Richard Raju

India Bangalore Mission

Our journey in the church started way back in late 1960's when my father Raju Joseph got baptised along with his entire family at the age of 11. From that time on, there is no going back or falling away from the gospel which we have embraced with all our heart. Born in a small village it was indeed a difficult task for someone like my father to stick to the gospel as there were many challenges but still with faith and perseverance he was able to work hard and go on a mission as one of the 1st missionaries to serve in India although he was called to serve under Singapore Mission. After his mission he got married to my mother(Jessy) who is from Bangalore and a convert to my father. Life was not that easy for them as they began their married life where they had to go through many trials and had to stay in a place where there is no church and life was not that easy although they were still blessed in many ways and one among the blessing was me born to them (that's what they say). The challenges got even more worse after my birth as I as a child went through a lot of physical challenges which once led me almost to face death and fortunately was brought back alive which is indeed a miracle.

Till that point my parent’s faith was quite waver but after that incident they both decided that they will be committed to the Lord no matter what may come against and that is how my journey began as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. Being born and raised in the church I have been blessed in many ways including the privilege of learning the gospel from the childhood. Church and the gospel has been part of my life and at times they were life to me since most of the decisions in life I have made so far are all something I have learnt through the gospel. All the ordinances were performed for me by my father starting from baptism till ordaining me to an elder. I am grateful that my father was the one who had this priesthood in our family to do all that for me. I was able to prepare for serving a mission and when I turned 18 I was interviewed by my father who was a branch president then and by the mission president - Brent R Bonham who was a mission president then and I was called to serve as a missionary in the India bangalore mission.

Although I did not get to serve with the mission president who interviewed me since it was time that he gets released, I was privileged to serve under president Melvin R Nichols who is from Alaska. I was able to serve the Lord well in various places like Chennai, Srilanka, Rajahmundry & Hyderabad in different capacities and leadership positions. After getting released as a missionary I made a choice to continue my education and for which I had to move to another place and that's when I decided to move to bangalore. Although life was not that easy as expected, staying with my relatives who are not members of the church I belong to, created a lot of misunderstandings and difference of opinions at times as well but still I was able to move forward with faith knowing that God would provide a way if I continue to be faithful.