When we joined the Church, we learned about all the main
principles and practices of the gospel--tithing, Sabbath observance, moral
cleanliness, etc., and, every young man should serve a mission, young women
were encouraged, and seniors were needed. At that time we decided that we would
serve a mission once we retired, and that we would teach our children to save
and prepare, as well.
I am glad we made that decision, and have had honorable sons
who followed through with that commitment. However, I'm learning that it was
probably a really good thing that we had no idea what we were really signing
you boys up for! We may have had more difficulty sending you out had we
realized what we were sending you to!
We anticipated your having companions that you had to learn
to get along with. We anticipated you needing to learn to cook and clean up
after yourselves. We anticipated the struggle with sharing the gospel with an
often unwilling populace. We even anticipated your having unfamiliar foods to
try to get used to, and accommodations that were less than what you were used
to. So, in short, I guess we really did anticipate most of the difficulties of
your missions. What we didn't understand, and I don't know how we would have,
is how really hard all that all is when taken all together! Maybe at our age we
are not as resilient as we would have been at 19, but we are over here with SO
much better situation than the young missionaries are! We CHOSE our companion!
We have an air-conditioned house and an air-conditioned car. We don't have any
places that are specifically off-limits, except, of course, any place the
Spirit warns us against. We have a difficult and exhausting assignment, which
we are giving our all to, but we can quit for the day whenever we need to, and
no one cares. Or even knows. We get to stay in contact with our family 24-7 (if
they wrote or called that much!). We
watch TV whenever we want, as long as we pay our own way. We get to leave the
mission any time, as long as we come home at night. We aren't proselyting missionaries, so our
discouragement is different. We
definitely do not get as excited as the
young missionaries do over receiving a new mop! (Their mothers would be so proud
of them!)
We are so impressed with all these young missionaries who
are here, sacrificing so much to serve the Lord and bring his word to a people
that is in such desperate need. We are impressed with you, dear sons! With how little complaining we heard! And with each
of you for fulfilling your call and staying the full two years. There has been
some internet activity regarding missionaries who come home early, lately.
There should never be any kind of a stigma attached to any missionary who comes
home early! We can never know what led them to that decision, and we have no
right to judge them in any way.
We have met many missionaries with mental and
emotional problems, many with debilitating health problems, and some with
almost no support from home at all. They are truly as the Army Of Helaman, and
we are proud to serve with them.
I know the Lord blesses his servants, and I trust, as you
each look back, you see growth and testimony that you could have gotten no
other way. I hope you also see how proud of
you your parents are, and how grateful we are to have valiant, obedient
sons who hearkened to the call, especially since none of us knew what you were
getting into!
PS-We are equally proud of our sister missionary, Maria, but
had nothing to do with that one!
Thanks Mom!
ReplyDelete