Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

Church missions are very important. The purpose of a mission is to invite people to come unto Christ by living according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the Earth and that it is very important for people to have the opportunity to find out of themselves if it is true. Members of the Church have the opportunity to serve a variety of different missions. Some are 18 months, others are 24 months and there are others that are up to three years. When I was 19 I was able to serve a mission in Bolivia for the Church for two years. It was a great experience. Because they speak Spanish in Bolivia I spent 9 weeks at a missionary training center to learn the basics of Spanish and then I was sent to Bolivia to begin teaching our message to those who were willing to listen. The first few months were difficult as I could barely communicate with the people that I was trying to teach. However, my companions who I served with were able to help me a lot because they were native Spanish speakers. After awhile the language became more natural and I was able to fluently communicate our message and better help people. I grew to love the people of Bolivia and their culture. I was able to witness many miracles. I saw many people change their lives as they learned about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, pray to find out if it was true, and eventually be baptized. I wouldn't trade the two years that I spent in Bolivia for anything and I am truly grateful that the Church gives it's members the opportunity to preach the gospel throughout the world.