As many may know, I recently returned from Guadalajara, Mexico where I was serving for the last two years representing Jesus Christ and teaching his restored gospel as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (on elderbrighton.blogspot.com there are weekly letters I wrote home during that time) It was a life changing experience in so very many ways.
Eye Opening- the world is a big place with so much diversity. I recognized the need to learn and accept the differences around me and also the need to genuinely want to continue enriching, enhancing, and improving the lives of those around me, in addition to my own life.
Heart Softening- no one that lives as we lived and teaches what we taught can do so with a heard and a prideful heart. And so naturally with time I feel that I have learned more about the power of humility, patience, persistence, and love.
Life centering- I left with a lot of ideas about who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. Many of those good ambitions were strengthened and deepened- desire to form a family, desire to study, willingness to work hard- while others I have found will not ultimately bring me the happiness I am looking for- a focus on living a comfortable and self-centered life, a perhaps cloaked, but nevertheless real desire to receive recognition for great achievements.
If nothing else, I am learning to discover personal passions and to follow them without reserve or fear. Since leaving I have discovered a passion for teaching and learning and am now in a pretty intense investigation to see how I can make that a permanent part of my life and career. It would seem to be leading me more towards a sort of computer engineering... but we will have to see. But now I am not worried about it. I know everything will be okay. But it is a simple example of some of the big changes that I feel in myself.
And perhaps, the biggest and most drastic change for me is my personal desire and commitment to share the teachings of Jesus Christ throughout my life. Although I will no longer do it as a full-time missionary, I know I can continue to share with those around me the peace and happiness that I feel as I follow what He has taught me. I have made special and sacred promises to represent Him and to do as He would do, and my personal fulfilling of those promises is in fact... my lifelong ambition.
