In this episode of Called Sister, Sarah Verhoef talks with Kandyce Christensen, who served in the Morristown, New Jersey Mission from November 2016 to April 2018.

Kandyce shares how she went from not wanting to serve a mission at all to building a testimony that changed her life. She opens up about what surprised her most on the mission, the challenges of coming home, the pain of leaving loved ones who were struggling, and how trusting God’s timing has continued to shape her life.

This conversation is honest, comforting, and full of hope for anyone who has ever wondered:

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  What if I do not feel ready?
  
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  What if life after the mission is harder than I expected?
  
• 
  What if I am waiting on blessings that have not come yet?
  

Kandyce reminds us that Jesus Christ still loves you in every stage of life and that God’s timing is personal, wise, and full of purpose.

If this episode blesses you, share it with a sister who needs it.

Timestamps

0:00 Welcome to Called Sister

0:38 Introducing Kandyce Christensen

1:08 Where and when she served

1:52 Did she always want to serve a mission?

3:10 What changed her heart about serving

4:35 How her mission still blesses her life now

6:05 Surprised by how structured mission life was

7:35 The “best tired” of missionary work

8:30 Challenges after coming home

10:20 Expectations vs reality after the mission

12:05 Learning to trust Plan B

13:00 Favorite mission experience: teaching John

14:25 Going to the temple with him

15:05 Leaving family behind to help others find forever families

16:05 Family struggles while serving

17:45 Trusting God with people you love

19:10 Eternal perspective on the mission

20:25 “Life doesn’t pause while you’re serving”

21:05 Advice for women with hard things at home

22:50 What she wants every woman to know

24:00 Final testimony of Jesus Christ

25:25 Closing thoughts

Amazing Quotes

“I didn’t want to serve a mission… until I realized I really did.”

“The best tired is missionary tired.”

“When things got hard, I reminded myself: Plan A didn’t work, so we’re trying Plan B.”

“One day, John will be with his family forever because I was willing to leave mine for 18 months.”

“I had to ask God to help me be okay with whatever happened.”

“Life doesn’t pause while you’re on your mission.”

“I thought I had already done the hard part. I was wrong.”

“Jesus Christ loves you no matter what stage of life you’re in.”

“He loves you just as much now as He did when you were serving your mission.”

“Don’t be stubborn like me—just pray and ask for help.”

“Your mission is one of the only times in your life when you don’t have to think about yourself.”
“He knows you best, and He gives the best advice.”
“I’m stronger because I did hard things before, and I can do them again.”

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