It begins....

As usual I wish I had started recording sooner.  I retired in June 2014 at 62 to have time to do a mission and stay on the teacher’s group plan, only to find that it doesn't cover us outside of Alberta for more than 90 days.  I could have stayed at my school with my little guys and Becky for a couple of more years…WHO KNEW!!

We went through the application process with a desire to serve in a more physical role than proselyting and in a foreign land but still speak English.  Joel spoke so fondly of his mission in Naga and of the Filipino people that we did all we could to be called there.   The medical process took several weeks longer than we thought.  The church wants to be sure you are in good shape and the doctors left no stone unturned!!  That delayed our call but…WHO KNEW! 

Finally we got the exciting news that we both got called to the same mission and it is in Naga, Philippines.  Shortly following the festive celebration of our good luck came the news that we would be required to learn Tagalog, but…WHO KNEW!

It has been a frantic experience getting ready to leave the farm, family, livestock and home while studying a language.  Very thankfully, we have been supported by a world class family who have accommodated our needs and made it possible to get things ready for our departure.  I feel so guilty leaving Mike and Becky responsible for so much of our financial business but Mike just keeps saying, “I will do whatever you need.  I am here to help.”  We are so fortunate. 

Not everything has gone smoothly and it has been more expense than we anticipated but it will be worth it.  Just when I think I have more than I can deal with in terms of things going wrong and requiring more time, finances and patience, something miraculous happens.  Case in point:  Because our SUV has been in the body shop for hail damage repairs, we have relied on the truck and Jeep.  Our intention was to sell the truck and park the Jeep but we needed the truck to get around southern Alberta to conduct business.  We left the sale to the last week but Dan took pictures of it covered in ice and mud, listed it on Kijiji Monday morning and made a deal with a guy from Ontario before noon.  Dan did insist that the guy see better pictures (my honest son) but the money was in our account before Monday evening.  We got what we hoped to get.  I delivered our truck to a semi in Brooks who loaded it and took it to Ontario.  Is that not amazing!  It was a great truck and I will miss the Duramax power but those things are replaceable. 

Tammy Miller is leasing Valerie’s full blood flock of sheep so Valerie is relieved they will be cared for.  She also found a good home on a sheep ranch on Willow Creek near Claresholm for her two Pyrenees dogs.  It is strange having a ranch with no livestock!!  Valerie still has 7 female lamas from her herd.  They are the females she raised from birth over the years.  Chelsey’s war-torn Maverick is still here, Roycen has two 4-H sheep, a barn full of kittens and a flock of ducks and chickens so it is pretty quiet.  Valerie’s sister, Tami has taken the lama studs.  Brian and Mirium Petersen are living in the house and taking care of the yard etc.  This is just a short list of all who have helped us prepare.  We are so blessed for amazing friends and family who make this experience possible for us.  Thank you all. Elder Mark