I just want to share some things that helped me out during the 2 years that I supported my best friend. Saying goodbye to your best friend is literally the hardest thing. It's weird to one day have them and be with them every day to only be able to talk to them for an hour once a week. It was hard. The first couple days I felt alone and just confused but excited and I decided that I was going to learn and grow through these 2 years instead of just sit around and wait.
1. Have an eternal/blessing perspective
I wouldn't want Jaydon anywhere else but a mission. If he was home, I would be sad and would want him to serve the Lord. One goal of mine is to marry someone who is a RM. If someone can't serve the Lord for 2 years and be committed to being a missionary, then they won't be as committed to the Lord in your marriage later on. Also, the person they become on their mission and the lessons they learn is worth all the chick flick lonely nights.
2. DON'T say I miss you a bunch or talk about what he's missing out on
He already knows that you miss him. If you say it a bunch, it will just make him feel bad because you are having such a hard time. Cry and let it out to your parents but be strong and supportive to your missionary. They are also having a hard time adjusting and will make them even more homesick if you talk about everything that they are missing out on.
3. Make this a mission for yourself
your life is full of missions. Make this a learning experience for yourself. He is learning and growing so why not you too? use this time to learn more about yourself and learn to truly love being with yourself. I was so used to having someone constantly complimenting me or being so kind and it was hard not having that. So I had a self-mission to be fully confident in myself. Also, grow your relationship with the Lord. If you do those things, your relationship with your missionary will grow.
4. Find scriptures and talks that might help them
whenever I heard or read something I loved, I shared it with them and our relationship grew as we talked about the gospel. We also had cool connections as we did that because sometimes the same topic would stick out to us the same week.
5. Pray about what to write him and pray about certain people they are trying to help and that they can be led and guided by the spirit
When I prayed about what to write him that week, the things I wanted to say ended up being totally different and I just kept writing all of these things I didn't even think I would share. It was cool. If you stay in touch with the spirit, you will help comfort each other and even help each other answer prayers and figure out things. I seriously got so many prayers answered by Jaydon. the things he said helped me so much.
6. When you are feeling lonely, sad, and the thought that they will never go home, use that time to study the scriptures, pray, turn on church music. It's amazing to see how comforted you feel and how much closer you get to your missionary and the savior.
7. ponderize
me and Jaydon would sometimes ponderize scriptures. I loved doing that because it helped me feel comforted and grow closer to him.
8. Be fully encouraging (you are their cheerleader)
the last thing you need to do is be distracting. It is hard not to tell him how much you love and miss him cause thats all you think about, but, you need to also think about what they are going through and tell them how amazing they are and that they are in your prayers.
9. The blessings are the bomb
the blessings and comfort you receive through it all is worth everything. I have felt so much peace and love and truly know that the Lord gave me so much strength to get through these 2 years and to enjoy it. I realized that he was going to be gone anyways so might as well use that time to enjoy life and to learn and grow from it.
10. the 2 years is so worth it
when Jaydon got home, I was freaking out. I was so nervous that it wasn't going to be the same, or be awkward. I felt like I hardly knew him and was just scared to even see him. I was excited and couldn't believe how fast it came. The first six months are long and then it speeds up from there. When he got home, it felt as if he never left. He was just full of the light of Christ, had a strong testimony, and had matured. It was so worth the 2 years. It went by so fast and I wouldn't trade what I learned for anything else.
I have faith in all of you and know that you can do it. If you need anything please comment below. I am no expert but, hope that what I learned will help you! Missionaries are the best.