This...is something very important to me, and it might affect you guys. All of you, I love you so much, so I wanted you to know.

Some of you may know that I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints - and that my older brother Harpo left on his mission for the church a month ago. I love my church so much, and I love the gospel and the Savior...and like my brother, I have always wanted to serve a mission. I wanted to devote two years of my life simply to helping people - teaching them about Jesus, doing service, even things as simple as doing hard labor and things, just to help people. It's been a dream of mine to do this, since I love people, and I want to help people be as happy as I am.

Now, these church missions have had an age limit to them. Young men are encouraged to serve a mission at 19 - young women are invited to serve at 21. (my brother waited a year before he went on his mission.) Being 19, I thought I had two years before I would even start preparing to go on a mission. It's a big deal, and it takes a lot of preparation. It's a whole two years of my life.

Well...today was General Conference for my church, when the leaders of our church have a broadcast where they teach and give counsel to the church as a whole, all over the world. At these conferences, held twice a year, important events are announced, such as the building of new temples and things, or the calling of new leaders.

This morning, the Presidency of my church made this announcement - that they are lowering the age limits for both young men and women, giving forth the call for these younger, faithful members to go on this journey and to serve the world.
Young men may now serve missions when they are 18.
And women can serve missions at 19.
Like me.

It...came as a shock...since I was expecting that I wouldn't even be able to go for two more years. So at first, the thought that I could go NOW frightened me, since it's such a big change, so suddenly...I mean, my plans, how I thought my life would play out in the next few years, has completely changed.

But it's a good thing.

This come as an answer to a lot of prayers. With waiting until I was 21, that meant that I was really struggling with when to really start my education going towards my career, animating. The timeline didn't seem to match up, either I'd have to postpone learning animation at my school of choice until after a mission, or I'd start their program, only to leave after one semester. I was praying really hard to know what to do.
So this answered my prayers. And even though the unknown frightens me, I'm excited to serve a mission earlier than I thought. I'm going to be like my brother - I'm going to grow closer to God, by teaching and serving and loving people, and I'm going to become such a better person than I am.

That's why I painted this little picture...since it's me looking down this path that has suddenly changed. I have a lot to do, getting ready, losing some weight and getting healthy (being a missionary means a LOT of walking and riding bikes to get around) and all that. I'll be putting in my papers, the application to serve a mission, whenever I finish all that. My goal is to put them in by January.

After I submit my application, it really depends on where the Lord decides to send me...if I go foreign speaking, I'll be leaving around half a year after that, so next summer. But if I go somewhere in America, then I could leave as quickly as my brother did - only one month after he received his call.

So...I guess this is me, giving you a heads up, that sometime in the next year, I'm going to be gone. I won't close any of my accounts, but if you comment I won't reply, if you message me I won't answer...because I'll be too busy, serving my mission, and all internet time would go to answering emails from family.

And...NuzRooke.

Like I said in the Q&A, there are over a hundred pages of NuzRooke. In my previous plan, waiting two years, I would have naturally finished NuzRooke sometime next year. But now, with me leaving on a mission...

I'm going to do my best, and work really really hard, to draw as many pages as I can and get them up. I hate to leave you wonderful people hanging, since I love you all so much. But it's entirely possible that, like Landwalker, I may have to put the pen down with NuzRooke unfinished, and hopefully return to it when I return.

It's a silly thing to ask, but...would anyone be willing to help me finish NuzRooke? I'd still draw the pages, but if I could have someone's help to color and do backgrounds...then I could work twice as fast, and I KNOW I could finish NuzRooke before I leave. It's a thought. <: )

I just want to say, it's been wonderful meeting you people through the internet, and it's meant so much to me how much you guys love my comic and my artwork. I'm still going to be around at least until January, so don't worry about it until then. When the time for me to leave rolls around, I'll post an officially notice up here, and say goodbye for real. But for now, it's just to let you know what my future now looks like.

And even if it's unknown and unsure and a little frightening...the future looks bright.