Frustrated

As most of you know, my son, Scott, is currently serving a two year mission for our church.  He was called to serve in the Brazil Sao Paulo East Mission.

Unfortunately, on February 27th, when he was supposed to fly to Brazil, he hadn't yet received his visa.  So he went to the MTC in Provo instead.  He started learning Portuguese and enjoyed his time there.

Also unfortunately, on April 8th, when he was scheduled to leave the MTC, he hadn't yet received his visa. So he was temporarily assigned to the Colorado Denver South Mission.

He's still not in Brazil, but on July 1st his area became part of the Colorado Denver North Mission.  So he's now in his second mission and serving with his second mission president.

He's enjoying his time in Denver.  The people are wonderful and he's had some great experiences.

But Denver is not where he is supposed to be serving.  He's supposed to be serving in Brazil.  I don't understand the problem.  We submitted all of the necessary papers in late October.  That's over nine months ago.  I don't understand why it would take that long to get a visa approved.  And it's not just Scott.  There are missionaries temporarily assigned to missions all over the United States as they wait for their visas.

Usually I'm okay with this wait.  But today I'm feeling frustrated.  I want Scott to be able to serve where he was called to serve.  And I'd like it be sooner rather than later.

It's Back - One Last Time

In August of 2007 we took our oldest son, Brian, to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah.  There he began his two year mission to the Dominican Republic. While doing some last minute shopping I found this key ring:

I excitedly bought it and proudly carried it on my key ring until Brian came home in September of 2009.

I then put it away until April of 2010, when Jeffrey began his mission to Mexico.  After another two year stint on my key ring, where it got more and more faded, I took it off when Jeffrey got home in May of 2012.

Last week my youngest son, Scott, entered the MTC and began his mission to Brazil.  I dug out my Missionary Mom key ring and proudly attached it one more time.

I will happily carry it with my keys until Scott returns home from his mission in February of 2015.  By that time it may be so faded you won't even be able to read what it says.

But I'll know.

I am proud to be a Missionary's Mom.  As much as I did miss Brian and Jeffrey, and will miss Scott, there is nothing I would rather have them choose to do.

And you know what?  When I take it off my key ring when Scott comes home in two years, I will be a little sad.  Being a Missionary's Mom is wonderful, and I will be kind of sad when I don't have another child left to serve.   

One Week!

One week from today, Scott enters the MTC (Missionary Training Center) to begin his 2 year mission to Brazil.

I'm having a hard time believing he's leaving in a week.  He got his call way back in early September, so it feels like we have been waiting forever for him to leave.

And now it's almost time for him to go.

In fact, he was originally supposed to leave for the Brazil MTC on February 13th.  But they have recently shortened the time spent in the MTC from 9 to 7 weeks, so Scott's entry date was pushed back to February 27th.  Scott was pretty bummed about that.

He also had another change.  Shortly after Scott got his call, we got the packet with all of the papers that needed to be filled out for his visa.  We quickly began filling out all of the numerous papers, knowing that it takes a looooong time to get a visa to Brazil.

And then we waited.  And waited. But no visa.

Then last week the stake president called and said the Missionary Travel Department had called him and said that Scott's visa was not going to make it in time, and he would have to go to the Provo MTC instead of flying straight to Brazil.  I wasn't really surprised - I had heard that lots of missionaries were having to go to Provo first.  Scott was a little disappointed, but he's just glad to be starting his mission anywhere!

I'm trying to look at his time in Provo positively.  I'm actually using some frequent flyer miles and taking him to the MTC.  I'm glad about that.  Plus, Jeffrey recently started working in the MTC cafeteria, so they should see each other quite often.  I think that's awesome.

I'm excited that Scott is finally starting his mission.  I know he's so ready to serve the Lord, and he's going to gain so many blessings from his service in Brazil.