They are just so good!

My nephew Zander entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) yesterday.  I am so proud of him.  He is the first of all my nieces and nephews to choose to serve a mission for our church.  It really is a great sacrifice, but one that is rewarded with amazing blessings.  Young adulthood is a time when most are focused on themselves.  Young adults have traded their childhood homes for the independence they craved during their teenage years.  They frequently are focused on themselves, trying to "take advantage" of this time when they only have to worry about themselves.  They want to pack in as much fun as they can before they decide to marry and once again have to concern themselves with the needs of others.  I don't mean to assert that all young adults are completely selfish, but that it is one of the times in life that is often very self-centered.  It is a very fun and exciting time--a time of growth and exploration.  As I think of all the millions of young adults in the world, I am always touched by the sacrifice of the relative handful, about 60,000 at a time, who choose to sacrifice the fun of being a young adult to serve their God and others.  They sacrifice dating, music, electronics, studies, family, sports, comfort, etc.  They choose to give a year and a half or two years of their life.  They do not choose where they will serve and at times they are initially a little disappointed in their assignment.  They go whereever they are asked and devote nearly all their time to serving others and sharing a message about Jesus Christ and His love.  They only have about three quarters of one day off each week and during that time they do their shopping, cleaning, laundry, etc.  They do find time to have fun on their day off, but by dinner time, they are back to teaching and serving.  They are amazing!

Mission life is not easy, it is demanding and results in much soul searching, but these young people rise to the occasion.  They grow to love the poeple who they serve and are loved in return.  They learn about themselves--their strengths and their weaknesses.  They work hard and invest much physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They stretch and grow which at times is painful, but they are rewarded with much joy.  The result is that these young men and women who started out their missions as amazing young people become extraordinary.  I feel so priviledged to be able to work with them.  So many times we have had people not of our faith come up to us after having some association with the missionaries and almost be at a loss for words.  They are clearly moved and say something to the effect of, "They are just so good" not knowing how else to express what they are feeling and observing.

Zander is one of these great young people.  He has worked hard to prepare himself for this opportunity.  After he graduated from high school last spring, he went away to college and had a fabulous time.  He made many friends and had lots of FUN.  He was experiencing the freedom and independence that all teenagers dream about and loving it.  He had determined that he wanted to serve a mission for our church and planned on doing so when he turned 19--the age at which the young men were asked to serve.  He had a year of good times ahead of him.  About a month after he turned 18, Thomas S. Monson, the prophet of our church, announced that young men were able to begin their missions at the the age of 18 if they desired.  Because he is so wonderful and he had put forth the effort to prepare himself, he immediately began filling out and submitting the paperwork necessary to be able to serve a mission.  This handsome, intelligent, fun young man chose to give up his year of fun, so that he could work to try and bring happiness to others.  I love him and am so proud of him.  "HE IS JUST SO GOOD!"