Missionary Life - "Highs and Low's"

I have been on my mission for a while and a very common question is, "What is your mission like?" That has always been a very hard question for me to answer because it is unlike anything I have ever done before. I normally say how great it is and how there is nothing that I would rather be doing, and it is. My Mission is the greatest thing I have ever done, but that does not explain it well enough. At about 7:30 or 8 this morning my companion Elder Child read me a poem that he has that does a very good job at what missionary life is like, at least mine.

A mission is a strange experience.
It's a trial and a test.
A mission throws at you the worst,
yet teaches you the best.

They told me this would be the best period of my life.
But I guess they didn't explain it all too clear.
I came out looking for a bed of roses.
I just wasn't expecting all the thorns I've found out here.

Since I've been out I've never been so happy.
I've never been so depressed.
I've never felt so forsaken.
I've never felt so blessed.

I've never been so confused.
My mind has never been so clear.
I've never felt my Heavenly Father so distant.
I've never felt him so near.

I've never been so discouraged.
I've never been so full of hope.
I feel like I can go forever.
I think I've come to the end of my rope.

I've never had it so easy.
I've never had it so tough.
Things have never gone so smoothly.
Things have never been so rough.

I've never traveled through more valleys.
I've never ascended so many peaks.
I've never met so many neat people.
I've never met so many freaks.

I've never had so many ups.
I've never had so many downs.
I've never worn so many smiles.
I've never worn so many frowns.

I've never been so lonely.
I've never had so many friends.
Man, I hope this is all over with soon.
Gosh, I hope it never ends.

Jack Brinkerhoff

My mission has been the single greatest thing I have ever done but it has also been the hardest thing I have ever done but I would not trade it for anything.

Elder Matthews

I am called of God, by revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is my Master and He has chosen me to represent Him. To stand in His Place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts, my words are His words and my doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done, to say what He wants said, to be a living modern witness in word and deed - of the divinity of His great and marvelous latter day work. How GREAT is my CALLING.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie