Jonie shares what it was like growing up in different spiritual environments, walking away from faith, and eventually finding her way back through deeply personal experiences with God.

From feeling like a mission would be an inconvenience… to realizing it became the most life-changing decision she’s ever made—this episode is filled with raw truth, powerful testimony, and real encouragement.

✨ You’ll hear:

• What it’s really like to serve a mission
• How God prepares you (even when you don’t realize it)
• The power of vulnerability in sharing your faith
• Why missions shape your future in ways you don’t expect
• How to stay strong after coming home

If you’ve ever questioned your path, struggled with faith, or wondered if a mission is right for you—this episode is for you.

💛 God is working in your life… even when you can’t see it yet.

00:00 Intro + Meet Sister Jonie Hakes01:30 Where she served (Las Vegas East Mission)03:30 “I didn’t want to serve a mission”06:30 The moment everything changed (empty home feeling)08:00 When all her life plans fell apart10:30 Choosing to trust God’s plan14:30 Mission call experience + confirmation16:30 “You sound like a robot” (learning vulnerability)18:00 Testimony of vulnerability21:00 “My mission was for me too”25:30 The story of Alyssa (God pursuing us)29:30 Members & miracles on the mission31:30 A mission = “crash course in life”33:00 Her brother’s unexpected mission call36:00 Why girls should serve missions41:30 “God will consecrate your afflictions”45:00 Testimony of Jesus Christ & the Book of Mormon48:30 Post-mission advice (how to stay strong)52:00 Final thoughts + outro

Powerful Quotes:

“I thought a mission would just be an inconvenience.”

“There were people there… but it felt empty.”

“Every plan I made that didn’t include a mission fell through.”

“God didn’t push me—He prepared me.”

“You’re an amazing missionary… but you sound like a robot.”

“I have a testimony of vulnerability.”

“My mission wasn’t just for others—it was for me.”

“It was beautiful to see how in pursuit the Lord was of her.”

“A mission is a crash course in life.”

“God will consecrate your afflictions for your gain.”

From battling perfectionism… to finding emotional safe havens during difficult moments… to learning self-compassion after coming home, this episode is filled with wisdom every sister missionary needs to hear.

Makenna shares powerful experiences serving in New York, connecting with people experiencing homelessness, and discovering that authenticity—not perfection—is what truly changes lives.

✨ This episode covers:

• Mission perfectionism & pressure
• Emotional healing after missions
• The importance of safe people and safe places
• Therapy, faith & self-compassion
• Why God needs YOU—not a performance
• Beautiful mission stories from New York

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t enough, this episode will remind you that God called you for a reason.

💛 Your personality, heart, and story are part of your divine purpose.

00:00 Welcome + “If You Need a Soul Hug…”00:58 Meet Makenna Waters01:30 Why she almost didn’t serve a mission02:15 Spiritual experience during General Conference03:30 The importance of safe havens on missions05:00 “The mission isn’t about being a robot”06:30 Perfectionism in sister missionaries08:00 Learning self-compassion after the mission09:30 Writing, prayer & changing negative self-talk10:45 Therapy, healing & reconnecting with yourself12:00 The oxygen mask analogy for missionaries13:30 Why serving yourself matters too14:30 Favorite mission memories in New York15:00 Serving meals to the homeless with Jim Waters17:00 “It shattered my view of the world”18:00 Seeing homeless people differently20:00 Advice for future sister missionaries20:45 “They need YOU as your whole self”21:45 “You’re not everybody’s cup of tea”22:30 Why authenticity matters in missionary work23:00 Beautiful lifelong mission connections24:00 Final thoughts + encouragement

Quotes:

“The mission isn’t about being a robot. You’re human too.”

“Having a safe haven on my mission changed everything.”

“You don’t have to be perfect to be a powerful missionary.”

“Be gentle with yourself.”

“You need connection and community too.”

“The Lord doesn’t need a fake version of you.”

