Mission Stuff

On August I will have been home from my mission 3 years. It is crazy how time has passed from such a great time in my life. I was just minutes ago looking through my mission stuff and found my "letter's binder". It includes all of the letters that I got on my mission, even if they were good or bad.

I want to start by thanking my sister, Staci. She knows knew me better than anyone else then. She never questioned my choices or pushed her ideas onto me. She was the perfect example of faith, in a time in her life where she was going through her own hardships. She needs to know that I will be always be grateful for her always positive letters.

This might sound like I am dissing anyone else that wrote me, this is not true. I always appreciated the mail that I got and they were always full of support. Some were very opinionated, but we are Visser's and it is in our blood to be so. The part that made me laugh out loud was that there are a number of stories, that led to these opinions being shared and causing tension. It all started with the use of my money. One event forever changed the letters that I got on my mission because this event forced me to use the remainder of my mission money on a necessary tool. I will not divulge the story, and have told it to very few people and told no one while I was on my mission.

I will admit, in High School I spent my money like an idiot! This habit was quickly kicked when I got home from my mission (all except for my first bike which I bought on credit and then quickly sold). My seemingly "unwise" use of money was a frustration for everyone. My parents graciously gave me spending cash each month to make up for this money shortage and I owe them many thanks. This did not stop the letters full or financial advice from coming. When I would get these letters, I would not like them. So when I would write letters on P-day I wanted to write happy letters, so I would start by writing letters to the "girl". After writing her letter first each week I would then write everyone else. It was hard to not let this "girl" influence my letters home to my parents and friends. So this would start a vicious cycle of letters from my family that would be about money to letters about the "girl", repeated twice a month. All of this came from me abstaining from telling one story. Now, I ask myself it it was worth it? Yes it was.

Many people, not only my family were afraid that I was losing focus and had too many distractions. They might have felt that way for awhile but eventually those fears were quieted when I was blessed to participate in 10 baptisms (3 times the mission average per missionary). Had over 300 investigators to church in two years. Taught over 1500 lessons. Read the Book of Mormon 9 times, and Preach My Gospel 22 times. I wrote over 150 pages of trainings and talks that I still use today (these numbers are all accurate, I counted them all). My efforts on my mission led to my subsequent finding a beautiful wife and the best Mother that I know, having a wonderfully happy son, and the being able to provide for them with my single income and to be debt free, attending school and purchasing our first home.

It is true what they say, actions do speak louder than words. I really am grateful for the love and support of my family during my mission. There words of warning, as frustrated as they made me at times, were out love and care. I have great respect for all of them, and I hope to emulate the love we had in our home growing up in my own home.