I realized that I haven’t really said anything about what it was like for Sam to receive his mission call! His mission application was completed on Sunday, August 4th and he received his call to serve on the 13th of August! It was such an exciting time of expectation and suspense! Nine days of wondering where the next two years of his life would be spent. Sam really wanted to serve a foreign mission where he would experience a new culture and learn a new language. I think his first choice would have been to go back to Ghana but he was willing to serve anywhere the Lord sent him. He was a little nervous about being called to a nearby state or somewhere that was tropical. (Although he is an incredible outdoors-man, he isn’t crazy about tropical bugs!) He wanted to open his mission call when it arrived with just our family. I think he was afraid he might cry if he was called to Arizona or somewhere like that and didn’t want to cry in front of his friends. And so, I noticed in the morning of the 13th that on his missionary portal his call was ready and so I called Grant who rushed home from work. Anna was in Florida at my mom’s house with Rebecca and so we had them on a video call. When he opened his call to serve in the Cali, Colombia mission we all felt a confirmation that this was THE PERFECT place for him to serve. Here are the reasons I feel it is perfect for him (despite the bugs and humidity): no suits except for zone conference and other special occasions, mountains, ocean, danger, and the nicest, most humble people in the world who want to learn more about their Savior. The only downside is that he doesn’t report the the MTC until December 4th. This waiting is killing both of us. He misses his friends and it is enough time for him to procrastinate preparing. However it does give us time to do some activities and trips together! He is even hoping to fit in 10 days of skiing before he leaves (I’m not sure who is going to pay for that!) Sam can’t wait to get out there and get going. Sam’s mission call
I am so excited for Sam to have the unparalleled experience of serving the Lord for two years as a full time missionary. A mission is filled with amazing lessons to be learned, people to love, immense moments of joy in serving, hardships to endure, and a strengthening of testimony that fills a soul and changes hearts forever. I am so grateful that he is blazing the way and setting the example for his younger siblings, all of which want to serve a mission as well. What a privilege and honor!
I also know that I will miss this boy like crazy! This last week was his 18th birthday. I said our family prayer that night and as I was thanking God for the chance to spend 18 years with Sam I started to cry and couldn’t really finish the prayer with any kind of eloquence. This kids just grow up so darn fast!
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