My name is Elder Rajendran. I served my mission in the India Bangalore Mission from June 20, 2014 to June 20, 2016. I am really grateful for having served a mission. My brother and my cousin brothers have served missions and all have returned home. They are my role models. When I saw Elders and how they behaved, spoke respectfully, and how they taught the gospel, these characteristics impressed my young mind foment a desire to serve a mission and to serve the Lord. My father ordained me to the Melchizedek Priesthood. The institute class was a wonderful class where I learnt more about the gospel, I was called as the seminary and institute teacher that further helped me gain gospel knowledge. We need to attend the seminary and institute program because we can learn so much there. One day I was praying to God about the decision to serve a mission or not. I received an answer from God to serve a mission. After I received this revelation, I began to prepare myself by talking to and listening to the advice given from my elder brothers and also from the missionaries.
My family had some financial challenges. Already my brother had served a mission, I was leaving my parents and my job so that I could serve a mission. When I told my parents that I wanted to serve a mission they were silent for a long time, and they were sad because I was leaving them. my father said, 'Pray to God, God will tell you what is best for you.” In the coming week, I prayed and fasted to know what God would have me do. After some time, I felt to once again talk to my parents and surprisingly they said, “OK.” My family told me, “To do your work diligently, and according to that God will bless our family.” I was really happy and excited because God had heard my prayer and my family was allowing me to serve a mission. It was a dream come true! That event marked the beginning of my success.
When I left for my mission, my brother was blessed with a government job. That was one of the great blessings that my family received while I was serving my mission.
I stayed in the MTC for 12 days. It was a wonderful time because that is where I learned how to be a great missionary. It was a pleasure to be able to wear my name tag because I served Jesus Christ and carried my father's name. While there I began to feel more spiritual and my desire to return back to India to share the things that I was learning grew stronger. A blessing that I received while in the MTC was that my companion and I had the responsibility to look after the Elders and Sisters that were in our MTC group. One of the greatest moments that happened while I stayed in the Philippines was that I went to the temple. I was able to go attend the temple many times and every time I entered in I felt so good. I enjoyed every visit.
My first area to serve was in Rajahmundry. I began to think, “Why I am going Rajahmundry? What will I do?” At first I felt very different because before my mission I never really saw missionaries except when they were outside of their apartment. I never knew what happened when they were inside their apartment, but pretty soon I found out that missionaries did lots of study and preparation. These studies proved really helpful because over time my teaching began to improve and my knowledge of serving a mission grew. I learned how to talk and also how to teach people according to their needs and also how to behave with other missionaries and people. One thing that I learned which helped me whenever i I felt sad was to read this scripture that is found in:
Alma 37:37
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
I became the trainer for a new missionary. Following that I then became a district leader and then eventually a Zone leader. All of these opportunities came with great responsibilities but I believed that they came according to God's direction through President Berrett. I was able to fulfill my responsibilities very well because great results came. God really blessed me as I was being a good missionary with good leadership skills. I developed more confidence in my work because I would always ask for suggestions from my companions on what we could do better and how our teaching could improve. I began showing my love more toward the people and in that way I received good success in my missionary work. My companions and I were able to find and teach wonderful investigators and as a result we had many wonderful baptisms. That was a great success in my mission, but I would never would have been able to have this great success unless I also had great companions. I am grateful to have served with great companions!