Sometimes it is really impossible to put into words what you
think and feel about an experience you go through, and the older I get the more that seems to
happen.
We wanted to see our kids over the holidays. When we talked about serving a mission,
Ronnie drug his feet just a little thinking about all the meetings which
required sitting for long periods of time and knocking on doors in some strange
place, perhaps in another part of the world.
He had gone to Jackson for a couple of days and I was
sitting in the living room thinking about a mission, where they might send us,
and what it would entail. For some
unknown reason I decided to go to the church website that Bishop Lamb referred
to as their “Wish List.”
As I fumbled through the “Click here” buttons I found the “Wish
List” and began scrolling through the pages of where missionaries were
needed. On the third page there was a
small little paragraph that said Hopi & Navajo Gardening and Self-Reliance
Project. It went something like
this. We need someone who can build
fences, garden and it would be good if one of the couple could do family
history. I know the wording was a little
different, but that’s what comes to mind. It also gave a contact name and phone
number.
I called the number listed and a voice said, “This is Larry.” I was a little taken back and asked if I was
speaking to President Justice. He said,
yes it was and he was just leaving the post office. I think he said he would call me back when he
got to his office or something like that.
A while later the phone rang and I answered it. We visited for quite a while and he explained
what the project actually was and what was needed to come and serve in the Tuba City Stake.
They did need someone who could build fences and help the
people put in a 30x30 garden helping them become more self-reliant. The fact that I had done family history was
wonderful. After I shared our story of
meeting on the ‘rez’ accepting the
gospel, being baptized, marrying the missionary who taught me the gospel, and
wanting to serve a mission, all became frosting on the cake. ;o}
We talked for a long time, both asking questions and
wondering if things would come together, so serving would be possible. I then called Ronnie and told him what had
happened and wondered if he would consider serving a “Service Mission” in the
last area he served as a young Elder. I
could hear the change in his concerns about serving when he asked how soon we
could go.
We intended to serve 8 months, so we could see how the boys
would do at home on their own. Well, in
March we will hit the 3 year mark. We
did serve 10 months as service missionaries, and then became the first
missionaries in the church to change over to MLS Missionary status(Member
Leadership Support) missionaries in Jan 2012.
That mission will be over 14 Feb 2014, just about a month from now.
When we were home for Christmas, our Bishop set us apart for
our third mission which will start Feb 15, 2014. Our intent is to serve another season, which
would make our exit date Oct 2014.
We feel good about what we can do to serve the people here
and have grown to love them very much. It is like coming home to family. We feel useful and needed.
When I started this entry it was not to speak about that,
but to write about our trip to see our kids and grandkids.
Alex Bown, my sister Judy’s grandson, got married 21 Dec
2013 in the Draper Temple which we were able to attend. It was a wonderful wedding and a wonderful
day with family and friends.
The best part of the trip was spending time with our own
kids and grandkids who are growing very fast and maturing in their
understanding of the gospel. It is wonderful
to watch your children become parents and raise their own children. You seem to grow closer as you watch them
with their children who are becoming young adults, and the “little ones” with
all their innocence and laughter that comes so freely. Then there are the babies, with few teeth, and little hair that remind
you of those moments with your own babies and how much you loved them and
wanted to protect them from the evils of the world, but no matter what you did
they still had to face many battles on their own. You prayed that you had taught them well and
helped prepare them for the things they would eventually have to face on their
own. You prayed for strength and patience,
wisdom and compassion, courage and faith, not just for them but for yourselves,
so that you would not fail them.
To each of our children we want you to know how much we love
and appreciate what you are doing for your children who have been entrusted to
your care by a loving Heavenly Father who knows each of you and each of the
children He has sent to you. We cannot
know all the things we will face in mortality, nor would we want to most
days. We do know that He will give us
whatever it is that we need to give them so that they too will be as prepared
as they can be when they stand alone to face the challenges that will come
their way.
A parent’s love is unconditional. I know how much we love you and it is hard
sometimes to see what is happening in the world that surrounds us and what our
grandchildren have to face. In the same
respect we also face this knowing that these times would come and the most
noble spirits were reserved to come forth at this time. They are better prepared for what is coming,
they are the most valiant and are equal to the tasks that they will face.
We pray for you each day and thank God for the many good
things you are doing and for the strong people you are becoming. We love you and miss you .
Love,
Mom
