The Best Two Years

A bedroom window view of Porto

It is common to hear among missionaries of the Church returning home that their missions were the best two years of their lives.  It is also common to hear mission presidents, experienced men charged for ensuring missionary safety, welfare, and well-being while serving their missions, tell returning missionaries not to get stuck in the past, and to make the following two years the new best two years.  My mission was certainly a wonderful experience.  I was able to come closer to God than I had in my entire life.  My testimony of the gospel grew as it was challenged daily.  I found out what I truly believed, and found my limits in many areas.   I often stop to remember the things I learned during those times.  The mission is truly an unforgettable experience, but I'm in many ways glad that I won't have to pass by that way twice.

Câmara de Lobos, my home for six months

It has been a little more than two years since I returned home from my mission, and looking back, these are truly the new best two years.  Firstly, I started school again.  I didn't realize how much I loved school until I wasn't allowed to attend for two years.  I've learned so much and grown in even more ways from my educational experiences.

When I came home I was still given opportunities to serve in the Church.  I served for a long time as a ward mission leader, a member that coordinates the efforts of local wards, or congregations, with that of the full-time missionaries.  It was exciting, fulfilling, and gave me another view of how the Church operates.  I have since been able to serve in even more capacities in the Church.

Hang on tight and don't let go!

The biggest blessing of my entire life developed, occurred, and continues through these last two years — my wife.  We re-met (that's another story that has already been told) exactly a year ago this week, began a wonderful courtship, and married in the Draper Utah Temple for time and eternity.  We are now expecting our first child (Thor, until we know the gender) and it just doesn't seem like life could get any better.  But we know it will.  The challenges of surviving graduate school as a family, and raising children, await us.  Because the challenge is hard, the reward will be great.  I just can't wait to see what the next two years will bring.