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The LDS church specifically has a practice where many young LDS members go on a "mission" for two years. In fact it is so common that almost every LDS member would understand the phrase "[a specific person]'s mission" to refer to that two year mission for proselytizing.

Yeah but this site probably isn't composed of mostly Mormons

Thanks for the clarification. I'm not an American, so when I read that he was working for CIA and had been on missions in Russia (nearly got killed) without any context, and I assumed the worst.

This completely changes the meaning and makes more sense

This is how I interpreted the OP as well. Just replying to supply the word "missionary" in case it helps anyone make the connection.