I worked hard to build a concrete relationship with Heavenly Father.”

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