Senior Justin Savage will be going to Russia for two years after he graduates. Savage said he will be leaving this year for his first mission trip.
To Savage, mission trips have always felt like a duty, but also a choice. These trips are part of his religion, most men go on them upon graduating high school. He did choose to go on this journey and is very excited about it.
Savage said when he opened the letter containing the location of his mission trip his siblings started going crazy, his mom started screaming, and his dad started laughing.
“I flipped out cause I was super excited,” Savage said on finding out the location of his voyage. “Russia is kind of my dream locations that I always wanted to visit and learn the language of.”
Savage has to learn Russian before his excursion. He will head down to Utah on Aug. 24 this year for 9-14 weeks and learn the language and prepare for his expedition. Savage will most likely pack two suits, scriptures, a few winter things, and will buy whatever else he needs in Russia.
“I mean it’s great having friends here and being able to socialize and go hang out and whatever,” Savage said. “But while I’m out there I have kind of one thing that I’m focusing on and so as long as I stay focused while I’m out there it’s going to go by quickly.”
Savage will travel by himself to Russia. When Savage gets to Russia, he will meet up with a companion. He will be serving in Moscow, Russia and most likely live in an apartment designated for missionaries. Besides Moscow, Savage will visit cities surrounding where he’ll be serving.
Savage will be able to keep in touch with his family by email while he is in Russia.
“So there’s one day a week called p-day which is preparation day,” Savage said. “It’s where the elders can go out and they can buy things they need they’re allowed to email friends and family and stuff and but I mean there are some things that you can’t do like you can’t go to the movies and swimming and whatever, and there are a bunch of different rules.”
Savage will get back before the start of the winter semester of college. He plans to work in Utah for that semester and then attend college after the semester ends.
For information about Moscow Russia, click here. For more information about what a mission trip is, click here.
By: Sophie Baus
