Not pictured above is my older brother Justin who was serving his mission at the time and came home twelve days after I left
My mission is a two year proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; some of you may know of us as "Mormons". During these two years of my service I will not be allowed to phone home (except on Mother's Day and Christmas), watch TV, play video games, text friends, date girls, go to college, see my brother for a total of four years, or many of the other activities normal for my age. So why on earth would I choose to do something like this? Because I have a firm testimony of the gospel doctrines and principles that I have been taught and in turn will be teaching others. I have a firm testimony of the truthfulness of the message I will be sharing, and I have been so blessed by it that I want everyone else to be able to have it. I may be giving up a few things for two years, but the joy that I will be able to bring to others, and myself, far outweighs the sacrifices I will be making.