It was about a week ago that I arrived in the Referral Center. It wasn't quite what I expected, but I guess considering I had very few expectations to begin with the only thing that really could be expected was that my expectations wouldn't be close to actuality by any sense of the word. With all of this unexpectedness, there was only one thing that I knew for sure: this was apparently where the Lord needed me, so this was where I needed to serve.
Our job as missionaries, of course, is to answer questions people may have about our religion, deal with those who for whatever reason have some issue with our beliefs so gargantuan that they feel it a worthy use of their time to rant at us, and, ultimately, teach people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, allowing them to become closer to Him, taking the steps necessary to obtain their eternal salvation. An important job? Possibly. It depends on who you ask. An interesting job? At times. A difficult job? Undoubtedly.
My previous assignment, the Taipei, Taiwan mission, had about 170 missionaries, and covered around 5000 square miles. My current mission has nine missionaries, and covers the entire earth. Without the internet, such a task would be completely impossible. With the internet, it's only improbable. Every day we deal with both the best and the worst the internet has to offer, ranging from the typical trolls here to do whatever it is trolls do, to ministers of other religions preaching hellfire and damnation upon us, to those who have genuine interest and become, in many cases, some of the best members in the church.
We're an elite team - some of the best the church has to offer. We give up two years to do this work in hope that somehow we will be able to show the world that the truth isn't just out there - it's right there. All they have to do is reach out and grab it.
My name is Elder Hafen, and this is my chronicle of life as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving in the Provo, MTC Referral Center. Hang on to your hats, because things are going to move fast.
Our job as missionaries, of course, is to answer questions people may have about our religion, deal with those who for whatever reason have some issue with our beliefs so gargantuan that they feel it a worthy use of their time to rant at us, and, ultimately, teach people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, allowing them to become closer to Him, taking the steps necessary to obtain their eternal salvation. An important job? Possibly. It depends on who you ask. An interesting job? At times. A difficult job? Undoubtedly.
My previous assignment, the Taipei, Taiwan mission, had about 170 missionaries, and covered around 5000 square miles. My current mission has nine missionaries, and covers the entire earth. Without the internet, such a task would be completely impossible. With the internet, it's only improbable. Every day we deal with both the best and the worst the internet has to offer, ranging from the typical trolls here to do whatever it is trolls do, to ministers of other religions preaching hellfire and damnation upon us, to those who have genuine interest and become, in many cases, some of the best members in the church.
We're an elite team - some of the best the church has to offer. We give up two years to do this work in hope that somehow we will be able to show the world that the truth isn't just out there - it's right there. All they have to do is reach out and grab it.
My name is Elder Hafen, and this is my chronicle of life as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving in the Provo, MTC Referral Center. Hang on to your hats, because things are going to move fast.
