Local high school graduates embark on mission trip

Nine local high school graduates have decided to put their lives on hold for 18 to 24 months starting this fall to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Graduates from West Orange, Windermere and Horizon high schools will teach people about Jesus Christ and perform humanitarian service in many different places across the world, including Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala and the United States. 

The Church has more than 72,000 missionaries currently serving worldwide, and 23 of those currently serving are young adult missionaries from the Horizon West area.

Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Maya Ahlstrom, an 18-year-old graduate from Horizon High, is especially excited about her mission call to Western Honduras.  

Her mother, Delmar Ahlstrom, immigrated to the U.S. from San Pedros Sula, Honduras, when she was 19 years old to learn English at LaGuardia College.  

Delmar Ahlstrom is thrilled to see her daughter has been assigned to serve in the specific area of Honduras where she grew up.  

“I feel immense gratitude that Maya has the opportunity to pay it forward by serving the people of Honduras," she said.

Maya Alhstrom's service in Honduras will involve some big sacrifices in addition to putting school on hold. She will be giving up many modern comforts for 18 months, including hot water, air conditioning, and having access to a washer and dryer.  

Delmar Ahlstrom grew up washing her clothes in a wash basin and line-drying her clothes. The climate of Honduras is similar to Florida, hot and humid, which makes the lack of air conditioning difficult.  

“In Honduras, people eat soup for dinner on Sundays, even when it is 90 degrees outside," Delmar Ahlstrom said. "Maya will also become accustomed to eating rice and beans, even for breakfast, because people do not eat cereal there.”  

Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Missionaries for the Church do not choose where they will serve.  Instead, they apply with “mission papers,” listing languages they speak and medical conditions they have. They are then assigned to a specific mission, in one of 150 countries, and potentially assigned to learn one of 60 languages.  

Some missionaries end up serving in remote areas of third-world countries, which can leave many missionaries feeling a bit bewildered, especially at first.  Missionaries know they will face some rejection, culture shock, homesickness and potential difficulty with learning foreign languages, but they are motivated by their faith to press forward and serve.  

These missionaries and their families also pay their own way.  Many missionaries save up during high school in preparation for missionary service, making significant financial sacrifices.  

“Having so many of our Horizon West area young adults choose to serve the Lord is such a special blessing," Gary Hansen, stake president who oversees 13 congregations in and around Horizon West, said. "I know their missionary service will bless those they teach and serve, in addition to enriching their lives forever as disciples of Jesus Christ.”

For more information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here.

Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints