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Dad says 'this is what he was raised for': Daniel Conger is embarking on a mission to South Korea three decades after his father served in the same country(Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 25--BLUEWATER BAY -- Dressed in a dark suit and sporting a conservative tie, 19-year-old Daniel Conger fit right in at a recent early morning meeting of the Mid-Bay Rotary Club. Poised and confident, the college sophomore greeted members of the club, introducing them to the tall, dignified man beside him. William Ertel, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tallahassee Mission District, had risen at the crack of dawn along with Daniel to present a program to the Rotarians about Mormon missionaries. Daniel, who recently received his mission call to serve in Seoul, South Korea, joked that he was the "audio visual aid" for Ertel's presentation. Standing a few feet away, Daniel's father, Dennis Conger, looked on with pride. "I couldn't be more excited," Dennis beamed. Three decades earlier, Dennis served his own mission in South Korea, and the knowledge that his only child would soon be following in his footsteps was almost more than he could comprehend. "It's hard for people to understand why I'm so excited," Dennis said later. "With most parents, when their baby is born, they hope that it will grow up and be healthy and strong and maybe graduate from college. But in our faith, this is what Daniel has been raised for. It means more to me that Daniel serve an honorable mission than even him graduating from college." A family tradition Dennis Conger's excitement over his son's mission call was enhanced when they learned that Daniel would be serving in South Korea. Although Dennis had harbored hopes that Daniel might share his experience, the odds were not in his favor. "There are 341 geographical areas in the world where you can serve a mission, so the chances weren't very good," he said. Every young man raised in the Mormon faith is expected to prepare himself spiritually, physically and emotionally to serve a mission. Unmarried men between the ages of 19 and 25 may be called to serve. Since receiving his call, Daniel has begun to share in his father's excitement. "Every young man in our faith usually has a desire to serve his mission in a particular country," Daniel said. "In my case, it was Italy. But I believe that this is the Lord's will in my life, and I couldn't be happier." As a youngster, Daniel knew South Korea held a special place in his father's heart. "Whenever my dad would meet someone from Korea, he would immediately go up to them and speak to them in their language. I remember thinking that was pretty awesome." Both Daniel's parents and his grandmother served as missionaries, making him the fourth member of his family to venture off in support of his faith. In doing so, he's making a two-year commitment to a life of discipline and self-sacrifice that is hard for outsiders to understand. "We have many rules that are in place to protect our young people serving missions," Ertel explained. "Surprisingly enough, while you hear about violence and danger in all corners of the world, studies have shown that our missionaries have a lower mortality rate than young people in the same age group in the general population." A life-changing experience Dennis Conger believes serving as a missionary gives young people the opportunity to live a completely altruistic life for two years. "It's truly a life-changing experience," he said. "I'm so grateful that Daniel has this opportunity." Daniel's mother, Jean, shares her husband's enthusiasm. "Some people might think that since I'm an only child, my mother would be freaking out about me going halfway around the world for two years," Daniel said with a laugh. "But she says that she's thrilled." Nevertheless, both Daniel and his parents will be making sacrifices over the next two years. Missionaries and their families bear the cost of funding their missions, with a standard amount of around $400 a month assessed for expenses. And once the missionary enters one of the church's 15 Missionary Training Centers around the globe, his contact with his family and friends is extremely limited. "One day a week, the missionaries set aside time for what they call 'Preparation Day,' " Ertel explained. "They may use that day to write letters to their family and friends, and to prepare themselves for the rest of the week. Their phone calls home are limited to twice a year -- usually on Christmas Day and Mother's Day." Discipline and obedience Daniel's life as a missionary will begin in earnest in April when he enters the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He will undergo intense language training for nine to 11 weeks before traveling to Seoul, where he will live with a constant companion who will always be within eyeshot or earshot. "We say that it's probably the best preparation you can get for marriage," Dennis said. The missionaries' strict code of conduct prohibits dating and recreational activities such as movies and television. They are expected to devote their time to sharing their faith with the people of their host country, so they do not hold jobs or go to school. "We have a strict dress code," Ertel said. "You've probably seen the young men in their white shirts and ties around town. They're also expected to sport conservative hair styles and grooming." While it might seem difficult to find young people willing to make the kind of sacrifices expected of Mormon missionaries, Ertel reports that there are currently 51,000 serving full time in 149 different countries in every corner of the globe. As for Daniel, any concerns he might have about leaving his family and friends behind for two years are tempered by the fact that he sincerely believes he is following God's will. "There are times when I'm nervous, but overall I'm ecstatic," he said. "My faith teaches me that God has a plan for my life, and that fills me with confidence." |