Personal Essay - Another mission

 Fabrice Tshiyoyi Banyingela

Professor Michelle Donner – BYU Idaho

Writing & Reasoning

19 July 2021

Another mission

As I sit down to reflect on my time on mission, I’m roughly hunted by the idea of the things I will do once I return home. At this moment, I am a few months away to be reunited with my family that I have missed the most. Thinking about studying, starting a career, getting married, and facing the “real world” is now part of my daily thoughts. To make things worse, my companion pastes a large note on my door saying “Congratulations, your mission is now complete. You may return to earth.” I am now convinced it is time to be ready to leave and face a new life.

Two months later, I was home. Welcomed like a valiant warrior. I received gifts from brothers and sisters, and mostly counsels from my father. Then came a bomb question “What is your plan?” Without hesitating, I told him that I would like to register for an engineering course at a university in South Africa. I could see the shock on his face. “I don’t have enough money to support your studies in South Africa, and I don’t have relatives there to accommodate you,” he said, but I insisted that my plan is to travel in order to gain a new perspective about life. He advised that we pray about it and discuss it again sometimes during the week.

Eventually, after discussing with my mother and relatives, my father received peace in his mind and gave me a blessing to leave home again just three months after reuniting with them to go pursue my studies more than twenty thousand miles away. At this point, I am spiritually strong, I feel connected with our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus-Christ. I am confident that my mission has not only given me a platform to grow spiritually as a young man but also made me an overall better man. The connection I have made with my mission presidents and companions, both spiritually and temporally, has prepared me both professionally and personally for the years to come.

It’s dark. There is power load shedding. I see tears in my brothers and sisters’ eyes and I can read emotions on my parent’s faces, but I have to go. I have to start a new mission. With a broken heart, that Tuesday night of September 2002, I have to leave my family behind once again. I am scared to face the fact that I might not succeed. And this time, there is neither a mission president nor a mission companion. I am going to be alone. Truth be told, I going to miss all of them. On a more relevant note, I am thankful for the impact they have in my life.

During my traveling preparation, the most frustrating issue was the fact that the brother who was supposed to accommodate me became occasionally available. Despite that, I was determined to achieve my goal – to reach Johannesburg. Upon my arrival, I couldn’t reach him over the phone. Luckily, I have his Bishop’s home telephone number. I called the Bishop who organized another brother to assist me. Thirty minutes later, a brother that I haven’t spoken to appears. Helped me with my luggage and we went to his house. I spent one month with him before finding my own place.

Life in Johannesburg is totally different from other cities I have visited before. For the first time, I have to budget monthly for my room rentals. I am here to study and not to work. I have to select my decisions carefully so that I don’t impact my future negatively. I refused to complain to my parents financially as I wanted to prove a point. I have to find a part-time job to survive. This job didn’t give me enough, except to pay for my room, transport, and food. I moved from one job to another trying to find a better one. Sometimes jobless for weeks. Studying on the other side became harder with the fact that I have to learn a new language as well. My girlfriend didn’t know what I was up to, and I was scare of losing her by telling her exactly what I was going thru.

I don’t want to give up on my passion to further my studies. The words of President Gordon B. Hinckley keeps ringing in my mind saying “I relish any opportunity to acquire knowledge. Indeed, I believe in and have vigorously supported, throughout my life, the pursuit of education—for myself and for others.” So I decided to endure all my financial obstacles. Once my Bishop asked how I cope with my studies and a job that is paying peanuts. I replied, “It is because I love studying”.

Overcoming adversity and obstacles is a great achievement in my life. When I look back, I see the joy of a valiant warrior who returns home and receiving a standing ovation. Yet, these obstacles have some type of effect on my life today but it is my duty to enjoy the blessings and learn from my challenges. I have learned to understand failure, accept rejection, and believe in myself. Above all never give up on fear and remain focus on a goal.

 

Work Cited

Hinckley G. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley - Continue in the Great Process of Learning. 2000

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-gordon-b-hinckley/chapter-17-continue-in-the-great-process-of-learning?lang=eng. Accessed 10 July 2021