Friday, 4/25/97 A personal sacrifice Mormon student puts UCLA on
hold for two years for his religion
By Judy Cha Daily Bruin Contributor As the crow flies from Los
Angeles to Sydney, James Chang, a first-year cell and molecular
biology student, will also head straight for his calling in life.
Only on Christmas and Mother’s Day will he be scheduled to call
home. He will leave behind his family and friends as well as his
weekly fixes of "ER," and "Bart Simpson," to go dedicate the next
two years of his life to teach what he believes. On July 9, 1997,
Chang will leave for Sydney, Australia as a proselytizing
missionary to spread the word of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. With scripture in hand, and a senior companion
as a guide, Chang will preach door to door, enlightening people
about the Church. "It’s like putting your life on hold and giving
two years for everything He has done for you," Chang said. Being
preoccupied with his missionary training, and spiritual
development, Chang will be cut off from the mass media for 24
months while in Australia. However, it doesn’t seem to faze him.
"You’re supposed to be totally focused on your work," Chang said,
"You can’t have the Spirit if you’re watching MTV." While
missionaries work about seven days a week, they can take one day
off to take care of their own business, such as general
housekeeping, doing laundry, and writing to friends and family.
With less than three months before Chang embarks on his mission, he
still needs to buy an alarm clock and finish reading The Book of
Mormon, from which the colloquial term Mormon is derived from. To
prepare for his mission, Chang will travel to the Missionary
Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah. For eight weeks Chang will
learn to teach guiding principles, and study Cantonese, the
language that he will use to communicate The Word, before leaving
for Australia. Along with MTC training, came many medical
preparations including blood tests, shots, cavity removal, and a
chest x-ray. Chang has also interviewed with the bishop and an area
church leader to reaffirm his decision. "They make sure you’re
doing it for the right reasons," Chang said, "if you’re just doing
it because you’re expected to, then you’re not going to be very
effective out in the mission field." Taking two years off from
school is quite a simple process, according to Paul Davis, a
fourth-year business economics student who has recently returned
from a mission. After not attending UCLA for a period of time, the
school automatically dropped Davis. Coming back required filing out
an application for readmission. "It’s a personal sacrifice. You’re
putting your personal affairs behind for two years," Chang said.
Chang admits that leaving school will be tough though he says it
will be a nice break. "Hopefully I won’t forget anything," he said.
"I’ve got that summer to come back to ‘earth.’ I’ll take easy
classes the first quarter just to get into the swing of things,"
Chang said. As many changes occur in two years, it isn’t uncommon
for friendships to fade. "It was tough to see some old friends not
here anymore, but I have met new and kept many of the old," Davis
said. However, life as a missionary is an experience Davis wouldn’t
trade for anything. "I really miss the people I served with and met
in Texas," he said. "I feel better about things in general. More
driven to succeed, to accomplish really meaningful things, to be
more honest, a better friend," Davis said. Davis admits that going
on his mission proved to be as fun as he thought it would be. "I
don’t think I’ve written anyone so much in my life," Davis said. "I
feel greater optimism about the world and more positive about
people I see. People are good, almost as a rule." "I think it’s
awesome that he’s going to Australia," said Chang’s friend Adam
Burnett, a first-year business economics student. "I’ll always
wonder what happened in 1998," Chang said. While leaving for
college prepares a young man for a professional life, going on a
mission will help Chang to grow spiritually. "It’s sort of like a
death almost. You’re leaving your life behind, and you’re going to
a totally different place to learn new things. Everyone is sad when
you leave, that’s when you’re dying." Setting aside his fears of
being away from home, and perhaps losing contact with his friends,
Chang feels blessed to be able to represent the Church. "I’ve never
been to that hemisphere," Chang said, "It’ll be neat because I’ll
get to learn Cantonese. I want to be able to serve a good mission."
BAHMAN FARAGHDEL James Chang, freshman Cell and Molecular Biology.
Chang is leaving in July for Sydney, Australia, where he will work
on his mission for two years. Los Angeles Temple, The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Mission Net
LDS Official site