This is an excerpt from my journal about three years ago. As a 19 year old, I write about my feelings as I prepared to serve as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in El Salvador for two years.
It is starting to hit me, more than it has up to this point, that I really am going to serve a mission. I really am going to leave for 2 years, in a week and a half. This realization started to open to my mind more fully as I was praying tonight. At first, I was afraid. I thought of my Dad, and the great and wonderful man that he is. I thought of his face, and his love for me, and his sense of humor, and the great person that he is. I thought of how much I have enjoyed spending time with him, and studying with him. I thought of Mom, and how awesome she is, and how much I will miss spending time with her, and talking with her. She does so much for me, and is so great. I thought of family gatherings, like the one that we had today, and realized that I won't be there at them, for the next 2 years. That is very weird to me. And I became a little anxious thinking about it. I felt like I wouldn't be able to make it! 2 years is a long time, and I would need to see my family! But I thought again. "This is the Lord's will. More than that, it is His commandment, for me to serve a mission. It is where I am supposed to be." I may be "missing out" on seeing my niece grow up, or on great family trips to the Ranch or the Lake or wherever, but it will be worth it. For two years I will be serving the Lord! I will be teaching people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
No comments:
Post a Comment