What about My Mission?

By Amoako Afran-Okese

As I prepared for a mission, a sudden, debilitating illness was a trial of faith.

Illustration by Emily Call

Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to serve a mission. But in my second year of high school, I started to experience numbness in my feet, knees, and arms. Within weeks, I couldn’t walk, run, or climb stairs.

I started on some medications, thinking it would solve the problem quickly so I could go back to school and prepare for my mission. But instead, I kept getting worse. Soon I couldn’t do anything on my own—I couldn’t brush my hair or even stand up to pick up a TV remote.

I received multiple priesthood blessings, but the disease would not leave me alone. I was admitted to a hospital in Accra where experienced doctors worked on me, but they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I started to think I would never walk again, much less serve a mission.

While I was in the hospital, the mission president and his wife came to visit me and my mum. He asked me if I would like to serve a mission. I told him I had wanted to, before I got sick. He said, “Don’t worry, you will serve a mission.”

The day after we got home from the hospital, I was sitting with my mum when I heard a voice tell me to stand up and walk. I was scared of falling, but I knew I had to try. I stood up on my own. Slowly, I was able to take my first step, which boosted my confidence. I continued taking additional steps. Even though I was shaky at first, I knew that because of my faith in Jesus Christ and the priesthood blessings I had received, I would be able to serve a mission now.

I went back to school, and immediately after finishing, I submitted my mission papers. I received my call some months later to serve in the Nigeria Lagos Mission. Serving the Lord and teaching His children about the restored gospel gave me so much joy. Though not everyone is healed like I was, I know the Lord will bless anyone, according to His will, when we have faith in Him.

The author lives in Ghana.