Our daughter Morgan is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – aka the LDS Church. We are not and I never have been.
They send kids on mission. 2 years for the boys and 18 months for the girls. The mission purpose, I’ve learned, is to get more members into the church. They do this by going door to door talking to people and I think they give bibles out too.
(As a side note: if you are ever visited by a Missionary please offer them water, at least. You don’t have to listen to them – but know they are all really nice kids and it is likely they are thirsty.)
She “signed up” for this task early this year, followed all of the rules and guidelines, had all of her Bishop Interviews and was accepted. That was in July I think. We would know where her mission would take her in September and have a few days to spend with her before she took off for 18 straight months.
I’m not LDS. All I’ve learned about LDS has been from my husband (who served as a Missionary in Guatemala for two years when he was 19), Amanda (Shoemaker) and Morgan.
I was VERY against this idea for Morgan. More scared than anything else. It all sounded like a part of my life I would hope to avoid and DEFINITELY not put my daughter or son through.
We will not be able to speak to Morgan during this 18 months. At first I was told there would be a call on Mother’s Day (to her mother, not me I assume) and Christmas.
Being a good Libra, that was immediately and easily noticably UNFAIR to Randy – her father. Why not Father’s Day?!
But it is not my place to boss the LDS church and I have no idea why that would be the way it is. Add this non-nonsensical idea to the mountain of them that seems to be a part of every organized group (church, business, team…anything requiring “rules”).
Monday is the day we get an email from Morgan!
We hover around our computers all morning looking forward to the latest installment of her adventure.
I sent her off with a personal note telling her a bit more about what happened to me, just to get her to see what can happen when you allow someone to be the boss of your destiny.
She’s old enough to have some real-world experience and has had the taste of freedom to roam earth.
It’s Monday December 21st, 8:05am.
Vegan Pumkin/Pecan muffins just out of the oven and we’re ready to be dazzled soon.
Sarita Shoemaker 