Why a mission?

So I don't even know how blogs exactly work, but I'm so bored, and I wanted a record of my mission. This is taken straight out of my journal I kept while serving. I'm warning you that I tell my blunt feelings in some parts, and I'm sorry if you get offended at all. I loved my mission. I loved being a missionary, and it's extremely difficult to come home 13 months early. Nonetheless I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had.

I'll first start off telling how I ended up on a mission. I made the firm resolution that I was not going. I had decided not to go. I was finishing up my student teaching last spring and had a negative experience with that. They extended my graduation, and I was really questioning my desire to become a teacher. I think the adversary allows certain experiences and people to come into our lives to discourage us and in turn, question our faith. Anyway, after such a disappointing Spring, not just with the graduation, but with boys as well, I prayed long and hard about what I should do next in my life. I had a calm assurance and the most peaceful feeling I have ever felt. I knew the Lord wanted me to go and as soon as I made that decision, I became the happiest person on Earth.

I was a late bloomer missionary, meaning I was older. When I was 21, I decided I did not want to go on a mission at all. I wanted to do the complete opposite of that, and so I lived my life in a way that reflected that. That obviously didn't get me anywhere. I was miserable. I experienced some things that I am glad I did. These experiences helped me to grow tremendously, and I'm glad I was a late bloomer because I took the time to figure out what I wanted, and then I knew for a surety what to do. No answer was more clear.

After the decision, and especially after receiving my call to New Jersey, I felt Satan's influence stronger than ever before. I prepared to go to the Temple and had a good experience on the 12th of August 2009 to receive my endowment in the Bountiful Temple. A couple days later I had the special opportunity to see my good friend sealed in the Bountiful Temple as well.

People were overwhelmingly supportive, which was amazing. However, there were also those people who flat out told me I was crazy, and it's sad, because these people were those I considered my closest friends. Basically the Gospel has made me very happy and I want to share that with others. In case you haven't noticed, this world is lacking a lot of happiness.

This is all pre-mission. Now, I will go to 09/09/09 when I entered the Missionary Training Center.