Randy Austin answered...

I served a mission in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Living in Rio was quite an adjustment for a boy who had grown up in rural Idaho. I served a mission because I wanted to share with others the happiness and joy that I had found by living the truths I had learned as a Mormon. When my father died, my faith became a critical issue to me. It was through my beliefs and a deep conviction in their veracity, that I was able to deal with the death of my father. We had been close. It was then that my faith became something real for me, and not just something that I followed due to family or cultural conditioning. I have found in my life that real joy and happiness come with living my life consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ. I have found that real comfort goes from God during hard times. I have found strength that I did not know I had. I have found that I am better, life is better and that life has deeper meaning and joy because of my faith.