Thursday 19 February 2009

Missionaries in the Family


We now have five missionaries from our family serving around the world. Our oldest granddaughter, Brittney, is serving in Houston, Texas. Her brother and our oldest grandson, Judd, is serving in Guatemala. Their cousin, Kyle, went into the MTC (Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah) yesterday and will be serving in Indiana. We are their grandparents and are serving in the Europe East Area living in Moscow, Russia. Another grandson, Trevor, will be going to Uruguay in May. We think this is great and hope they enjoy their mission service as much as we are enjoying ours.

Of course, their missions will be special as they will be offering the Plan of Happiness to those they find who are wanting to listen to the Gospel message and come unto Christ. There is no greater gift to offer. Our mission has been rewarding, too; as we have been involved in helping organizations devoted to helping the poor and less fortunate and bringing some happiness into their lives.



Five current missionaries, one going in May, and
twenty-three potentials.
(Our newest granddaughter was born after
this picture was taken and after we came to Russia.)


Serving a mission is voluntary, but it is certainly an opportunity to look forward to and one that brings blessings both to the missionary and to those they serve and meet. We will enjoy hearing from Brittney, Judd, Kyle, and Trevor as they share things from their missions.

It has been such a great experience for Sam and me to serve together as a senior missionary couple. I highly recommend it as the best way to spend your Golden Years, as it is often referred to for those our age. The time has gone by so fast, and it's hard to believe that our eighteen-month mission will be finished at the end of April.

How grateful I am that we have been able to serve in Russia. True, our mission is somewhat unique because there have been other senior couples in Moscow to meet together for Family Home Evenings, for struggling with the Russian language, and for exploring the city and culture on our P-days. Plus, having to leave the country every 90 days to renew our visas has taken us to interesting places that are outside of our mission. But take those benefits away, and we still have the blessing of sharing this time together as companions, being involved in humanitarian service, and associating with the members in our branch and the young Elders and Sister missionaries. It's been a wonderful opportunity.

How grateful I am for my testimony of the Savior and His atonement. I am grateful for my husband and eternal companion, for our children and their husbands and wives, and for our 29 grandchildren. I am grateful for our extended family members who bring joy into our lives. I am grateful for our friends both old and new (the new feel like we have known them for years!). I am grateful for the health we have that allows us to be here and to deal with the ice and snow. I am reminded of the hymn, "Count your blessings; - Name them one by one. - Count your many blessings; - See what God hath done."


Two daughters & husbands, five sons and wives,
eternal companions:

Counting our blessings!

2 comments:

Ian said...

Turn Russia Irish. Brilliant. Keep up the good work.

Mike and Maradel said...

You are awesome