It takes a lot of effort to get a missionary ready to go for 2 years-and to fit it into 3 suitcases! We did it and managed to pack it and be ready at least 6 hours before we left for the airport!
The evening before he left Monday August 12, President Kyle Christensen came to our house to set him apart (give him a special priesthood blessing) as a missionary. He shared a scripture about Elijah calling Elisha to his special calling. He was plowing in his field when the call came. Elijah asked to kiss his mother and father goodbye, then he killed his oxen and burned the plow, cooking the oxen and feeding it to his family. He used the story to talk about how Elisha didn't look back, he set his affairs in order, and gave a hundred percent to the Lord. His focus from there out was on his calling as a prophet. We all found the scripture instructional, inspiring and applicable. After that I asked Collin if he would play the John Schmidtt arrangement of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" on the piano. I felt that it would set the tone before his blessing. He did, and it was beautiful and very touching. The blessing he received setting him apart as a full time missionary was wonderful. We felt such peace and assurance that all was well, and that Collin will be a wonderful servant of the Lord.
The next morning began very early for Collin-at about 3:30 AM. We got him to the airport around 5 for his 7:02 AM flight to Houston and then on to Mexico City. Before we left we gathered in family prayer, and Quin expressed much gratitude for Collin and this wonderful opportunity he has to serve. He asked for a blessing of protection, and for a keen mind to learn and study well at the MTC, and that he might be blessed with the gift of tongues. The spirit we felt was very special, and though our hearts were aching, we felt peace that Heavenly Father was endorsing this decision, and he had truly called him to the work.As we drove to the airport we asked him what scripture he had decided to have engraved on the plaque that will hang in the case at the church while he is gone. That scripture I've included on this blog. Quin gave him words of encouragement and I had a few thoughts that I will share here as if I was talking to him.
"I feel like a mission is the most significant 2 year period in a man's life. As you leave, it's as if you are taking with you an empty suitcase. Over the next 2 years you will stuff it full of experiences that will be significant your whole life. These experiences you will share with your wife, your children and grandchildren, your priest quorum, teachers and deacons quorums that you lead, your ward, and your friends. These experiences will define who you are, and will be a great strength to you in years to come. This is so exciting."I don't remember the other words we said exactly, but we also felt this sentiment:
The timing of this mission is significant too. I'm sure that there are people in Arizona that are ready to hear the gospel from you. You are significant in their lives, and you will be able to connect with them in a unique way suited to you. Forget your self, don't look back, obey all the mission rules, get lost in the work.
We arrived at a busy airport, and per Collin's request we unloaded the bags from the car, and said our goodbyes on the curb. He said he was ready to go, and honestly, none of us wanted to drag out the goodbyes anymore. He had been saying good bye since Sunday, one or 2 siblings at a time, until it was just Anna and the parents. He had a big smile on his face, we said God speed, and he was off.We saved most of our tears for the drive home, spent the day watching the clock and thinking about the different points of the journey. At the end of the day we ate Mexican food and went to a movie to get our minds of things! THEN when we got home we discovered an email from Collin. We wept for joy. All was well. We were able to go to sleep knowing he had arrived, and not only had he arrived, but he had truly started his mission.
Now it's time to post Collin's letters.
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