My name is Samuel, and I'm from the Philippines.
It sounds strange, but I have been saving money
to pay for my mission since before I was born.
When my mother learned she was going to have her first baby,
she took an empty milk can, put a hole in it,
and labeled it "Mission Fund."
That was for my older brother Spencer.
But since that time our family decided that a missionary fund
would be a good idea for all of the children in our family.
So after my siblings and I were born,
our grandparents, uncles, and aunts
would put money into our mission fund.
When holidays came, family members
gave us money to add our mission fund.
Just like my brother, every time I receive medals or win
in school competitions, my aunt counts them all
and gives me money for each one I earn.
These are added to my mission fund too.
Every Christmas season my siblings
and I give copies of the Book of Mormon
to our teachers and classmates.
I am excited for the time I will be old enough
to serve a mission and share the gospel of Jesus Christ
with everyone.
My desire keeps growing because of the support
of so many people who love me.
I know Heavenly Father loves me too and will bless me
so I can serve Him as a missionary one day.
I'm Samuel, and I'm one in a million.