Nancy has been begging for us to get a “Mission” Keke. I think this is way better idea! The luggage rack with spot lights will definitely come in handy.

I recently read, “If you don’t regret some of the things you’ve done as a child, you probably haven’t grown up.” If that is true, I think I’ve grown up a lot, yet I still have MANY things I’m working on, including being more patient and more kind. This calling as a mission president has been a great opportunity for me to become more loving and less judgmental.

One of the most humbling aspects of my assignment is helping our young missionaries improve their lives. As disciples of Jesus Christ, I hold them to a very high standard, and I have great expectations of them. I’ve always expected that of myself too. For better or worse, I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist with a touch of OCD. I am a person that believes any job worth doing is not only worth doing well but doing now. My tendencies cause me to notice when things aren’t impeccably in place or done right. It drives me nuts to have light bulbs burned out, painted door trim that is sloppy, or a messy room. Instinctive judgments allow me to quickly get things done and put in order. However, being judgmental and impatient with imperfect people isn’t always a good thing.  (Perfect people aren’t problems for me. 😉)

The Ganta elders serve as branch leaders and have the cleanest and most orderly branch president office I’ve seen here. It makes me smile!

Nancy and I are working with young people from all over the world. All of these youth are absolutely amazing. We love being around them, working with them, and getting to know them. They have remarkable backgrounds, great character, speak many languages, and have amazing talents, including being great teachers. These young men and young women bring us great joy. (If on the website, you can click on the pictures to read the captions and get more info.)

Yet these missionaries, being young and human, have their normal share of flaws that need correction or aspects of their character that need refinement. (How should I expect otherwise? They are barely out of their teen years.) Part of my role as their ecclesiastical leader is to assess their diligence in their work and their obedience to the mission rules. Often, I help them to change negative behaviors. I’m happy to help them turn to the Lord and repent if needed, yet I also have to be careful that applying judgment does not create a judgmental attitude or cause me to forget to understand them and love them first. Judging is so instinctive for me – I need to constantly check myself to have greater love, and outside of my ecclesiastical role, less evaluation and critique of others. “WWJD?” does not stand for “Who Wants Jelly Donuts?” 😉

Because our missionaries come from countries all over the world and cultures that are so different than my own, it’s easy to forget what they gave up and what they are now doing. Joining the Church a few years ago was a major change for many of them. A full-time mission was an even bigger commitment. Many of these young people didn’t have a family upbringing like my own, a decent education, nor taught principles of morality and integrity. They had to figure these things out on their own.  Others may have had some of those benefits, but in choosing to serve a mission, they had to give up scholarships, postpone dreams of becoming a pilot or a doctor. Some were even ostracized by family members for their decision.  Now they are on a tight and rigorous schedule living in a foreign country without their normal coping mechanisms of music, TV, girlfriends, social media, sports, and a host of other entertainment. This work is not easy. The missionaries volunteer to be out here, teaching about Christ’s restored gospel, serving those around them, sometimes without running water or electricity for extended periods. They’re doing an important and great work.  All of their goodness reminds me to show extra compassion and patience for these missionaries when they have challenges or slip up. It’s been good for me to learn to love these amazing young people, and it has been one of the greatest blessings of our time here.

I recently read a talk by Elder Dallin Oaks from 1998, about making judgments. He stated, and I paraphrase: We are to leave final judgments up to the Lord. Because we lack complete knowledge, we are only to make intermediate judgments…and with these intermediate judgments, we are to judge righteously and with love.

I really like that.

It’s a wonderful experience to see others as God sees them and to see their growth and change. I’m so grateful for this experience to be reminded of the goodness of all mankind. (2 Nephi 26:33).

I recently was shown this one-minute video: To Be One. I think it is a great message for our world.