This past Wednesday the girls spent much of the morning dashing in and out of the house to see if the mail was here yet. You see, we've been waiting for Benjamin's mission call. Here where we live, mission calls almost always arrive on Wednesdays, and we had calculated that this would be the Wednesday that his would arrive.
When the mail truck arrived we weren't disappointed. I'll be the first to admit that I ran, not walked, out to the mailbox right along with my girls. Benjamin was still at ballroom class at the high school, so we brought it in the house and texted him right away to let him know that it had arrived.
We had decided that he would wait until Thursday night, later in the evening, so that family and friends could be here. Thank goodness for cell phones and skype. We were able to include family that lives too far away to come to the house.
We let everyone here make their guesses as to where he would be going. Even David got to point on a map and make a guess. Then the time finally arrived. I was standing next to him and the anticipation was killing me. I looked over at the paper he pulled out of the envelope and ahhhh…totally unintentionally, I saw two words. I couldn't believe I had "peeked" before my son had even had a chance to read the letter out loud. He forgave me though!! He even admitted that he saw the name of the mission before he read it out loud.
He will be serving in the Albuquerque, New Mexico mission and will leave before the end of July. I am so proud of him and his desire to serve. By the way, Emily was spot on with her guess. She picked New Mexico.
A year and a half ago our family had just got comfy in the basement ready to watch General Conference on television. President Monson got up to welcome us all to conference, and in that very first address, astounded us with an announcement.
"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18 instead of age 19. I am not suggesting that all young men will - or should - serve at this earlier age. Rather, based on individual circumstances as well as upon a determination by priesthood leaders, this option is now available." (October 2012 General Conference)
At the time, Kyle was 18 and hadn't even started on getting his mission papers ready. But by the end of the session the Holy Ghost had confirmed to him that he should begin immediately and put his availability date as immediately. He entered the MTC less than a month before his 19th birthday, and celebrated his 19th birthday in England, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The age change actually affected our family in quite a big way. Our first five children were boys. Because of the two year age gaps between each of the first three boys, we knew that their missions would come one right after the other, but we didn't figure there would be any overlap. With our boys choosing to leave younger that has not shown to be the case. By the time Kyle comes home it will have been four years since he has seen his older brother Brandon. By the time Benjamin comes home it will have been three years since Kyle and Benjamin have seen each other. Kyle missed the birth of David by less than a couple of months and will be almost two years old when Kyle comes home. Summer of 2016 will be quite a reunion year for us. We will all be together on this earth for the very first time. That will be a momentous day…definitely a day for a family picture
But the sacrifices of not being together as a family are small when we think of the blessings that missionary service brings to our sons, our family, and to the lives of those they teach. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and brings peace and joy to our lives. I am grateful for children who want to give two years of their lives to share it with others around the globe.
President Thomas S. Monson has said:
“Every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much. Young men, I admonish you to prepare for service as a missionary” (“As We Meet Together Again,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 5–6).
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