Hi! My name is Trina Boice and I’m new to this site, although not new to the subject of missionary work! I served a full-time mission in Spain and LOVED it! If you keep reading all of my blogs then you will learn more than you ever wanted to about Spain and read some of my wonderful experiences there. Serving a mission was one of the best, hardest, most spiritual, challenging, and thrilling times of my life.
But this blog isn’t just about full-time missionaries…it’s about all of us as member missionaries too! The Lord has declared that missionary work is the responsibility of all who follow Him (see Matthew 28:19–20; D&C 88:81). The Church’s web site says “When we experience the blessings of gospel living, we naturally want to share those blessings with others.” The Lord spoke of the joy that comes into our lives when we share His gospel:
“If it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
“And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (D&C 18:15–16).
As a young missionary, I was so excited to go and had decided when I was about 12 years old that I would serve a mission. I remember hearing a sister missionary speak in Sacrament upon returning home from wherever she served and I was so impressed. I told myself “I want to do that!” I have no idea who she was but I’ll never forget the warm pounding in my heart that told me I would have the privilege and blessing to serve a full-time mission. When I was 16 years old I received my patriarchal blessing and was promised that I could go on a mission, mentioning some specific and wonderful things that would happen. I practically had my bags packed and ready to go before I left high school, but I had to patiently wait until I turned 21. I was so proud to a part of “God’s Army”, serving on the front lines.
Since then I married a Returned Missionary and now have 4 sons of my own. I can’t believe I’m even old enough to have a 19 year old son, but my oldest son’s birth certificate proves that all of those years have flown by. He just finished submitting his own mission papers online last week and we are all anxiously awaiting to see where he is going to be called!! I can’t stand the anticipation! It’s so exciting!
What’s interesting this time around is that I have real mixed emotions as a mother. I’m absolutely thrilled for my son to serve a mission and so proud of him for choosing to lovingly dedicate two years of his life to serve the Lord and his fellowman. However, now that I’m a mother I can’t imagine being without my son for so long and am surprised to hear myself pray “Heavenly Father, don’t you think two years is asking too much? Are you sure I can’t go with him? Are you kidding that he can’t call me more often? Will you please help me let him go?”
I’m so extremely happy and excited for him, but can’t stop crying when I picture us saying goodbye in the MTC. This is going to be quite an adventure for both of us. Strap on your seatbelt and join me for the ride!
