Tell us about your mission and the people. Tell us an interesting fact about the area of the world where you serve.
I serve in the Colorado Denver North mission! My mission is pretty small, but is very populated! It consists of a lot of Denver and its outskirts. I’ve been out for about 10 months. I’ve served in three places! Aurora south, Boulder, and now I’m in a small town called Strasburg. I’ve learned so much about joy! There truly is joy in the work. Being able to bring others to Christ has helped me to feel the love the Savior has for everyone. In the Colorado Denver North Mission the people are amazing! The members are always so willing to help and share the gospel with their friends! It’s been a privilege to help them in their efforts. An interesting fact about Denver is there are more dogs than people! Not actually, but it does seem like it! Also I cover a small town called Deer trail which is actually the capital of rodeos!! Which is fun during rodeo season!!
Why did you decide to serve a mission?
I’ve always wanted to serve a mission! As a kid I always said I would serve a mission, so in my mind there was no question or doubt in my mind to serve a mission. As I grew older I started to gain a testimony for myself. I knew I wanted to share this gospel with others! To help them have the same peace and hope I gained from this gospel.
What advice do you have for the youth and YSAs members of the stake that are contemplating serving a mission?
My advice would be to pray about it. You will get an answer. If you know you want to serve but are scared just do it. Put your trust in the Lord. There are things that will happen and you’ll know without a doubt that you are supposed to serve. Everyone’s mission experience is different. Don’t compare but just rely on the Lord. You wont regret it! You will be blessed even for the thoughts of wanting to serve him. Just pray about it and study it out in your mind!
Having the unique experience of serving in the midst of a global pandemic, how has your mission differed from those of former missionaries (old people – lol). How has your mission leveraged social media in reaching and teaching investigators? What advice would you share with members of the Hickory Stake as it relates to how we can use social media more effectively?
My mission is not like anything I’ve ever expected! But everything has felt right. In the beginning it was hard. We didn’t see very many people and it was lots of phone calls and zoom lessons. Used to be missionaries would be out and about from 10am to 9 pm. While we were inside and sometimes would only see one person a day! The only way we could talk with others was if they approached us! Finding people to teach didn’t come easy, but the Lord loves effort and we’ve seen lots of miracles come as we’ve worked with members and served others! On social media we’ve been using “jewels”. Short 5 min stories! Times when your testimony has strengthened because of an experience you’ve gone through. Our mission has been recording jewels of our members and recent converts. Sharing these with others has been a great experience! I would suggest for the members to start adding more friends on Facebook, invite friends to like the local Come unto Christ page (https://www.facebook.com/ComeUntoChristHickory), and share what you feel inspired to share. Be prayerful! Go through your friends and see who might need an uplifting message from a story that would relate to them or a quote! The Lord knows which of his children are in need of upliftment. We’re all going through something even if it doesn’t appear that way. Pray always and the Lord will guide you!
With the new focus on “Love, Share, and Invite”, what advice would you have to members of the Hickory Stake as to how we could catch the vision and apply this model in our own lives?
I love this focus! It makes it simple to share the gospel. Invite people to everything! Invite others to see you speak, to youth activities, to see you pass the sacrament, to see you lead the lesson on Sunday, the possibilities are endless! That’s all it takes is an invitation. Christ invited us all to come follow him. As we love others and invite them they will want to come support us. They will want to come back and stay because they’ve felt the spirit. They will want to follow Christ. It can be scary to invite others. But it gives others a chance to feel the spirit and they will notice. They may not always say yes but it’s your job as members to invite. Someone in our ward said if there’s ever anything you don’t want to do but know you need to, just count to three and do it. Try it out! I promise you won’t regret it!
Were there any fears that you had when you were considering serving a mission that you found were simply not warranted or melted away after you began serving?
My biggest fear is change, but I’ve learned that change is good. Change allows us to better ourselves and become like Christ. There continues to be change as I move around and as things open back up. We get to eat with members now and street contact! Which is all great but comes with change. It’s a constant struggle but prepares you for the even bigger changes later in life!
What lessons have you learned through your daily effort of serving the Lord and his sons and daughters?
I’ve learned to love serving others. I’ve also learned it doesn’t stop once I’m done! Theres a quote I love. “Your mission didn’t begin the day you were set apart and won’t end the day you’re released” (PMG). I have learned that the Lord is preparing people and as I return home I can continue to help others come closer to him! I have learned so much and I know I will continue to learn. Heavenly Father is always there and I have been able to feel his love more than ever as I’ve turned to him. The greatest thing I’ve learned is that this gospel is true. I have had a constant witness that this gospel is true as I’ve seen how it has changed others and has changed me!
