Isaac leaves tomorrow for his mission.  I have had the opportunity to get very close to this boy since he graduated from high school in May.

I invited all of the LDS high school graduates, as Young Single Adults, to begin attending institute, which I teach.  Isaac became our most faithful new attendee.  He never missed.  He rode to and from institute with Marjorie and me.

Isaac worked all summer for a man in our ward who is building a house.  Isaac thought that he was making $10 per hour, but never got paid.  The man told him that he’d wait and pay him at the end of his service, and then give him the biggest paycheck he’d ever received.  He was as good as his word.  To Isaac’s surprise, he learned that he was being paid not $10 per hour, but $12, and was given a check for $5,400.  With the money he already had in the bank, he has his mission paid for.

Isaac is a very smart and quick-witted young man.  He is also extremely good-humored, likable, and witty.  It’s impossible to not like and trust him.  His goodness shines through everything.  His thoughts are deep, he’s knowledgeable about the gospel and many other subjects, and freely answers questions and makes comments in class.  He is an ideal person to have in class, and is a pleasure to be around.

Isaac got his mission call.  He’ll be learning Spanish, and will serve in the Nicaragua Managua Mission.  Having received his call, he went to the temple to receive his endowment, and was called and set apart as a temple ordinance worker the same day.  He worked on our shift, and went with us to the temple.  He served seven shifts.  He quickly learned how to do everything.  On his final shift last Wednesday he officiated an endowment session.  He claimed to be extremely nervous, but certainly didn’t show it.  Marjorie and I served as his witness couple.  I was there to give him cues, but he hardly needed any.  He performed flawlessly.  I was so proud that I felt I would burst.

Being with, and serving with, Isaac for the past four months has been one of the choice experiences of my life.  I love this young man.—3 October 2016