Witnessing A Lifelong Dream Come True

My parents are two of the greatest people I know. I know I may be a bit biased, but I think there are many many others who would agree with me. Not only do they excel at what they do career wise (my mom is an elementary school teacher....which in and of itself is a labor of love, and my dad does Human Resources and has helped hundreds of people get good stable jobs), but they love people. I think mostly, they love our Heavenly Father, so for them doing things for people just comes naturally. I know there are several people whom they have helped, and those people don't even know it. Truly, my mom and dad are wonderful, good hearted people inside and out.

Ever since I was a little girl, and I mean I was little--maybe 4 or 5 years old, I have heard my mom and dad talk about how one day they were going to serve a mission together. It has always been a dream of theirs. My mom served a mission to British Columbia Canada when she was younger, but my dad is a convert to the church and never had the opportunity. He has been looking forward to serving a mission for the church since the day he was baptized I think!

I remember when I left on my mission. Parents were still allowed at the MTC then, and I remember after watching the video they show my dad looking over at me a little teary (which doesn't happen often!) and he said "April, you are so lucky. You get to serve the Lord as a missionary." I knew then that going on a mission was truly one of the greatest desires of their hearts.

Well, yesterday, this much anticipated event became a reality. My mom and dad got their mission call! I have to admit, ever since their papers went in, I have been hoping and praying that they wouldn't leave until November so they could be here when our baby is born. I know that is SO SO selfish of me because they have put this mission off several years already. My grandmother had to go and live with my parents a few years ago, which made it impossible for them to go on a mission. She passed away last July.

Now, my parents are very smart people, with a lot to offer. I would have guessed they would be sent maybe to work with the Native Americans or something. My dad could offer job skills, etc and my mom could help teach the children. Something like that, I totally could see. I NEVER NEVER in a million years would have guess that they would be sent to......

The Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission

Mongolia! Seriously?! That's like the place you joke your are going to send your wayward teenager to!




They have been called to be CES missionaries working specifically in Darhan Mongolia (which is quite literally "Outer Mongolia") right next to the Russian boarder.


(if you click on the picture, you can see where Darhan is)

They report to the MTC August 9---just 2 months before our baby is due. I was so so sad about that, but then I realized, this is truly my parents Lifelong Dream. It's finally coming true for them. They get to do what they love the most....serve the Lord!

I am so happy for them. I still can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that they are going to Mongolia. To be honest, no matter where they would have been sent, I am going to miss them. And, my little Gracie is going to miss them! She LOVES LOVES LOVES her Bubby and Grandpa. But, despite our little bit of sadness right now, we are so Proud of them. They will be wonderful missionaries, and I know they will have great influence on the people they work with!

LOOK OUT MONGOLIA--YOU ARE ABOUT THE LUCKIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD--GETTING THE TWO GREATEST PEOPLE FOR 18 WHOLE MONTHS!