Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints missionaries Sister Taya Worthen (center) and Sister Monica Schmidt are happy to let Eastern Washington University volunteer Ryan McVair do some of the heavy lifting during work at Medical Lake's Care and Share Thrift Store.
In the beginning, Sister Taya Worthen didn't plan to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. It would mean 18 months of no work, postponing college and paying her way.
"I never thought that was in the cards for me," Worthen said.
Yet, she is here in Cheney. What changed her mind? Nothing. What changed her heart? God.
Like many little girls, Worthen always wanted to be a Disney princess. She came close enough to that dream to touch it. She participated in the rigorous six-hour audition at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. in the hope of working as a Disney princess. When the call came, it was everything she ever dreamed. Disney wanted to cast her as Princess Elsa. Her dream had, seemingly, come true.
But, Worthen is not in Orlando posing for photographs with children as Princess Elsa. She is serving an LDS mission in Cheney.
After receiving the opportunity from Disney, Worthen felt impressed to serve a mission. The feeling to serve didn't abate, if anything it strengthened. She prayed, sought counsel from her parents and fasted to know God's will. If she told Disney "no," she would lose her childhood dream and have to audition again in the future, with no guarantee of success.
Worthen said, "Heavenly Father needed me on a mission whether I liked it or not. So I knew I would go wherever He wanted me. He has a better plan for me than I have for myself. Even if I'm not a Disney princess, I'm His princess."
She didn't understand why God needed her at first. She has a better idea now. Worthen learned "conversion to the doctrine" in her life.
"The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than just actions," she said. "It's something we live because we live it in our hearts."
Worthen continued, "I feel like the fog has kind of been lifted from everything. Everything makes more sense - especially the "Plan of Salvation." The way I view people now is a blessing. Everyone has potential. It has been a gift to feel love for other people, instead of seeing them all as strangers."
She loves her mission, but it isn't easy. "The hardest thing about being a missionary is teaching someone, knowing that they feel the Spirit and know it's true, but they reject the message," Worthen said.
That's why she feels blessed to meet with the students on the EWU campus. "We're on campus a lot," Worthen said. "People are more interested to learn, open to talking and learning, but not all understand how important the conversation they're having is. I want to help them understand the truth. We're missionaries who teach the truth."
Though this isn't what she originally planned to do with her life, she's grateful she followed God's counsel. How does Worthen describe her decision to sacrifice her dream to serve an LDS mission? "It's a struggle, but super rewarding," she said.
Kamerra Foster is a member of the Young Single Adult Ward in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Cheney.
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