OKAY I AM SORRY I HAVE THOUGHT OF GETTING BACK TO THIS A MILLION TIMES BUT I AM FINALLY GETTING TO IT!!! Sorry for the shouting, I felt really bad.

Well, I know it might sound really obvious, but you really need to know Preach My Gospel. Of course there will be time to learn it in the MTC but I can promise you will be much more effective if you study before you leave and you will also have the Spirit with you. That book contains the words of living (and ancient) prophets and is well worth the time you take to study.

Also, read the Book of Mormon. I just finished it and am almost back to 2 Nephi. It’s a true book and it will help you so well.

Another primary answer is PRAYER! Pray like crazy. Morning and evening (and like Alma says, at noon wouldn’t hurt either) Get to know your Heavenly Father on a very personal level and know that He loves and cares about you. Gain a testimony that He not only loves you, but that He loves ALL His children in all their troubling circumstances. You can do this by consistent prayers filled with pleas for the health, safety, and spiritual well-being of others, and other prayers containing purely gratitude (à la Elder Bednar’s conference address last October “Pray Always”).

The last thing I suggest is to work on your people skills. Talk to strangers, willingly and cheerfully accept the call to speak in church if it comes. Seek out opportunities to share the gospel, go on splits with the missionaries in your area. You should start to feel comfortable talking to people you have never met, because that is precisely what you are doing on a mission. Another way to do this is to search for and work to have a very personal and sacred relationship with Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and He is the reason why this Church exists: to bring forth the true and everlasting gospel. We take his name upon us when we are baptized, it is true, but when we choose to serve a mission, we are not only taking His name, but taking His place, preaching the light and truth that we have to all the nations!

What a glorious work. :) Shall we not go on in so great a cause? (D&C 128:22) God be with you, sister! I’m glad you have chosen to serve the Lord. You will touch the hearts of many children of God.