One of the toughest things for me to understand is why we go through the things that we go through. I do know, however, that trials help us grow and learn the things that Heavenly Father wants us to learn. I personally have been through a lot. I've made different mistakes - I've hurt different people. I've done things that have caused myself and others hurt. I've had health problems as I have been out here on my mission. But somehow, I'm happy. I know its because Jesus Christ suffered all of these things for me. Now, hope is a hard thing to explain. Basically, to me, it just means that I have to believe that good is going to come no matter what. It ties directly into faith. I hope because I want, and I hope because I know the Lord will give. Nothing in this life comes easy, and if it does - its not worth it. I know that when we find our purpose and live the Gospel, the Lord blesses us and we will be able to live with him again.
In the mission field, I've discovered that there are 2 different types of things that missionaries have to realize. First, there is the reason that missionaries came out here in the first place, whatever that may be. Second - there is something that keeps them out here. They are 2 different things. As I have been pondering the past 18 months, I realize that the reason (well, one of them) that I've stayed out here is because I hope that others have the same happiness level that I have found in the Gospel. The Gospel gives them a reason to live and a reason to keep going. It gives them hope.