After a 5 week wait, our call finally arrived. We were hoping that the call would come last week. Out of curiosity, I had texted the Bishop and asked him if he know if the call had been assigned. I was a little disappointed when he replied, "No assignment as of today." Oh well, what's another week's wait? Then the next day as we were driving home from the final leg of our California trip, I was reading an article out of the Ensign to Lynn as he drove. All of a sudden, the Spirit told me that the call wouldn't come this week because Clint was working out of town, and he needed to be there when we opened the call to feel the Spirit of the call. I felt at peace, because I knew that was so. The following Sunday, the Bishop told Lynn the call had been assigned, so we would be receiving it this week. We thought it would come either Wednesday or Thursday. We were a little disappointed when it didn't come, because Clint would be out of town again and would't be there. A couple of the other kids wouldn't be able to make it as well. After resorting to the fact that our call wouldn't come until next week, we were surprised when we receiveded a phone call from the Post Office at 6:45a.m. on Friday, that our call was here! After we picked ourselves up off the floor, we began texting the kids that the plans were on to open the call that evening about 6:00. Naturally everyone had to alter their Friday night plans, (even a kid birthday party, which would now be held at Gram's instead of their house. Oh well, the more the merrier!)
All day I felt like a little kid on Christmas Eve, waiting for Santa to come. "What would he bring?--What is in this big white envelope?--Where will we go?" I hurried around the house doing the Friday cleaning, watching the clock, waiting for the 6:00 hour when family would arrive and we could at last open our call. Lynn had the camera set up. The computer was set up to skype so our far away kids could still be a part of it, and Jason had things set up so that those who didn't have skype could watch over the computer and listen over the phone as all the excitement took place.
Before opening our call, the excitement finally got the best of me. When you're excited you just have to dance, right? Well a jig or two always makes everything more fun! After all, we've waited a long time for this!
Lynn was thrilled that his camera was all set up ready to catch the action. Perfect way to start the evening!
Way too much fun!
The envelope is open! The first thing we found was the "Missionary Bible" The complete booklet to let you know everything you'll need to know to be ready for this great experience.
Lynn and I each received our own letters. We started to read.."Dear Elder Baxter--Dear Sister Baxter-- My eyes skipped across the line to see "South Africa, Johannesburg Mission." I became speechless! We both became very emotional. It took me several seconds to be able to even talk. Lynn finally said, "Are going to be able to spit it out?"
I was finally able to speak through lots of tears of emotion. We were both totally astonished, excited and humbled by the call. I knew for sure that this was where we were supposed to go, because the Spirit had told me 2 days before that we would be teaching these people, we just didn't know where. Add to that the fact that my granddaughter, Shantel had a received a call to this same mission about a year ago and was prepared to go, until her best friend proposed to her a month before she was to leave. Needless to say, she chose to become a bride. We were touched to think that there must be someone our family was to teach, and we now get that opportunity!
Tender hearted Crew just had to give teary eyed gram a hug, even if it was through the computer!
So so sweet!
To top it all off, our departure date was exactly the same day we said we were available--Sept. 3.
We are really excited. Only 11 weeks to get ready!
Just can't hardly believe it!!!!
