Handwritten letter arrives ...

On Wednesday the postman brought a letter from the President and Sister Miles. Enclosed was a handwritten letter from Elder Robertson which he had written the first day he arrived in the mission home.  =)

I'm grateful that the Mission President and his wife are so thoughtful towards the parents of the missionaries in their care.  They understand that we enjoy both contact and information and they take the time to communicate with our family.  I also appreciate them telling me how wonderful he is and that they had a great interview with him.  That is music to a mother's ears!

A friend of the family who isn't a member of the church, was asking about Jacob's mission and if I was worried about sending him off and not seeing him for two years.  Although I will and do miss him terribly,  him being away from home leaves a gaping whole in our family, I don't feel worried about him.  I do feel immensely grateful that I am not 'worried' and explained to her that it is very different sending out a missionary to sending them out into the world back packing for example.  As Jacob serves as a missionary he will have a companion with him at all times (as do all of the other missionaries).  Extended from that he is in a 'district' reporting to a district leader. That district is part of a zone and is lead by zone leaders.  These zone leaders work with the assistants to the Mission President.  The Mission President and his wife work vigilantly to take care of each of the serving missionaries, taking care of them both spiritually and physically.  So knowing he is watched over by a loving Heavenly Father, along with fellow missionaries and has a wonderful Mission President and wife, I am full of gratitude for the young man he is and the choice he has made to serve The Lord and the fantastic opportunities and experiences he will have both spirituality and temporally.

Part of President Miles' letter reads "We are grateful to have Elder Robertson in our mission. The new missionaries always bring with them a wonderful spirit.  Please know that we will watch over him with great concern.  We expect that he will serve our Father in Heaven valiantly."

Love this saying ...

Jacob's letter was addressed to all of us, he shares his excitement to serve and gives some advice to his brothers about serving also.  There really is something different about pen to paper and soaking in those words.  He will get emails on Mondays but will also get a hand written letter from me during each week.

Sunday is Mother's Day.  On Mother's day the missionaries are allowed to call or skype home to their families. You can imagine how excited I am to Skype and see him in his badge 'in person'!  A wonderful friend, who is also a missionary mum has given me some great ideas for our Skype. EXCITED!! .....