“They need YOU as your whole self.”

“Your personality is part of your calling.”

“It makes you a better missionary when you stop running on empty.”

“Not everyone’s going to like you… but there are people who love tea.”

“I could be really mean to myself on the mission.”

“Ask Heavenly Father to help you see yourself the way He sees you.”

“We lose ourselves trying to become someone else.”

“You can serve others and still take care of yourself.”

“Your gifts, quirks, and personality are divine.”

At just 4 months in, she shares a raw and honest look at what missionary life is really like:

• The constant mental and emotional stretch
• Why teaching becomes the most joyful part
• How she handles hard days and physical exhaustion
• The difference between shame and true repentance
• Why your relationship with God matters more than anything

This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be willing.

If you’re preparing for a mission, currently serving, or recently returned, this conversation will strengthen and encourage you.

💛 Share this with someone who needs it.

0:00 Welcome + purpose of the podcast1:10 Meet Sister Stone (Houston → Tampa Mission)2:05 Did she always want to serve?3:10 From “I can’t eat tomatoes” to choosing a mission4:20 Submitting mission papers + surreal feeling5:15 What surprised her most about mission life6:00 “It’s like running a marathon”7:10 How she’s already changed in 4 months8:00 Half marathon → mission connection9:20 Choosing to do hard things before the mission10:30 Why you never really “rest” on a mission11:40 Teaching = the BEST part of missionary life12:50 Powerful story: teaching Anna about baptism14:30 Seeing the Spirit change someone in real time15:40 “Don’t be nervous about teaching”17:00 English missions are still HARD18:10 Unexpected challenge: constant mental strain19:00 The “missionary headache” explained20:00 How she gets through hard days21:00 Companions: hard AND the biggest blessing22:20 Favorite things to teach: Plan of Salvation & Repentance23:00 Repentance vs shame (POWERFUL explanation)25:00 Teaching in the Bible Belt: pros & challenges27:00 Final advice: why you should serve a mission28:10 Closing thoughts + invitation to share

1. “It’s like running a marathon… you’re constantly being stretched.”
2. “Teaching is the break.”
3. “When you see someone feel the Spirit for the first time… that’s everything.”
4. “Don’t be nervous about teaching—be nervous you won’t make it through.”
5. “Repentance isn’t shame… it’s letting God heal you.”
6. “Anything you want to hide from God—that’s where the adversary is working.”
7. “Even in English, missionary work is a whole different language.”
8. “You’re thinking about other people ALL day long.”
9. “Go on a mission for your Heavenly Father—not just for yourself.”
10. “You’re not perfect—but He is, and you can rely on Him.”

🔥 Bonus 

• “The mission doesn’t stop—you just learn how to keep going.”
• “Sometimes repentance is just a prayer.”
• “You don’t have to be afraid of God.”

Sister Lemon, currently serving her mission, opens up about:

• Chronic headaches and physical challenges
• Anxiety and depression on the mission
• Feeling like a burden instead of a blessing
• Wondering if she’s even making a difference

But through it all, she shares powerful truth:

👉 You are still called.👉 You still matter.👉 And God still has a purpose for you.

If you are preparing for a mission, currently serving, or struggling with your faith—this episode will remind you that you are not alone.

💛 Share this with someone who needs hope.

