My oldest boy got a big white envelope in the mail yesterday containing a mission call!! That envelope totally changed the rest of my day in a happy way. If you are reading this you are most likely a genealogist and understand when I say I had some chores to do before the crowd arrived. 😉
We had a map for everyone to guess where he might be going. After everyone had arrived (lots and lots and lots of kids and some family members and neighbors) we called all the grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles that wanted to be on speaker phone and he opened his call.
My oldest son, that little 2 lb. 8 1/2 ounce baby, is going to spend two years in the Columbia, South Carolina Mission. He will be teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and serving the people of South Carolina. He reports to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on August 17th.
I do not know how to express my joy. So many happy feels at my house!
If you are curious about what an LDS missionary does, this short video gives a great, basic explanation.
If you are curious about what Mormons believe you can learn a little bit here.
Wish him all the best from me.
Thank you!!
Congratulations! And thanks for the video links—now I will know more about the missions. And I hate to admit this, but when I saw Columbia, SC, I thought, “Hmm, maybe I can ask Amberly to convince her son to go digging for information about Charles Hamberg and his family.” 🙂
Thank you Amy! I am laughing out loud about Charles Hamberg. I can not picture my kiddo doing research. That is the funniest mental image because he spends every second he can on the basketball court and has almost zero interest in genealogy. Getting him to go dig through records for you would be quite a feat!! But who knows? Maybe after a while in the mission field he will be up for the challenge. Where in SC was Charles?
LOL! Columbia! That’s where his wife was murdered in 1866, where his son was born in 1868, where his second wife died in 1877, and where he killed himself in 1879. Maybe your son will find a murder and a suicide more intriguing! 🙂
I bet he would!! I’ll try to start laying the groundwork for you. No promises though. Now if you were interested in photos of every outdoor basketball court in Columbia, that I could promise and deliver in record time. 🙂
I really am just kidding…but if he is interested…
I know you are. But if I can get him to help out I will!
Thanks!
Best wishes for your son’s success in teaching and learning from his students, too.
Thank you EmilyAnn!
Exciting times! Have fun shopping for suits, white shirts, etc. I know you’ve probably already thought to do this (since you’re a family historian)…but be sure to print out all of his emails and put them in a binder (for future generations). Such a great thing to get those weekly emails! Congrats!
Thank you! We are so excited. Thanks for the tip. I have thought of it, in fact I did it when my brother was on a mission. But it’s always good to have a reminder. 🙂
Oh Amberly; what a wonderful, exciting new chapter to have begun in your lives. And how fantastic to have so many family members around for “the big reveal.” 🙂
Thank you Su, it is all so exciting!! 🙂
Congratulations! He will be serving in the same mission where my in laws live. It’s beautiful.
Thank you Jen! We are excited. We’ve looked at pictures, it seems really beautiful and so perfect for his personality and interests. 🙂
What a happy and exciting time for you all. He has my congratulations and well wishes. You’ve put together a fabulous post! 🙂
Thank you Linda! We are all very excited.
Congrats!
Thank you!