The mission is like a lifetime. You start out like a baby. No seriously, you can't even speak or understand anyone, and you have to ask your mom how to do laundry, and other basic life skills. And you grow and become more capable, and maybe get a little too comfortable, and then you're sent a challenge. It's like when you're a senior in high school, thinking 'Oh yeah, I've got this' and then you go to college, or get a real job, and then you realize you know absolutely nothing. So maybe you are called to train really young, or get a special companion, or are having to deal with the sad problems of the people you teach. Usually you have to do some self evaluation and make changes. Also your friends in the mission "die", and you miss them, but have the hope of the "after-life" that you'll see them again (sometimes literally after this life because they're from another country). And as you near the end of your mission life you get a little nostalgic for the early days (only a little, because they were HARD) and you begin to think "Have I accomplished everything I want to in this life (mission)? I've only got one shot at this, my time is getting short." Also there is a little fear of your "death". What is post mission life going to be like? What will I DO?! But if you have spent your mission well, you don't worry too much, you trust that everything will be great, even better than the mission. Just like eternal life. It's only the missionaries that screwed around during their missions that have regret. The mission is this lovely little training ground for successfully being adults and living out the rest of our days.
Hope all is well. Are you guys still doing family scripture study? That's important!
Love you lots,
Hna. J.