Last week, I celebrated my 22nd birthday. Growing up, I thought a birthday was all about having my friends over so we could have some fun, eating my favorite dinner and dessert, opening the presents everyone gave to me; basically a day for me where everyone focused on me and no one got mad or frustrated or upset with me, because this was my day!
When I came to Tennessee to serve a full-time mission, that all changed. On a mission, you don't get a special day off just because it's your birthday. You do what you do everyday: knock on doors, find people who are interested in hearing what you have to say, teaching these people, and helping them come closer to the Savior. Going out into the real world on your birthday means that you have the chance to experience both sides of the spectrum: people who care to hear what you have to say, and people who don't. At first, this was frustrating to me. When these people opened the door, I wanted to say: "excuse me, but it's my birthday today, so could you please be kind to me and listen to what I have to say? And if you're not interested, please just tell me in a polite manner." Unfortunately, my expectations were a bit unrealistic.
You see, on a mission, you pretty much give up your identity: people don't call you by your first name, they have no clue who you are, and you look the same as every other missionary (at least for the elders, who wear white shirts and ties every day). And something that you learn on a mission is that, when people reject the message you share, they aren't rejecting you personally, but rather Him whose message it is: Jesus Christ. This is something that is difficult to learn and accept at first, especially when you experience rejection frequently.
Sometimes, I've had friends and acquaintances ask me: "why are you serving a mission?" This is a valid question, especially when you consider all the rejection and sadness that comes, and that your birthday is just another regular day on your mission; that nobody really knows it's the day you were born. So why do young men and women decide to go out into the world, where nobody knows their birthday?
I'll tell you in a later post more about my decision to serve a mission, but I think I speak for all the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I say that we love our Savior and His message which we are called to share. Whether our testimonies developed from dramatic events or by small and simple means, we all have a testimony that burns like a fire in our hearts, and we want to share that fire and that light with everyone we can. We not only volunteer to serve, but are eternally grateful for the short 2 years we have to serve the Lord and His children with all our hearts. That means that, in the end, we are even grateful for those few discouraging times and the days when people didn't know it was our birthday. We know that God has a plan for us, because we've seen His hand in our lives, and we know that those tough days will help us learn things that we will need later in life.
Apparently, when you grow up, people don't treat you any differently on your birthday, so I guess that's just something I'll have to learn. But I can tell you that I didn't go home and cry myself to sleep on the night of July 17th because people were mean to me on my birthday! In fact, I fell asleep with a smile on my face, because I had the chance to use my birthday to tell people about the Savior, and His gospel which has blessed my life so much.
I guess, in the end, the advice I would give, and the lesson I've learned here is this: if you are struggling with difficult times in your life, no matter what form those trials come in, the best antidote is to serve the Lord in whatever way you can! The following quote really touched my heart this morning: "Keeping divine commandments brings blessings, every time!" Our Heavenly Father loves us, and wants to help us; when we obey Him and serve Him and His children in whatever way we can, He will bless us! I know that, because I've experienced both sides in my life, and I feel more happiness and peace in my life when I am helping others and obeying God. So, what will you do to serve God today?
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