Daily Double Part One: My Mission!

Today is your lucky day! Because I haven't been on in so long, I have a lot to talk about...so today I'm doing a Daily Double, which means two back-to-back blog posts! This is part one, stay tuned later for part two!

It's been a really long time since I have written on this blog. As always I have a lot to say, but I'm never sure how to really say it. It's quite frustrating because you want to share your thoughts, but not sound hypocritical or full of yourself while saying it. I guess I've always been the kind of person who always analyzes something and finds what can be improved and thats kind of what this blog has become. I see things in the world that need to be fixed and try to share those thoughts. I'm far from perfect, but maybe these blog posts will help someone learn from my short experience so far in life.

Part 1 today is about probably the biggest moment of my life so far... my mission. Yep, I'm going to be a white shirt wearing-bike riding-missionary! I have been called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons) going to the Arizona, Tempe Mission speaking Spanish. I go into the Missionary Training Center June 22nd and will learn to speak Spanish in 2 months. As a missionary we don't get to pick where we think would be nice or fun to go to, we merely submit our papers saying we are able, worthy, and ready then they assign us where they think we are meant to be. You may think that sounds a bit strange, but I truly believe that this is an inspired call for me.

As a missionary I'm going to go for 2 straight years with no vacations, no breaks, and little contact with the 'outside world'. The reason I say little contact is because as missionaries we try to stay focused on our job and going out to see movies, watching the news, or reading newspapers doesn't really fit in our schedule. Granted we do have one day a week to do laundry, exercise, go to meetings, and possibly site see, but other than that it's work work work. I'm going to have to get used to waking up at 6:30am and being back to my apartment by 9pm. I'm going to have to get used to being out preaching in the hot Arizona summer. Im going to have to get used to living on my own with a randomly assigned companion who you live, teach, and do everything with.

You may be reading this and thinking, "Miles has gone crazy! Who would sign up for that, especially when YOU have to pay to go?!"
My answer to that is when you truly believe in something that will change someone's life forever, you would want to share it too. The way I see it is like reading a really good book or going to a really good restaurant. If you really liked it then do you just keep it for yourself? No, you tell people like your friends and family about it! (Have you every read ____? It's so good, you have to read it!) Thats the way I see my religion. Being a Mormon is the most important thing in my life. If someone asks you to describe what defines you, most would say where they are from, their profession, or their education. I would say that what defines me most is being Mormon. If you're asking right now "What's so important to Miles about being Mormon?" Then we need to sit down and chat, because I couldn't fit everything in this blog post. But I will tell you that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what gives me the most true happiness. Sure Disneyland, or going to the beach makes you happy for a week or so, but believing and coming to Christ gives true happiness that never fades.

I'm sure I'll write more about going on my mission in later posts, especially as it gets closer and closer. But right now, I feel like I'm rambling and overwhelming all of you not familiar with Mormon Missionaries.

The last thing I want to say is that when I go into the MTC, I've started my official mission. As a missionary we are allowed to email our family every week, and call them one Christmas and Mother's Day, but I'm allowed to write letters to everyone all the time! So if you want to still keep in touch, write me a letter! I would really appreciate it :) I might be a little slow writing back because we are so busy, but I promise I will try to respond back as soon as I can! You are all great awesome people, and I want to thank everyone one of you for the friendships we have made!

STAY TUNED for Part 2 of the Daily Double....