08/10/2026
“I never planned on serving a mission.
"I’m a quiet person, so when a friend asked if I had thought about serving, I wondered what I could offer. He told me to pray about it.
"So I did. And the answer was to go.
"That experience taught me that we do not have to feel completely ready before we follow Jesus Christ. Sometimes we simply trust the answer and take the next step.
"I have also learned that service often begins with small impressions—making something for someone, reaching out, or noticing a need. Those moments remind me that Jesus Christ knows people personally and can use simple acts to help them feel loved.
"I may not be the loudest person in the room, but I can listen, notice people, and follow promptings.
"As I prepare for a mission, I want to know Jesus Christ more personally and learn to love others the way He does. I want to trust Him enough to go where He asks me to go and serve whoever He places in my path.” —Annalea