⏱️ Timestamps0:00 Welcome + “elephant tribe” vision 🐘1:10 Meet Sister Lemon (Utah → Florida mission)2:30 Always wanted to serve?3:10 Mission papers + medical challenges5:20 Why honesty about health matters6:30 Mission body changes (things no one talks about)8:30 Chronic headaches explained10:00 Living with constant physical challenges11:30 Learning to communicate weaknesses13:00 “I feel like an inconvenience…”14:30 Adversary attacks AFTER you decide to serve16:00 Anxiety, depression, and real thoughts missionaries have18:00 A HARD Sunday moment (raw honesty)20:00 Feeling like you’re not making a difference21:30 Highs and lows in the SAME day23:00 Why we don’t talk about this enough24:30 What helps you keep going25:30 Adjusting expectations (physical + emotional)27:00 “Maybe your mission is being a companion”28:30 Trusting God’s timing30:00 Advice for future missionaries31:00 “You are here for such a time as this”32:30 Final encouragement + wrap up💬 10 Powerful Quotes “I feel like I’m an inconvenience to everyone around me.”“The adversary will hit your weaknesses FULL FORCE after you decide to serve.”“I’m in the middle of my hard—not looking back on it.”“You can feel your lowest lows and highest highs in the same day.”“Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you’re not supposed to be here.”“Maybe your mission is being a companion.”“Don’t let the adversary stop you from doing what you already know is right.”“You have to become comfortable with your weaknesses.”“If you knew it once, it’s not any less true now.”“You are here for such a time as this.”🔥 EXTRA “This might be my hard.”“I don’t always feel the Spirit—and that’s real.”“Hard doesn’t mean wrong.”

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:

• What if I do not feel ready?
• 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.

0:00 Welcome to Called Sister0:38 Introducing Kandyce Christensen1:08 Where and when she served1:52 Did she always want to serve a mission?3:10 What changed her heart about serving4:35 How her mission still blesses her life now6:05 Surprised by how structured mission life was7:35 The “best tired” of missionary work8:30 Challenges after coming home10:20 Expectations vs reality after the mission12:05 Learning to trust Plan B13:00 Favorite mission experience: teaching John14:25 Going to the temple with him15:05 Leaving family behind to help others find forever families16:05 Family struggles while serving17:45 Trusting God with people you love19:10 Eternal perspective on the mission20:25 “Life doesn’t pause while you’re serving”21:05 Advice for women with hard things at home22:50 What she wants every woman to know24:00 Final testimony of Jesus Christ25:25 Closing thoughts

“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.”

Kora shares what it’s really like to be a missionary right now: the long wait to turn in her mission papers, the challenge of making her mission her own, the surprise of realizing that missionaries are still just regular people, and the deep personal conversion that has come through prayer, scripture study, and learning to truly love the Book of Mormon.

This conversation is honest, funny, sacred, and full of the Spirit.

If you are preparing to serve, missing your mission, parenting a missionary, or simply needing to remember that God still has a plan for you, this episode is for you.

Key themes in this episode:

God’s timing in the mission prep process

personal revelation and growth

missionaries as real people

loving the Book of Mormon

faith as “putting one foot in front of the other”

what it means to wear Christ’s name over your heart

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

Timestamps0:00 Welcome to Called Sister0:29 Introducing Sœur Kora Verhoef in the Paris France Mission0:58 Kora introduces herself and her mission in French2:10 Did she always want to serve a mission?2:28 Why turning in mission papers took over a year3:15 Advice for women struggling through the mission papers process5:28 What surprised her most about missionary life6:03 “Missionaries are just regular people”7:10 Being yourself vs becoming who God needs you to be8:15 How teaching others strengthens your own testimony9:23 Prayer, scripture study, and learning to love the Book of Mormon12:40 “You can find every answer in the Book of Mormon”14:00 When she realized: “I love the Book of Mormon”14:49 What has been hardest: making the mission her own16:00 Growing up hearing everyone else’s mission stories16:53 “Nobody else has had the same mission as me”18:25 Advice to women thinking about serving a mission19:00 “Get off your butt and go do it”19:20 Reading the New Testament as a missionary20:20 The apostles as missionaries20:55 Acts 5:41–42 in French21:58 Wearing Christ’s name over her heart22:40 Faith is putting one foot in front of the other23:03 Closing thoughts and farewellAmazing Quotes“Missionaries are just regular people.”“Just because somebody has a different title or a different calling doesn’t mean they’re a different person.”“Sometimes the ‘yourself’ that you want to be isn’t the yourself that God needs you to be.”“As I share my experience, I’m able to remember my experience.”“I love the Book of Mormon.”“It was only recently that I realized: I love my mission.”“Nobody else has had the same mission as me.”“Get off your butt and go do it.”“I get to hold His name over my heart every single day.”“Faith is just putting one foot in front of the other.”A few more:“God’s got a plan for me.”“It’s been a blessing to look back and say, ‘Oh, that’s what that was for.’”“We don’t need to be the perfect missionary by the end of the mission.”“Even when I don’t feel worthy of it, putting on my badge helps me out a little bit.”What It’s Really Like to Be a Sister Missionary Right Now | Paris France Mission

