The long road towards a mission...

Since Sterling was a young boy he talked about serving a mission. When in High School things kind of changed. He quit talking about it and we, his family, noticed a social difference. He loved old people, children and animals, but did not care to be with his peers except his best friend from elementary school Michael Quinones. When Sterling graduated from High School we, his parents, talked to him about getting ready for his mission, and it was then he told us that he wasn't going to go. Possibly because it never mentioned him going on a mission in his Patriarchal Blessing.  He used it as a reason why maybe he is not suppose to go. Since we had a couple of boys in our ward that came home soon after they left for their mission we didn't want to push Sterling, we wanted it to be his decision. For 4 yrs we prayed that he would know the Lord's will concerning a mission.  We would also occasionally ask him if he had changed his mind about serving a mission. His reply was always "No, I am not going". We would just say "Oh okay, just thought we would ask in case you changed your mind".

In Dec 2008 Sterling had a meeting with President Smith, our Stake President.  He told Sterling that his heart wasn't open to the Spirit. That statement really bothered Sterling that he would be hard-hearted. Also at that time, Spencer & Melanie gave him the book Christ and the New Covenant by Elder Jeffery R. Holland for Christmas. He started his quest to draw closer to the Lord, by reading that book, reading scriptures, praying daily, and also fasting. He was also confused about what direction to go for his education. He was in a real quandary at the time. On Sunday March 8th 2009, during the Sacrament, he was again praying for direction of what to do, including mission or not. He said that the answer came to him so strongly and he thought to himself "Oh Crap, I am going on a Mission". When we (his parents) came home from Idaho, we told him that his Aunt had asked if he was going to go and we told her no that he didn't really want to. Then, Sterling said to us "now I don't want you to get excited and over-react, but I have decided to serve a mission".

Since that moment he has never wavered in his decision. In fact his conviction to go only got stronger. He would say "I know I am suppose to go and Serve the Lord". His joy and excitement just constantly increased as he prepared to go. He was ready and anxious to get started on his Mission for the Lord. An answer to many peoples prayers.....