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As
Dick explained, we have been planning to go on a mission for years. The
question remained when????? We finally set a date. We decided to
set a goal of getting our papers in before my 64th birthday. It was
important for us to do our part and commit to the Lord that we were serious about
full time service as His servants.
We originally followed a path that led us towards serving a military relations mission in San Antonio, Texas. We were already to submit our application when we went to Hawaii for a couple weeks. While at church in Maui we ran into a couple who shared their story of being all ready to serve in The Polynesian Cultural Center. They were sure the Lord wanted them to go to Hawaii. When they opened their call they were quite surprised to see that they were being called to Durban, South Africa!
She said that she just cried. I immediately thought, oh goodness, Africa! To make a long story short, they happily served in the Durban Mission. When I asked her how it went, she explained that she would go back in a heartbeat. After that very second, I felt bubbles going up and down my body. A few minutes later I told Dick that we were going to Durban!!!! Dick just squeezed my hand and gave me a smile as he stated that we were going to San Antonio, Texas.
The following Sunday while interviewing with President Maxfield in the South Jordan Stake, we received the counsel that "the Lord needs folks that are not afraid to go anywhere in the world and, that we should keep an open mind.” At that moment, we figured that Texas was out.
As the phone rang and interviews were completed, we did have an open mind. Our attitude was that any mission, anywhere in the world would be great. We had peace that the Lord already knew where we would serve, and that we would find out when we opened the official call from the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.
At the moment we opened the call, both Dick and I had tears of JOY. We are giddy about South Africa and could not be more peaceful. I have been moved as I have heard senior couples, who have served all over the world, declare their love for their missions, the people they served and also how blessed their families were at home. We pray for those blessings for our families and the friends who support us.
We originally followed a path that led us towards serving a military relations mission in San Antonio, Texas. We were already to submit our application when we went to Hawaii for a couple weeks. While at church in Maui we ran into a couple who shared their story of being all ready to serve in The Polynesian Cultural Center. They were sure the Lord wanted them to go to Hawaii. When they opened their call they were quite surprised to see that they were being called to Durban, South Africa!
She said that she just cried. I immediately thought, oh goodness, Africa! To make a long story short, they happily served in the Durban Mission. When I asked her how it went, she explained that she would go back in a heartbeat. After that very second, I felt bubbles going up and down my body. A few minutes later I told Dick that we were going to Durban!!!! Dick just squeezed my hand and gave me a smile as he stated that we were going to San Antonio, Texas.
The following Sunday while interviewing with President Maxfield in the South Jordan Stake, we received the counsel that "the Lord needs folks that are not afraid to go anywhere in the world and, that we should keep an open mind.” At that moment, we figured that Texas was out.
As the phone rang and interviews were completed, we did have an open mind. Our attitude was that any mission, anywhere in the world would be great. We had peace that the Lord already knew where we would serve, and that we would find out when we opened the official call from the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.
At the moment we opened the call, both Dick and I had tears of JOY. We are giddy about South Africa and could not be more peaceful. I have been moved as I have heard senior couples, who have served all over the world, declare their love for their missions, the people they served and also how blessed their families were at home. We pray for those blessings for our families and the friends who support us.
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| Durban, South Africa |