Davis shares her honest story of not wanting to serve a mission, learning to choose it for herself, and discovering that missionary success is about far more than numbers. Together, they talk about agency, service, companionship struggles, loving people where they are, and why a mission can matter deeply—even if it doesn’t look the way you expected.

This episode is for the sister who has ever wondered:

Did my mission matter?

Was I enough?

What does real missionary success actually look like?

With humor, heart, and deep testimony, Davis reminds us that God is still on Plan A, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not flawed, and that loving people like the Savior did is never wasted.

If you’re a returned sister missionary, preparing to serve, or simply needing reassurance that your offering counted—this one is for you.

“If the only thing I do is let people know that Jesus Christ loves them, I will have been a successful missionary.”

“I didn’t baptize anyone my whole mission — but I loved people. And that mattered.”

“I chose to be here. When it got hard, I reminded myself — I chose this.”

“God is still on Plan A — even if it feels like you’re on Plan F.”

“The gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t flawed. Culture might be. People might be. But Christ isn’t.

“Missions are one of the only times in your life when you don’t have to think about yourself.”

“We were raised to think baptism is the finish line. But it’s actually one of the biggest commitments someone can make.”

“I didn’t go to baptize everyone. I went to love people.”

“You don’t need explicit permission from God for every step. Sometimes you just move — and trust.”

“The gospel isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s meant to be lived — not performed.” 

Sara shares what it was like to be a missionary while the world stood still. From knocking doors the morning of 9/11, to shifting from formal lessons to hymns and prayer, to witnessing communities unite in grief and faith — her experience is both sacred and unforgettable.

We also talk about:• Learning exact obedience without rigidity• Gaining a testimony in the MTC• Discovering how she personally feels the Spirit• Temple service and spiritual nudges• Living with anxiety and learning new tools later in life• Why she tells every young woman: “Just go.”

This episode is grounding, thoughtful, and deeply faith-filled.

If you are considering serving a mission — or wondering how your mission shaped you — this conversation will uplift you.

✨ Share this episode with a sister who needs encouragement today.

0:00 – Introduction + cardboard cutout missionary daughter3:15 – Cherry Hill, NJ (2000–2001)7:00 – Deciding to serve at 2111:00 – Obedience & why rules matter18:00 – Christmas phone call story24:00 – September 11, 2001 as a missionary30:00 – Switching from lessons to hymns & prayer36:00 – Community candlelight moment43:00 – Gaining a testimony in the MTC49:00 – How she feels the Spirit55:00 – Temple service & spiritual nudges1:04:00 – Anxiety, medication & growth1:12:00 – “Keep pushing the handcart”1:18:00 – Advice: Just go1:22:00 – Testimony & closing

“Look for ways to follow the rules — you never know what they’re protecting.”

“This is the only time in your life you’ll work full-time with the Savior.”

“Keep pushing the handcart.”

“A mission taught me how to be a member.”

“I couldn’t say ‘I know’ yet… but I realized all those little spiritual moments meant I did.”

“Medication can lift the fog so you can think clearly.”

“God wants us to become our happiest, most beautiful, most productive selves.”

“A mission isn’t mutually exclusive from being a wife or mother — it strengthens you for it.”

