Why I chose to Serve a Mission

Hey guys! So at last zone conference President Parrela Invited us missionaries to email our families why we all chose to serve a mission. We all know the many wonderful blessings from serving a mission, but I wanted to take a small moment to share with you guys simply why I specifically chose to serve a mission:

Commandment of God- 1st off, I recognize that before this life I´ve made a covenant with my Heavenly Father that I will serve a mission. I don’t like to break my promises, especially the ones I´ve made with my Heavenly Father. I know this Church is true without a doubt, thus com certeza I will serve a mission!

Example and support of my family- I knew I would serve a mission when I saw my older brother leave for his mission as a teenager, and return home a man. I want to become a man too. A “walk about with God”, My mom explained to me. I have the greatest example of my father, who also chose to serve a mission. If there´s one person that I strive to be like, not including Jesus Christ, it´s my dad. I have the example of my Grandpa who also chose to serve a mission, and recently passed away. I have an incredible mother who loves me so much. I have the best sister in the world who emails me every week no matter what and is a perfect example to me of how righteous families are eternally blessed. I have the support of ALL of my family (parents, siblings, siblings-in-law, nieces/nephews, grandparents, uncle/aunts, cousins, and you name it!) They are so wonderful and I couldn’t do it without them. My family is my greatest motivation and blessing. I love them and want to thank everyone so much! 

Bring others unto Christ- I chose to serve a mission so I can help other families have the same knowledge, joy, and true happiness that I have with my family, for all eternity. Like the quote says, ``missionary: someone who leaves their family for 2 years, so that others can be together forever.`` My calling is to bring souls unto Christ. And that is exactly what we do. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes families. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we become one. The world stops, and we begin to truly live. Baptism is the opportunity for us to be cleansed from all sin, and to begin this new life: a life of peace, love, purpose, joy, happiness, and truth. This is how we live the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have faith, we repent, we are baptized, we receive the Holy Ghost, and we endure to the end. I know this is true! And that is why I chose to serve a mission. So that others can find this truth for themselves too.

We are family. And I love you all! 

(p.s- there are many, many, many other reasons why I chose to serve a mission but I just don’t have time to share them all!) I wish I could.

Family,

have a wonderful week and know that I love you all so much! The mission is great and all is well here. Sorry for not being able to share many mission experiences these past couple weeks, but I will try to focus more on experiences and stories next week. Again, I love you all and thank you so much!  

Stay strong minha família :)

Love,

Elder Sargent 

Eu sei que isto é a obra do Senhor, e que esta igreja é verdadeira. ( I know that this is God's work and I know that this Church is True)

Excerpt from his e-mail to his mom:

thanks for the email and update mom! You guys sound great! Love hearing all these awesome experiences, makes me happy :) so yeah the world cup is crazy here! and I’m getting the least of it in brazil (b/c state rio grande do sul is country territory,and itaqui is about as south as you can get!) but it’s still crazy! Everyone is always watching the games which makes it hard to work because we can’t watch or even ask to turn it off because it will offend them because of culture here! haha. It is  madness more or less lol. But awesome culture. When brazil plays its madness. no one is in the streets so we can only go back to apartment to study. But that’s hard too be cause we hear all of the cheering from the rest of apartment and Brazil in total!! When Brazil scores a goal, it’s exactly like new years in U.S. but every time they score!! Peopling cheering nonstop, horns, confetti, fireworks, people running around, etc! hahahahaha I can´t imagine in other parts of Brazil like the city. craziness! haha. but a cool experience! this month will be a little hard with missionary work! But I know we can have success still! :) I love you mom! have a great week.

p.s- share this with family too if they would like to know about world cup, thanks!

Love,

Elder Sargent