Missions

I have a love-hate relationships with missions.

I love them because I know of the good they do for everyone involved.  They bring incredible growth to the missionary, those they serve, their loved ones supporting at home, and the church at large.  But I kind of hate that they take my friends and family away from me for 18 or 24 months.

So much can and does change in that amount of time.  In some ways, the time flies by and in others, it takes forever.

On the bright side, I love getting letters.

While I am grateful for email and other technology, there is something so special about getting a real, handwritten letter in the mailbox. 

Since missionaries are not to email people other than their families, I'm even more grateful for letters so that I can still feel connected to my friends and the people I love.

Tomorrow, Britny goes into the MTC.  I love Britny and am so proud of her decision to serve a mission.  I can't wait to add her to my list of loved ones serving the Lord.  She is going to be an incredible missionary.  I can't wait to hear all of her life changing experiences.  And I am excited for her to get to go back to the New York she loves so well!

Kate, Jess, Alicia, Britny, Me, and Haley at our Farewell lunch

On Thursday, Bryson comes home.  He's really the first friend of mine to come home.  It's crazy!  To be honest, I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.  I am excited to see him, but I know that so much has changed that I am not sure that the person I am now is even recognizable in comparison to the person I was when he left.  I knew when we graduated high school that nothing would ever be the same again, but it is all really hitting me now.  But, I wouldn't want things to stay the same either.  I'm happy with who I've become.  I just want to be able to celebrate the homecoming of my friends without the changes getting in the way.  

Bryson Scott

I'm sure everything will work out just fine.  I worry way too much sometimes.  So for now, I think I'll just focus on the excitement.