“He will walk with you forward again.”

“Just go.”

Kayleah opens up about:

Being asked to wait a full year before submitting mission papers

Struggling with mental health before her mission

Coming home earlier than expected

Learning how to feel the Spirit again after returning

Discovering who Jesus Christ really is — personally

This conversation is raw, real, and deeply hopeful.

If you are:

Preparing to serve

Currently serving

Recently home

Or just trying to feel close to God again…

This episode is for you.

✨ Share this with a sister who needs to hear: You’re doing better than you think you are.

“You don’t have to be good enough for me to teach you.”

“I loved meeting people in the mud.”

“You are doing so much better than you think you are.”

“It’s not about becoming someone new. It’s about recognizing who you’ve been the whole time.”

“I didn’t realize how constant the Spirit was until I came home.”

“You can do a lot on your own — but it won’t feel fulfilling without Jesus Christ.”

“I wasn’t being Jesus. I was letting Him reflect through me.”

“It’s not my job to get people baptized. It’s my job to invite them to Christ.”

Jessee shares how mission scriptures about vision, perseverance, and “holding on” became anchors throughout her life—from major life decisions, to waiting years to meet her husband in the Air Force, to navigating motherhood across global moves. She opens up about her son Teddy’s early heart procedure—and her current pregnancy with baby Evie Grace, who has a life-limiting diagnosis.

This episode is a reminder that faith doesn’t erase the hard… but it can carry you through it.

Share this with a return sister missionary, a young woman preparing to serve, or anyone who needs hope today.

0:00 – Welcome + why Called Sister exists1:20 – Shannon introduces Jessee Allred3:15 – Shannon’s mission realization: “This isn’t a detour—this is my path”6:10 – Jessee: why she served + Sweden Stockholm (2008–2009)9:25 – Coming home + “my mission president said go find your husband”12:10 – Waiting years + promptings that led to Virginia (and James)16:10 – Not a detour: how music became part of the plan20:00 – Marriage + Air Force life = “a mission call every few years”23:00 – Motherhood journey: four kids + naming patterns26:00 – Teddy’s heart diagnosis + NICU experience31:30 – Deciding on baby #5 + “I kept feeling someone was missing”35:00 – Finding out: Trisomy 18 diagnosis + “worse news each ultrasound”41:00 – Faith doesn’t guarantee outcomes: still praying, still faithful45:00 – How her mission prepared her for this trial49:00 – Key scriptures: “hand to the plow” + “where there is no vision”54:00 – Her vision now: enduring well + power through covenants58:00 – Advice for future missionaries: do it + hold on1:02:00 – Testimony + “It’s not hopeless—it’s just Friday”1:06:00 – Closing: you’re still Called

“I thought my mission was a detour—then I realized this is my path.”

“Where there is no vision, the people perish. That scripture carried me through everything.”

“It felt like God got me to Virginia with a plan that made sense… and then revealed why.”

“I kept counting the kids and thinking… everyone isn’t here yet.”

“We weren’t less faithful this time. We prayed. We fasted. And the answer wasn’t what we wanted.”

“I’m learning that ‘ease’ doesn’t mean ‘easy.’ It means He helps you carry it.”

“It’s not hopeless. It’s just Friday. Sunday is coming.”

“Just because the name tag came off doesn’t mean you’re not needed. You’re still Called.”

