We Got Our Call-Croatia/Slovenia Mission!

Yesterday was just an amazing day! After waiting for what seemed like forever.. We finally got our call. The kids, (all the ones that could be here) gathered for pizza and ice-cream sundies and then we got down to business. Phone connections were made to St.George, Philadelphia, Bahrain, and Riverdale Walmart and then we opened the letter. I guess the first thing I need to do is learn how to pronounce "Slovenia."






It was pretty much bedlam for the next couple of hours, making more phone calls, looking at maps, deciding on weather conditions in Croatia, and figuring out how we are going to get stuff done by the 16th of August!






But after all the children and grandchildren left, the house was quiet, and we had a minute to sit and read all the paperwork..I think it really sunk in. We are going half way around the world!


Grandchildren will grow up, kids will move on, and we will not be here to be a part of it or see it happen. As we contemplate that reality, we are reminded by the spirit that The Lord is in charge and He will watch over all that is precious to us and lead, guide, protect and watch over them in our absence. As excited as we are to go serve a mission...bittersweet feelings are beginning to surface as our life long goal begins to materialize.

Here are a few answers to questions we have been getting: We leave on August 16th, a little more than two months. I'm not sure how long we will be in the M.T.C. We don't need to learn a language, at least the paper work didn't mention that. We will be gone for 23 months. Our youngest daughter, Crystal wants to come with , but is going to live in our house instead. Croatia has four seasons, is located between Bosnia and the Adriatic Sea. Italy is across that Sea. If you look at a globe it is about the same distance north as Idaho. The first thing I thought of when we opened the letter was, "That's where that really cute E.R. Doctor was from on E.R." Way too much T.V.! It is a Welfare/Humanitarian Mission. Oh and the last question that we have had, When will you speak in your ward? That I don't know. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

We are feeling very blessed and humbled to have this amazing opportunity. We are sure that we will learn to love and appreciate the people in this area of the world. We look forward to serving and are thrilled to be doing so and honored be official representatives of the Church. We also feel so blessed to have the love and support of our family and friends. It will be hard to leave you all. But I am reminded by my children...we are going on a mission, and it's not forever!