a few changes for the bunker-cru

BIG NEWS FROM OUR HOUSE: Jon has been called to serve as a mission president and I have been called as his companion for the next three years! We are to report to the MTC on June 24th, receive instruction for three days and be at our mission on July 1, 2009. (when our official letter came it said he was called to preside over a Spanish-speaking mission. YIKES! who speaks Spanish?)

I will try to explain and answer as many questions as I can in the next few paragraphs. This may take three days to read but remember it is my journal!

When will we know where we are going to be?
President Eyring told us by the middle of February. The booklet that came later says some time in March.

When did we know? What is the process?
About a year and a half ago, Jon had an interview with Elder Anderson. He was the authority that released Jon when our stake presidency was re-organized. There were lots of men there to be interviewed. I was on my way to the ranch, and remember getting the phone call from him. He was quite sure nothing would come of the interview.

Then in September, Sherry buzzed him and told him Dallin Oaks was on the line. He started to laugh and said, "it's probably Bickmore." Sherry said, "it didn't sound like Bickmore." Luckily Jon didn't answer the phone in some sarcastic way like he wanted to, because it really was Elder Oaks on the line. He came home from work early that day and (shockingly) I was in the kitchen making dinner. He came over and sat down right in front of me at the bar and just looked at me. It took me a minute to figure out he was trying to tell me something with those eyes. I said, "you quit your job?" Aren't I in tune?

Anyway, we met with Elder Oaks in a church in Provo, across the parking lot from BYU's football stadium on September 21st. We talked with him for about an hour. He told us he was looking for red lights, or reasons why we wouldn't be able to serve. We talked about each one of our children, our parents, Jon's work, our finances, and our health. The only questions about our worthiness were if we each held a current temple recommend and if we had ever done anything to embarrass the church. That was a little difficult to answer...high school? last week?

What was Elder Oaks like?
He really was so kind! He made us both feel very comfortable, very quickly. He shared a couple of very personal experiences with us, and the whole visit was such an amazing experience. He told us at the end of our discussion that either a member of the First Presidency would call us or he would, by Christmas, to let us know if we would be called or not. He told us that they talk to about three times as many people as are called, so not to worry, our chances were three to one. Then he took us outside to meet his wife. Just like we were old friends!

After that, we had some doctor and dental forms to get filled out and sent in, and then we waited. I had convinced myself that it wasn't going to happen this year by the time Jon told me we were to have a video conference with President Eyring!

He received a call from President Eyring's assistant on Wednesday, December 3rd to set up a time for the video conference. The day after his 50th birthday. I was having a crazy week, so at dinner Saturday night, he said, "I've been waiting to tell you this until things slowed down a little, but I'm sort of out of time...". We went to an office building Monday morning, December 8, 2008 and got to talk with President Eyring. Two prophets, seers and revelators in three months. I know what a blessing that alone has been! President Eyring is sweet, gentle, humble, funny, powerful and emotional. I felt connected to him immediately:). He would be laughing one minute and crying the next. We visited with him for about forty five minutes. We shared our worries and concerns and he gave us some really great advise, and then he laughed and said, "you probably won't remember a word I've said to you this morning." (WRONG!)

Anyway, one of the sweetest things he said was, how different Jon will find the missionaries today as compared to when he served his mission. In all seriousness and with great power, he told us that when they raised the bar, it really happened. 80 to 90 percent of our missionaries could be called to leadership positions within the Church right now. That they will do anything their President asks of them. And then he laughed and said, "but you will have a few problems too." We left the office building sort of in a fog. I had been called to serve as a full-time missionary for three years. I still have no idea exactly what that means.

How did we tell the kids? How did they react?
September 21st is Kristen's birthday. So when I was leaving town for the day, and it was her birthday, I felt like I needed a pretty good reason. I told her about our first interview with Elder Oaks before it happened. Mind you, this was three weeks before Beau was born, things were pretty emotional in her life at that time, and she pretty much fell apart. I decided right then that I wouldn't tell anyone else until I was sure we were going. Jon told Tod about our first interview while they were at the round-up, but the rest of them didn't find out anything until that night. Actually, he told Sadie at work. I can't believe she held it together until she got home, but he assured me Sadie was good when he told her in his office. That night there were many questions and tears, except Megan! She was ALL SMILES, and very happy and excited! Mike reacted the same way too. His first question was, "Can Tod and I go tracking together when we come to visit?", and "What can we do to help?" Tod is full of helpful information and advise. Yesterday when he wanted us to start only praying in Spanish I about smacked him though. I know more German than I do Spanish. Everyone is adjusting to the news now, I think. I'm sure we're in for one more jolt when we find out where we will be.

The house?
We won't sell it. I don't know more than that yet.

Who will come with us?
Hailey for sure! The rest will have to make up their minds...pray about it...see what's best for them.

What if someone gets married?
Jon can't leave the mission. So we're hoping whoever they marry might be willing to come to Costa Rica?, or wherever the closest temple is!

What am I most excited about?
Getting to know the elders and sisters that we will be serving with! I'm counting on them being as wonderful as the missionaries I know, who are serving from our ward! That gives me a great feeling...I have to keep concentrating on them!

I feel a little brain dead. I know there were lots of things I thought I should write, but I'm done for now. If you have any questions I didn't answer, you could ask and I could answer more later. I just wanted everyone to know.

We are humbled and feel very inadequate, but have great faith that the Lord will make up the difference. There are many details to work out...the feeling keeps coming - everything will be ok! I'm holding on to that!