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 Sister01:10 – 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 Stuck06:35 – Dad’s Dinner Conversation + The Thought That Wouldn’t Leave08:15 – Sacrament Meeting Moment: “If You’re Thinking About Serving… Go.”10:30 – Getting the Call to Mexico + Already Speaking Spanish12:10 – Day 1 Reality: Fast Start, Blisters, Walking Mission Grind14:40 – What Surprised Her Most: How Personal People Get With Missionaries16:50 – Spanish on the Phone (the real test)18:10 – Mission Differences: Vanessa’s Joy vs Clay’s Harder Experience20:00 – Witchcraft in the Area + Spiritual Discernment22:30 – How the Mission Prepared Her for Marriage + Meeting Clay26:00 – Learning to Hear the Spirit After the Mission28:30 – Numbers vs People: Finding the Right Focus32:10 – Companionship Conflict + The Red Nail Polish Story36:00 – Advice for Future Sisters: Love Your Companion + Work With Members38:50 – What Makes a “Successful Mission” (your own conversion)41:00 – Vanessa’s Testimony42:30 – Closing + You’re Stronger Than You Think

“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 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.”

“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.”

“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.’”

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

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

What if you don’t feel ready to serve — but you feel called anyway?

In this episode of Called Sister, Sarah is joined by her dear friend Amency Loftin as they reflect on missionary service, faith, and the courage it takes to follow Jesus Christ even when the path feels uncertain.

Amency shares her experience serving as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, navigating comparison, inadequacy, and learning to rely completely on the Spirit. Together, they explore how missions shape motherhood, marriage, and discipleship — and how determination, rather than perfection, carries us through life’s hardest seasons.

This conversation also tenderly addresses waiting, unanswered prayers, infertility, and learning who Heavenly Father truly is through trial. With honesty and grace, Amency reminds us that faith is not the absence of frustration — it is the decision to stay.

Whether you are a returned sister missionary, preparing to serve, or simply a woman seeking to stay close to God, this episode is for you.

You were called for a reason. Your desire matters. And you are stronger than you think.

00:00 – Welcome to Called Sister & Invitation to Share 

02:30 – Meeting Amency & Her Mission Call 

05:45 – Serving in Salt Lake City South & Genealogy Work 

08:40 – Why a Convert Chooses to Serve a Mission 

12:30 – Desire Over Perfection (D&C 4) 

15:40 – Comparison & Feeling Inadequate in the MTC 

19:20 – Relying on the Spirit When You Don’t Know Enough 

23:45 – Mission Lessons That Shape Motherhood & Marriage 

27:50 – Determination, Faith & Not Giving Up 

31:10 – Infertility, Unanswered Prayers & Knowing Heavenly Father 

34:40 – Staying When It’s Hard 

36:10 – Final Advice: Staying Close to God 

37:10 – Closing Testimony & Farewell

Powerful Quotes from the Episode

✨ Calling & Desire

“You don’t have to know everything to serve — you just have to want to.”

“If you have desire, you are called to the work.”“I didn’t feel ready, but I felt called.”

💛 Inadequacy & the Spirit

“I felt like a baby in the gospel — and the Spirit carried me anyway.”

“There were things I did on my mission that I could not have done without the Spirit.”

“Even when I felt inadequate, the Lord provided a way.”

🔥 Determination & Faith

“Nothing is going to stop me — I know the gospel is true.”

“Faith isn’t never wanting to quit; it’s choosing not to.”

“Just because it’s righteous doesn’t mean it will be easy.”

🌸 Staying Close to God

“One soul matters to Him — even mine.”

“Stay close to your Heavenly Father and your Savior.”

“This life is short. Prepare now. Stay connected.”

In this episode of Called Sister, Sarah sits down with her dear friend (also Sahra) to reflect honestly on missionary life — from memorized discussions and strict scripts to the sacred moments when the Spirit took over.

Together, they explore what it truly means to teach by the Spirit:

When knowing the lesson isn’t enough

When agency breaks your heart

When conversion happens on both sides of the door

And when God knows exactly where to send His daughters — even when it isn’t where they hoped to go

Through powerful stories from the mission field, motherhood, and moments of divine protection, this conversation reminds us that the Holy Ghost is not abstract — He is personal, protective, and persistent.

If you are a returned sister missionary, preparing to serve, or learning how to trust the quiet voice guiding your life, this episode is for you.

You are not alone.You were called on purpose.And you are stronger than you think.

