TWO young Mormons are preparing to spend two years as missionaries in Africa.

Philip Siu, of Formby Avenue, Stanmore, and Jonathan Sim, of Pinner View, North Harrow, are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Both 19, they have been friends from a young age and have always known they would serve in the missions, as all young men in their church do. But next month they will take up separate posts, Philip in Durban, South Africa, and Jonathan in Accra, Ghana.

Philip said: "I'm looking forward to it. I'll be talking to people and sharing my beliefs and have volunteered for some service work out there, whatever needs to be done.

"I'll be paired up with someone with more experience so I won't be on my own. They'll give me plenty of support."

The friends are pleased with their placements, and surprised that they will both be in Africa, because they could have been anywhere in the world. Another friend, Luke Levens, is serving in Winnipeg, Canada, a fourth, Carl Lee, was sent somewhere closer to home, Leeds.

All Mormon missionaries fund their own trips and mix work with local humanitarian projects.

Philip added: "I want to go to university when I come back, and study law.

"I haven't thought about where yet. It's a long way off and I have lots ahead of me in Africa."

Philip attended Park High School in Stanmore and then St Dominic's Roman Catholic Sixth Form College in Harrow-on-the-Hill, and Jonathan Hatch End High and Weald College in Harrow Weald.