Stress

If moving was just packing a suitcase, or some boxes it would be so simple!  Preparing for a mission as a Senior Missionary takes on other aspects a person never dreams of, like where to store all of your "stuff," and getting all of your bills online, or making sure your taxes are ready for someone else to do.  We keep reminding ourselves of our blessings, and working through all of the silly little bumps in the road.  I read somewhere that when we go we need to have pictures of our family with us, because when we are there we are ambassadors representing our family in a way.  I think that is a wonderful thought, because wherever we are or whatever we are doing we are representing so many things, concepts and people.

Earthly Possessions, "things"

We unknowingly get attached to so many things!  Since we need to downsize as much as possible for storage it means selling, giving away or loaning out as much as possible.  I almost felt silly today when I had separation anxiety from my "things" that are going in storage or elsewhere.  How many things we let clutter our lives till they in a way take over, and it happens so slowly we don't even realize the impact.  Simplifying on demand is perhaps important surgery for me this week, but as in all surgery - it is a little painful. The thought of seeing all of my children is the next couple of months is very exciting, at the same time I can't imagine not communicating with them on a daily basis while we are gone.  The fate of the house in Conway is still up in the air; will it sell, or perhaps rent?  Not knowing is definitely another large test of faith.  Obviously a very difficult day.  On the other hand we are so blessed!  We spent Saturday in the Temple in Memphis, and we have both been working hard on our Q'eqchi' and Spanish.  Learning, remembering that one step at a time is all we are required to take.   

Preparing to serve

We have received our Mission Call to Guatemala City North Mission in Guatemala.  We report 14th of NOvember to the MTC in Provo Utah where we will be for one week.  Brother Spradlin is working hard with an online tutor in Spanish and I am struggling away with Q'eqchi' (indigenous language spoken in part of our mission area).  We are very busy discarding, selling, loaning out and packing everything for storage for our leave date from here in Arkansas.    Chris Moline and his family will be leasing our home here in El Dorado and we are very grateful to have such wonderful people here!  We hope to leave and head west between the 6-7 of September.  Stops planned in Colorado with Tina and my brothers Johnny and Jerry, even the possibility of a get together with all of my brothers!  Next stop will then be to see Amber at BYU, then up to spend a month with Natalie and Marion before we report.