I’ve always followed rugby news but to my surprise a familiar name appeared in the headlines recently. The name of Will Hopoate. A young rubgy league star with a bright future. A family that took me in, fed me, and loved me like one of their own. I’ll never forget them.
While entertaining lucrative offers from various rugby clubs for his services, Will decides that he would put his professional rugby career on hold to serve a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What?!? This is a young man who is already playing professionally for the club he cheered for as a kid! He represents his state in the country’s biggest state rivalry series and helps them bring the ring home! His career blooming and he decides to put it on hold? News stories break all over Australia about his decision. The kid doesn’t even think twice. What would you do?
Dressed in a suit and tie knocking on doors to spread a message he believes will bless the lives of others is how Will has spent the last two years. For him, he believes it will help “increase his mental endurance and spiritual strength and that will help the physical for a positive future.” Wow! In approximately 3 months Will is set to return home. He will also return to find a lucrative contract worth well over a million bucks for his services. With that comes the whirlwind of being a professional athlete; but he already knows about that.
We live in a world where we seek immediate gratification at every corner. Will sets a great example of sacrifice, unselfishness, faith, inspiration, hard work, patience, humility, and many other characteristics that we could hope for in ourselves and our children.Credit to your family for encouraging and supporting your decision to serve. Your upbringing and the examples of those you surround yourself with are reflected in who you are.
Sometimes we have to lose ourselves to find ourselves and this is exactly what Will has done. Congratulations on serving an honorable mission and good luck with your footy career. You deserve everything you’ve worked so hard for.
IKUNA will be watching.
Overcome. Achieve. Victory. IKUNA.
Check him out at http://mormon.org/me/6tdh
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This is the kind of story that the public would like to read about. I am so proud of this young man and what a fine example he is to his families, friends and peers.
We all proud of you Will! Good Luck On Your Future…