Excerpts from an email conversation between a Missionary and his Mom:


My Darling Boy,

I loved Skyping and talking with you on the phone on my birthday / Mother’s Day.  You looked handsome, mature, and cheerful.  It did my heart good to see you smile so freely.  I feel immensely grateful that you are doing better, and I know a big part of that is because you are currently with Elder Oakey.  Please give Elder Oakey our love and thank him for his friendship to you.  He is an answer to my prayers, as your adoring and concerned mother.

I am grateful to know that Heavenly Father loves you more than I do, so I can always trust that you are in His hands as you serve Him on this mission.  He is great and good and I am thankful to know Him through prayer and service.

You are precious to me and I am absolutely thrilled that you continue to serve the Lord each day, even when things are so difficult for you.  I read your patriarchal blessing again this morning and felt comforted by the beautiful words of your blessing.  I know that the Lord is shaping you to better serve Him and your future family.  It is a blessing to know that each trial and challenge is for your temporal and spiritual growth.  Thankfully, none of it is going to waste.  It is amazing to watch your life unfold before my eyes.  While it has not always been perfectly easy, it has always been perfectly wonderful to be your mother.

You are my angel boy and I love you more than words can tell.  Have a beautiful day with your friend, content in the knowledge that your whole family thinks the world of you.

Hugs and kisses,
Mom



Mommy!

I adored Skyping and talking on the phone as well.  What a treat it is to see my family and discover that they’re doing well.  Elder Oakey is definitely a blessing and strength for me.  I’m hoping and praying that I get to stay with him for a while.

I did enjoy talking to you all as much as you seemed to enjoy talking to me.  It was a wonderful opportunity to communicate in such an immediate way.  I’m glad that my countenance pleased you.  I’m very glad that my present situation makes it easier for me to smile and live happily.

You’re really a strength and role model for me.  I look forward to celebrating your next birthday in person next year (although a bit belated)! I love you completely and am incredibly grateful for all you’ve done for me.

Love you forever,
Jesse

Monday was a very exciting day! After emails we headed over to one of our member’s houses to learn how to pole vault. Who woulda thought that I’d ever get the opportunity to do that? Elder Oakey and I spent two hours honing our skills with a fourteen-foot pole. We both were able to clear an eight-foot-high barrier by the end of our training.

We went on exchanges with the zone leaders last Wednesday which was the impetus for some deep pondering. Elder Talbot was the zone leader who stayed with me in Overton. We finished up our nightly work at about 8:30 pm, then we spent forty minutes talking in a parked car. He gave me a lot of information to chew on. He and I are really similar so he was able to give me legitimate advice that sparked many ideas of my own.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were almost completely dedicated to our investigator, Dawn. She’s progressing very well. If all goes according to plan, she’ll be baptized on May 19th. I’m super glad to have met her family.

On Sunday, Matt was confirmed a member of the Church and received the Holy Ghost. Sweet! We stood in the circle and Bishop Brown was the voice. Matt’s a super cool kid (I included a photo of him with this blog post). The ward is lucky to have him.

That’s about all I’ve got for the week! I hope you all are doing well and are continuing onward. Life is honestly good even though things can get rough. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?

Yours forever,
Elder Jesse Millar