Mandy Collins and her husband struggled with infertility for several years. Against all odds, they conceived a son. At their first prenatal ultrasound, they discovered their baby would be born with a cleft lip and palate. Other abnormalities became apparent as the pregnancy progressed.

When her baby was born, Mandy had no idea what to expect. She knew her baby's health conditions would require several surgeries, but she did not know the full extent of his challenges until much later. Through it all, she learned to trust the Lord with everything she could not control, developing patience and joy along the way. 

Mandy's son, Tanner, is now 19 years old and serving as a service missionary. If you have ever wondered about whether a service mission is right for you child, she shares what it is like and why she feels service missionaries are vital to the work of salvation.

This story is sure to inspire you!

P.S. If you want to learn more about the service that automatically prints missionary emails and pictures into a book after their mission, you can find it right here. (We talk about it in the interview, and I have LOVED using this service for my missionaries.)

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**If you'd like to take your faith to the next level with the Shine 40 Challenge - a 40-day challenge to help you build lasting spiritual habits - you can learn more and sign up right here.