I Hope They Call Me On a Mission!

     Oh, the joy of telephone conferencing when a fat oversized white envelope is about to be opened!  There was Mom, silently speed-reading ahead on the paper signed by Pres. Thomas S. Monson (in blue ink) and leaving all of us in her wake - even Dad!  She always has been one to need to know every detail - even if we are left behind!  She was crying before we could hear an audible - "Oh, my goodness!" BUT - that was a:  GIVEN!  It took some prompting from Dad - "So, where is it?" - before we heard the cracked and happy teared voice of Mom say:  Ireland, Dublin! ! ! ! ! ! !  Nobody predicted that one!  Mom came in as the closest 'guesser' having picked Scotland.  At least as far as I know.  

So off to the Emerald Isle they go!  I am so happy for them!  Mom asked, "Do they speak English?"  I replied, "Yes, but you won't understand it!"  

And to think that Fotu spent so much time trying to find an island that spoke English to put down as his mission "guess!"  Oh, how could he miss such an island?  

     You should hear Seneti say, "Dubin!  I-an!"  It is the cutest thing!  She asked, "Can I come with 'em peez?  OK?"     

     Wow Dad!  You have really outdone yourself now!  Taking Mom on an 18 month Island cruise sounds like you are treating her like your queen for sure!  And you didn't even tip her upside down this time!  I hope you meet some amazing people who are ready to receive the gospel message!  I hope you cherish every day that you have together while serving there!  The people I know who have served there LOVED IT DEARLY!  We will miss you, but are so excited for you!

Called to Serve Him!  I have a twinge of jealousy in my soul?  Oh, how I would love to serve an official mission again!  I'm looking forward to the day!  

     While I'm waiting on that day, I better enjoy the mission I'm serving right now!  I help run an MTC!  It just happens to be family style!  Crazy, wild and certainly unorganized, but MTC non the less!  I've got work to do, to be better at the work there is to do in that regard!   

     Tonight for Mutual, we had the theme of Missionary Preparation.  I was asked to teach the youth about leading music.  Oh, the flood of memories that come back to me!  Music and mission go hand in hand for me!  Who would have ever known that I would need to play music so difficult that it would be beyond my ability and make Joe and Misha stretch their skill.  The music still needed to be played, so we pooled our resources and came up with a plan.  It was called the Treble Clef - Bass Clef duet with the four hands and minimum skills of Hna. Hatch and Hna. Everett.  We got by without anyone knowing it wasn't supposed to be that way! (Except our mission president.)  It sounded like it was supposed to in the end!

     That reminds me of the time Dad told our family that he had lead the music while Mom played the piano while on their mission in Australia and Fotu burst out laughing so hard he was ready to split a gut!  Only those who know Dad's musical ability would understand the joke!  Can you even imagine!  LOL for sure!

     I distinctly remember being asked by Pres. Pratt if I would like to do my mission over.  I told him, "No way!  But, I would give anything to keep on going from here!"  I didn't want to go home!  I was allowed to extend one transfer and I cherished every moment!  

     I hope this is a mission to cherish for Dad and Mom!  

     "Grandma and Grandpa are going away on a mission!"  Can you think of anything more exciting?