Opening a Mission Call, Vista Zone Specialized Training, Mormon Battalion

Monday is preparation day for the missionaries. We rarely are around the missionaries on their p-day because Glen is usually holed up for the day down the hall in his office at our home. That's how he gets his hours and hours and hours' worth of missionaries' letters read and answered.

This particular Monday was an exception to our usual rule. We joined in with the Vista zone during their p-day activity. Maybe the word should be interrupted the Vista zone during their p-day activity.

We had an exciting event that was scheduled to happen at 4 p.m. and we included the whole zone in on it. The event was the opening of a mission call. We have a 2-transfer missionary in our midst. He has high-functioning autism and was sent to our mission for a short time to see how well he could cope with being a missionary.

After all the assessment requirements were completed, the Missionary Department deemed him fit to serve a full-time mission. We were informed his mission call would arrive Monday. Glen notified his parents so his family could be there for the opening of his mission call. They live in one of the surrounding missions not too far away from here.

The elder was definitely surprised to see his family walk in. He was anxious to open the envelope and read the news of where he would be serving the remainder of his 2 years.

His mother told us he has enjoyed serving here and feels like he's made a lot of friends in this mission. She said he really has been hoping he will be called to this mission.

He said basically the same thing in his weekly letter to Glen. But, he also said he would be willing to serve wherever he is called.

Time for the big announcement. He announced he has been "called to serve HERE!" Those were his exact words. He didn't waste any effort saying the mission name. It was just "HERE!" He was very pleased. 

His family was so happy to hear the news. He leaves soon to go to the MTC to receive his official missionary training. He went on to read the instructions of arriving back in our mission on November 22nd and said matter-of-factly, "That's my birthday."

That little added tidbit of information just added to the whole experience and touched me deeply. This elder has all the heart, desire, testimony and gospel knowledge anyone would ever want to see in a missionary. He has really impressed us. What a wonderful birthday gift for him!

We were hoping he would get called to our mission. As he was flipping through his information booklet, he found our picture and showed it to us. It is picture proof he is one of ours!

I have been so proud of the beautiful orchid I have kept growing for quite a few months now. There have been numerous flowers blossoming all along the upper parts of the two stems...

...until a few weeks ago when they all started dying and falling off. One by one. By one. Until there was only one left. And then there was none. Sad!!

We had another specialized training session, this time with the Vista zone.

These new missionaries and their trainers have just had their first follow-up training meeting after being here 4 weeks.

At the end of their "First 12 Weeks" of training, we take the missionaries and their trainers to Tequila Factory for a Mexican buffet lunch. We usually get these prime tables overlooking all of Old Town San Diego.

When we have gotten our fill of food, we walk down the hill to the Mormon Battalion to take a tour.

After the tour, Elder and Sister Hemingway (the director of the historic site), join us and talk to us about how the missionaries can use the facility in their missionary efforts.

We also liken what the Mormon Battalion went through to what the missionaries are experiencing at this time in their lives and how faith in their Savior can help them in their struggles.

The group photos at the end are always fun to get as a souvenir of the visit.