Two of my closest friends are twins and Mormon. I met them in sixth grade when I attended a home school swim and gym program. Ever since that time, we have had a close friendship.

I can't meet with them, but they are doing something important. They are both on missions given to them by their church. One started in South Africa and is now in eSwatini (Swaziland). The other is in New Zealand. They began their missions in March 2018 and should return to the states in 2020. Their mom forwards me weekly emails from them about their missions. Occasionally, I have gotten to email them directly. These emails have given me insight not just into the missions, but the men they are becoming. They have always been virtuous and respectful, but their stories in the emails reveal that they are changing.

One change is that their love for people has grown. These men care for the people they have met and only wish for their well-being. Even when someone insults them for no good reason, my friends have no ill will. The one in Africa was almost attacked by a group of men and escaped (thank goodness!). He did not wish anything bad upon them. I know that if I had been in the same situation, I would likely think "I hope those people get arrested."

Another change is their appreciation of different cultures. It is not that they never had it, but they are experiencing it firsthand. Both have learned new languages, the one in New Zealand knows Tongan while the other is more familiar with Zulu. They have learned the traditions in these cultures and how most people live. The friend in New Zealand has worn a skirt called tupenus' which the men wear. From what I have read, they enjoy these experiences. Their stories also reveal what we share in common with people in other countries.

Their emails and stories not only lead to my admiration of them, but they also lead to my desire to become a better Christian and stronger person. Hearing their struggles and positivity through it all makes me realize that my situation is not worse. If they can stay hopeful through near-death situations, surely I can when feeling stressed from the many transitions in my life.

All this being said, it makes me value true missionaries more. I think too many of my fellow Christians think they must go to another country for a mission trip. Not everyone is meant to leave the country to share the gospel. My friends were chosen. Their mom has bad arthritis and they have always taken care of her since they were kids. They did not want to abandon her to go on a mission. Then, something amazing happened. Her arthritis seemed less intense and she was able to do more physically. They felt God telling them that He would take care of her and the family while they went on their mission trips.

I talked to their mom about this recently and she shared that her faith has grown from hearing the stories from her sons and their righteous conduct towards others.

One other challenge that I forget missionaries go through is the distance from home. My friends' missions have been long and they have not visited family during that time. They have kept in contact through email and Skype, but it does not replace the closeness. They haven't seen each other face to face since they left for their missions. Yet they adapted quickly to the mission and have built close bonds with fellow missionaries, church members, and the people in their mission areas.

I find hope knowing that my friends are true missionaries, presenting and demonstrating the true gospel of Jesus Christ to those who don't know. I take hope in it, even though Christianity is constantly misrepresented by non-Christians or Christians who don't understand it. Their emails present the bigger picture and help me to look beyond my own situation. I look forward to the day where I get to see them and hear more of how they impacted the lives of many in another place far from home.