A Gift

I wondered if Gary would be absolutely bored stiff Monday as a newly set apart Elder stuck at home with Mom as his companion. To my delight he kept busy by packing up his bedroom belongings, and helping to remove all food storage boxes from Lisa's room to his room. We also ran a few errands. As the day progressed, I noticed how much I was enjoying being around him. He was so pleasant while still being delightful Gary, and of coarse no distraction caused by TV, loud music, or video games A nice dinner meal complete with sparkling cidar was followed by Family Home Evening. Gary had been asked to bear his testimony to us one more time before departing to South Africa. As Gary 'testified' of the reality of Jesus Christ, and bore the strongest testimony I have ever heard from him, I tenderly knew I was hearing a missionary bear his testimony. I could feel that missionary spirit. Already I could see a difference in him! Dad then gave him a loving, inspired Father's blessing. We ended a peaceful, sweet day with Gary's favorite game, scrabble! As the day ended I knew that a loving Heavenly Father had given me that day as a gift.

Gary's Mission about to Commence

Gary will be set apart tonight at 8:00 pm as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. On Tuesday the 27th, Gary, Doug, and I will get up at approximately 3:00 am to arrive at the airport at 4:30 am. Gary will fly out of Sacramento at 6:30 am and arrive in Florida about 4 and 1/2 hours later. After a two hour layover, he will take an 18 hour flight across the ocean to Johannesburg, South Africa. He reports at the Johannesburg Mission Training Center on Thursday the 29th, to really get started on what can be a marvelous time of his life.
We don't know how long he will be in the MTC. That information will come later!

That's the details, now I'll speak from the heart. I am thrilled to send off my fifth child to serve a mission to the Lord. I know from experience the growth, maturity and strong testimony that can be a byproduct. When each child has returned from their mission service, it has felt like I'm living with an angel for about two weeks! I know that the true army that brings peace to this world is the one which spreads the gospel of Jesus Christ.

With those truths said, wonderful blessings can be hard. Please pray for Gary that he will meet the challenges of his mission in that far away country and be a valiant missionary. Please pray for his health -spiritual, physical and mental. Yes, I'm crying. This one is especially difficult for me. I don't know if it's because Gary is my youngest son and seems so innocent as to the difficulties of a mission, or because my house is getting so empty (especially after having 15 people here at Christmas!) Maybe it's that Africa is a loooooooooooonnnnngggg way from here. My heart seems to have a sad, empty spot, yet I'm delighted, too. How can those two feelings exist at the same time? Don't worry, I'm planning on 'pressing on' in faith with mostly a smile on my face, even if I do splash thru puddles of water from my eyes. This is a great, marvelous, wonderful thing and I know it.