Mission Letter Arrives!!!

Thursday, April 22nd, I was playing with Jenna at a playground, glanced at my watch and saw that it was 2:00. Too early to check the mail, BUT was decidedly going to do so anyways! Waiting for our mission call letter to arrive was testing not only our nerves, but our families' as well...patience is a great lesson.
At the post office I hesitated, then peeked in the little window to see if there was any mail...oh my goodness, there was a large white envelope ! It had arrived. No kidding, I was so amazed to see that it really was there, that it was like slow motion...key inserted in the lock, door opens. Gayla slowly removes white envelope and reads in the corner..."Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". My heart was thudding, and yet I felt such calmness.

Drove home. Terry was in the driveway working on something and as he glanced up, I held up the white envelope and I smiled at him. His face was priceless and seemed to unspeakingly say, "Really?!" Without a moment's hesitation he got in the van and I handed him the envelope. He examined it and asked "You haven't opened it?" Incredulously, I laughed and said, "Of course not!" ( Just because I have a reputation of not being able to wait for things and opening presents early...well you get the picture.)

We had decided when we sent our mission papers off. that when our call came, we would open it in the temple parking lot. (No family gathering, just in case our mission destination turned out to be an area that might need to shed a few tears and pull ourselves together...didn't want to traumatize our grandsons and their future missions. Ha!)  We parked in the back temple parking lot as that is the entrance we use when we go to the temple. We then folded our arms and Terry gave a sincere and sweet prayer that we would be able to accept this mission call, where ever we were being asked to go and that we would serve with all our hearts. It felt comforting. We felt peaceful. I asked Terry to open the envelope package... as I cozied up and peered over his arm watching. And....

There it was, the letter from our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, right on top of the package of information, with his signature at the bottom of the letter, asking us to accept a mission call to The Translation Division in Salt Lake City, Utah, as translator co-ordinators. We are to report to the Provo, Utah Mission Training Center, September 13th.

 Surprised!  Humbled. Delighted! Grateful. Thrilled! Ready and willing to serve!!!

We hugged, and sealed this momentous event, with a sweet kiss of love and renewed commitment.

Then we turned to granddaughter Jenna (3) in the back seat (yes she was with us the whole time) and said, "Jenna, you are the first to hear it...Grandpa and I are going on a mission to Salt Lake City!" Jenna with her typical big sweet smile simply said,"Okay...and giggled."

Time to contact the rest of the unsuspecting but awaiting family... JOY!!