00:00 – Welcome to Called Sister02:10 – Meeting Sarah & Mission Backgrounds05:45 – The Old Discussions & Memorization Culture12:30 – When Memorization Turns Into Testimony18:40 – Deviating From the Script & Feeling the Spirit24:15 – Teaching by the Spirit vs Teaching Information31:50 – Agency, Rejection, and Missionary Heartbreak40:10 – The Spirit’s Role in True Conversion47:20 – Lessons From Motherhood & Recognizing the Spirit55:35 – Sacred Experiences of Protection and Guidance1:03:40 – When We Don’t Listen to the Spirit1:10:55 – Advice for Future & Returned Sister Missionaries1:18:30 – God Knows Where to Send His Daughters1:24:00 – Final Testimony & Closing Thoughts

“The spirit is the only thing that can truly convert someone.”

“You have to know the lesson before you can deviate from it — that’s when the Spirit steps in.”

“Teaching by the Spirit is knowing who you are teaching, not just what you are teaching.”

“It is devastating to share your most personal testimony and have someone reject it — and that doesn’t mean you failed.”

“Agency is real. It was never our job to force conversion.”

“As much as we are fighting for people, the adversary is fighting for them too.”

“Heavenly Father really knows where you need to be.”

“My true conversion didn’t come where I wanted to go — it came where I was sent.”

“Conversion isn’t a one-time moment. It’s choosing Christ again and again.”

“Sometimes the Spirit doesn’t explain — it just says ‘turn right.’”

“I learned that ignoring the Spirit has consequences, and listening brings protection.”

“You were called on purpose — and the people you’re meant to serve need you.”

“Missions aren’t meant to be easy. Even the Savior’s mission wasn’t easy.”

“You are not alone. We are walking with you.”

Together, they reflect on the cultural expectations surrounding sister missionaries, the question-based way God sometimes calls us forward, and the deep personal knowing that comes before clarity.

Shannon shares the moment she first felt prompted to consider a mission, the opposition she faced, and how her faith carried her through uncertainty. Sarah reflects on her own journey and the importance of recognizing that “anticipated” paths don’t always unfold the way we imagine.

This conversation sets the foundation for Called Sister: a space where returned sister missionaries can speak openly about faith, identity, sacrifice, and becoming—because the calling didn’t end when the name tag came off.🤍

You are still called.

⏱️ Episode 1 Timestamps –

Called Sister

00:00 – Welcome to Called Sister + introducing Shannon

01:10 – Being longtime friends… and never really talking about our missions

02:55 – Where we served + when we served

03:10 – Sister missionaries then vs. now (age, culture, expectations)

04:45 – Cultural stigma around serving as a sister missionary

06:30 – Not knowing any sister missionaries growing up

07:05 – The moment God asked the question instead of giving the answer

08:55 – Wrestling with the call to serve

10:30 – A powerful spiritual experience that confirmed the decision

12:45 – Keeping the mission decision private + family reactions

14:40 – Commitment, sacrifice, and what it meant to “give it all”

16:55 – Anticipated paths vs. real life paths

18:55 – Why creating space for sister missionaries’ voices matters

20:15 – Sarah’s story: loss, grief, and feeling called unexpectedly

22:20 – Getting the mission call + hopes, fears, and surprise

24:10 – Different beginnings, same faith journey

26:30 – Advice for young women considering a mission

28:45 – Being loved vs. feeling loved

30:05 – There is no one “right” path to serving God

31:15 – Why Called Sister exists + invitation to the community

This trailer shares the moment that inspired this podcast—the visceral, sacred, and often unspoken experience of having the name tag come off.

Called Sister exists to hold space for the women who served, came home changed, and are still learning what it means to feel called, chosen, and needed after the mission.

Each episode features honest, unedited conversations about faith, identity, grief, growth, and becoming—because the calling didn’t end when the name tag came off.

Hosted by Sarah Verhoef.