Mission Call

Last Sunday was ward conference and I sang in the choir and sat on the stand.  After the meeting I shook the hand of our stake president as I was exiting.  I know Pres. Anderson well as he was the stake counselor that we worked with extensively on the YSA conference we did 1-1/2 yrs ago.  He held onto my hand for a bit to slow me down and told me how much he enjoyed interviewing Connor for his mission.  "He is prepared in a way that I wish all of our young men would be.  What a great spirit he has about him!" he said.  I had to agree.  I related how he was on a club team for mens volleyball during high school (a long time love of our family).  During the first 2 years they played on Tues. and Thurs. nights which worked out well with Weds. mutual.  However in the third year when he had moved up to the top team, mutual was changed to Tues. night.  Connor's response was that he would just have to drop off the team.  I explained that different family members had missed a season of mutual during school sports and that his church leaders would understand (he was the first assistant to the bishop at the time).   His response?  "Mom, they didn't care if they were at mutual, but I do."  Lesson:  Don't argue with your kids when they want to serve in the church.   Yesterday the call came in the mail.  I sent out the text the family members: "Mission call has landed.  See you for dinner tonight."  I prepared Mexican food and everyone arrived just as the last dish was ready.  I expected Connor to open it upon arrival, but he insisted that we eat first to allow time for a few friends to gather for the opening.  We cleaned up the meal, got our cell phones ready, each calling the assigned family member, and held the cell phones close to Connor as he read, "Elder Wood... you have been called to serve... in the Boston, MA mission... reporting to the MTC on May 9.  To be honest, I was surprised.  English.  That isn't even a foreign language.  Connor is smart.  Then it hit me:  Boston- home to over 50 colleges.  The educational elite.  I was just there in Oct. and love the history of our country and the New England flair.  Connor was excited and Craig whipped out his laptop to look up facts about Boston, Massachusetts (I am NOT smart:  had to look up how to spell that), and Connecticut.  I expect this will be a tough mission, but this kid is ready for tough.  I am proud to be his mom.