Neil's mission call

Dear Elder Reed:
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Paraguay Asuncion Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months."

"You should report to the Missionary Training Center at Provo, Utah on Wednesday, 1 October 2008. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. Your mission president may modify your specific assignment according to the needs of the mission."

.........

"Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized."

.........
"You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop."



"Sincerely,
Thomas. Monson
President"


How about that? ASUNCION PARAGUAY!!! Who saw that coming? Not me! Well, I guess it is not that implausible. I am very excited--it is going to be awesome! Maybe I will get the chance to learn Guarani! And freeze in the apparently cold lands of Paraguay! Wow, by the end of 2010 I am going to be a Spanish expert. I am very excited for this opportunity to serve the Lord and teach in Latinoamerica. Why, just today on the bus, I sat with some Hondurans who debated different religious points. I should've piped in my beliefs, but I was a little afraid of scarring their perceptions of the church due to my horrible Spanish. Which, luckily, is constantly improving.
(However, mission notwithstanding, I am still going to learn Chinese, one way or another...it'll just take a little longer.)

Love,

(Soon-to-be)
Elder Reed