WHY SERVE A MISSION? 

Cheerful Servants

Our friends who are not members of our Church I think wonder what motivates us at our age--when we should by all rights enjoy a life of leisure and settle down for a long winter's nap--to go serve a mission. I suppose that it does appear strange. It even appears a bit fearful and uncomfortable for some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It certainly is not convenient! and it demands consecration. We pay for all the preparation and living costs, and Frankfurt isn't inexpensive. It takes us away from our children and grandchildren, although we can speak often with them by telephone and skype. We get to leave our comfortable home, friends, and pleasant neighborhood in exchange for a faraway country, a language that I haven't spoken much for nearly half a century,  and people that we have never met before. Have we taken leave of our senses!?
     No. We simply do it out of love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and we want to share the joy and peace we have found with others. We are willing to leave family, friends, and pleasures behind to help do the work of bringing souls unto Christ. Our primary assignment is to be a mental health resource for missionaries and mission presidents throughout the Europe Area missions. It is an interesting fact that spreading the gospel of love and joy is not always joyful or emotionally peaceful. It has its stress, discouragement, homesickness, anxiety, and other adjustment issues as well. These young (18-20-year old) messengers of joy and peace sometimes need strengthening themselves. That is our happy assignment.