Starting the process

The plan was to go on a mission. Conditions were finally right. We met with the Bishop and started the paperwork. Doctors and dentists were visited. Clearances were received. The online application was dutifully filled out. On Monday, June 3, we pushed the "submit" button and began the process.

Of course, before all that happened we had some thinking to do. I had been just a bit reluctant to sign up unconditionally; there were some things I really didn't want to do. After some prayerful consideration about why we really wanted to go on a mission, I finally reached a place in my heart where I could honestly say I was willing to serve the Lord on His terms, not mine, and would happily go wherever we were called. It should be understood that Sherrie, always more responsive and submissive to divine guidance, had no such difficulty, just a slight preference not to live in a mud hut or wear panty hose.

When the time came to answer the question about preferences, and I was ready to say we had no preferences, things changed a little. We talked to some other folks and people in the missionary department and began to feel that it wasn't enough just to sit back and wait for direction. Instead, we felt we needed to study it out in our minds, look at the missionary opportunities bulletin and try to decide for ourselves what we might enjoy and where we might best be of use. 

We should always submit our will to God's. However, ultimately we should come to the point where our will is the same as His. One of the ways we learn about God's love for us is to become parents and try to raise our own children. When my children were younger I wanted very much for them simply to obey me. They often asked, but were not really interested in the reasons why, nor was I particularly anxious always to explain. As they got older it became more important for them to choose for themselves. I wanted them to choose the right not just to please me, but because it's what they wanted.  

So we sat down together and looked through the missionary opportunities bulletin. I had perused that document many times over the past several years, but nothing ever really caught my fancy. This time, however, as we read through together with a purpose, we both felt drawn to the idea of a records preservation mission. We called the listed phone number and talked to Sister Shirley. She told us a few things about records preservation and a couple days later we had made our decision and called her back to see how to proceed. We followed her directions, pushed the button and committed ourselves.