'"I can't say that I have been a perfect, or even a great missionary, but I can say that I tried, and that we saw success, just not in the ways that I was expecting. It reminds me of a story that a district president told to the missionaries. There was this old wise man. He was successful and had many experiences. He was happy and content with his life. A young boy, wanting to be stronger and better, came to him one day and asked him "how can I be stronger like you? I'm small in stature and weak, and I want to be stronger, what should I do? " The guy told him " come with me tomorrow morning, and Ill show you how." The boy met up with the old man early that next morning, and they went out to a field, that was almost barren and flat, except for a giant boulder in the middle of it. The old man said "You want to be strong? Push that rock. Push it with all your might. And then you will be strong." The boy was eager, but after a few weeks, he got a little discouraged. The rock never budged. Months passed, and nothing. A year later, with no visible progress in moving the rock, the boy went back with the wise man and complained "You lied to me, you said I would be stronger if I moved the rock. I've been trying and breaking myself to move that thing, and it hasn't moved one inch!" The man replied " I told you to push it, I never said move it. You certainly look stronger, and I promise you that you feel stronger. You gave it your all. You tried and pushed yourself. You grew, you became stronger." Do you understand now? "
"I've also gained a little bit better perspective of unconditional love, and a better understanding of how and why the Savior sacrificed Himself, being the perfect servant, perfect teacher, being the perfect lover. And I still pray to improve that Christlike attribute also."