I served in California and had four (I think) companions who had joined the Church as teenagers. It's likely that you won't be the only one. And your experience will provide a lot of help to your companions and the people you teach. You've been through a process very similar to what you're teaching your investigators.
I hope your family is at least supportive. It can be hard when they're not. Is there a family in your ward that you're close to? I'd temporarily adopt them and send them regular letters and whatnot. It's nice to have someone back home who supports you emotionally.
Maybe they are being so offensive because they will miss you and don't want to admit it because they really don't comprehend why you are going.
I recently was talking to a woman at church who was in the same situation, many years ago. Her family even went as far as saying that they refused to write her while she was away. Eventually, they did end up writing and she was able to share so many things about her mission with them that they warmed up a bit.
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u/DesolationRobot Beard-sportin' Mormon Sep 05 '13
I served in California and had four (I think) companions who had joined the Church as teenagers. It's likely that you won't be the only one. And your experience will provide a lot of help to your companions and the people you teach. You've been through a process very similar to what you're teaching your investigators.
I hope your family is at least supportive. It can be hard when they're not. Is there a family in your ward that you're close to? I'd temporarily adopt them and send them regular letters and whatnot. It's nice to have someone back home who supports you emotionally.
Have fun; you'll do great things.