They Come Back Happy

I've been praying a lot lately concerning comfort for the mission and today I saw God's hand and was reminded that He loves me.

But let me back up. First, you should know this guy-

In the stripes, he's Ben. Cute, ain't he?  And in the black is Taylor, another good friend of mine but besides the point. So Ben is my...very close, very adorable.. best friend. He's leaving on his mission in July, as well as five of my other close friends. Actually the primary reason I started this blog is for a release of thought for me, and perhaps to provide solace for other "missionary girlfriends" or people with friends, neighbors, and countrymen with missionary relations.

Because it's hard to give up constant contact and communication and hugs with the people you care about most for two years, or maybe three. When you support them serving the Lord, and support their decision to spread the gospel of the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but you still can't deny that little tug at your heart when you think about being alone.

I'm sending out five of my best friends, including Ben, to missions within the next three months. And I know I need the Lord's strength to do it.

Today in church I got to go and sing at someone else's ward, and it happened to be the homecoming for two very powerful, on-fire-with-the-Spirit missionaries. I guess I had felt before that a mission was kind of like the death of my friends. But these missionaries were strong, and they were wise, and they knew with all their hearts that this gospel is the true one. I want that for my boys. I want them to be happy in the service of the Lord, and to learn and gain a firm testimony that this is the true way, and the only way to get to eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

I recognize that the testimony of these returned missionaries was God partially answering my plea. Because I was in the right place at the right time, I was able to be comforted and see the end result of a mission on a young man's life, and perhaps on my life in the future. A mission creates confident, capable young people with true knowledge that Jesus is the Christ and that He loves us. So that makes it all a little easier, at least for today. :)