Chapter 2: “Nocturnal smile”

July 2, 2021

It's difficult to say when this mission officially started... Was it the day we were called to serve as Mission Leaders by Elder Eyring last September?  Was it the day we received our assignment to AR, Bentonville Mission last December?  Or was it the day we were set-apart to do this great work by Elder Bednar 2 1/2 weeks ago. 

Perhaps it was the day we began our final training with the 1st Presidency and the 12 Apostles with 108 other Mission Leaders all bound for different destinations across the globe? Or was it the day we drove away from our son's house with all our earthly possessions packed tightly in our car? Maybe it was after we arrived in Bentonville after watching the rocky mountains give way to rolling fields of corn and soybean during our 3 day journey? Or when the outgoing leaders handed us the mission phone and all the responsibility transferred to us? 

Perhaps it started when we greeted all 230 missionaries on a mission-wide zoom the first morning and expressed our love or when we met with every office missionary, specialist team, and MP Councilor…

Whenever it occurred my internal "tuning fork" started vibrating the moment we joined the young missionaries on their teaching appointments the first night we arrived -long before a single suitcase was unloaded from the car! The experience was so exhilarating that each time I woke up through the night my cheeks were hurting from smiling in my sleep! 

Rick and I got to slog through a constant drizzle of rain and mud in new shoes, teach on small porches with sweat soaked clothes while the sound of croaking frogs and fireflies filled the night around us. Even more spectacular was listening in awe as young people, prepared and filled with faith, helped guide seekers-of-truth to feel God's love, exercise faith, and prepare to make covenants with Him.

I love this work! God is more than capable of doing His own work, but he trusts the "weak things of the world" (of which I belong) to assist Him. I can think of no greater privilege! I trust that He will eventually bless my cheeks to relax (at least through the night :) and that He will continue to allow me to testify of His Great Work!