A Day To Remember

It's here!

December 7th, 2011, will always be a day that we will remember in our family. It was the day my parents received their mission call! They submitted their papers in mid-November, but because of the Thanksgiving holiday, it was delayed and it took an extra week or two to come. They've been working on their mission papers and getting everything ready these last few months and talking about going on a mission for the last several years, but it's really here! I have been going through a lot of emotions with being excited, nervous and anxious for them. Even a few sleepless nights, weird dreams, a little worried about them and sad about a few things that might happen while they are away. But, I know that this is what they are supposed to do, how much they are needed and a little excited about this new adventure for our family!

Opening up the envelope...

The day their mission call came was the day they were flying home from Houston, Texas, from visiting my brother Matt and his family in for a week. Matt and Andrea had a sweet little baby boy, Parker, that was born on November 23rd, and they went down to see their new grandson and spend some time with them. The plane landed in Salt Lake about 5:00PM and my mom had explained to us that they had all of their mail put on hold while they were gone. Then it was going to be delivered the day they returned. What if their mission call was in that stack of mail? They've been gone for over a week and there was a good change that it could of come while they were gone!

Reading it outloud being surrounded by family and others on Skype

 I have to admit, I feel a little guilty, but I really couldn't resist...I drove up to their house after 3:00PM, knowing that the mail carrier comes to around 2 o'clock and checked they mail. Mike and the kids were with me. Sure enough in the jammed packed mailbox was a big, thick, white envelope that was addressed to Elder and Sister Dent, with the return address of the church office. It's here! We put all the mail back in their mailbox and headed home. I called my 2 sisters who live in Utah and told them to get all the kids homework done and be prepared to come up. Sure enough, we received a phone call from my Dad that after they got home they checked the mail and said that it was here. He wanted to all meet at their house at 7:30PM to open it up together.
When we got to their house, with balloons and dinner in hand. They had a laptop set up on their kitchen table that we were able to Skype with Emily in Chicago, Ryan in New Jersey, and Matt in Texas all at the same time. It was so neat to be there with them, to share this experience and open it up all together even though we are all scattered in different places. I was busy taking pictures, but listening to my dad read the familiar words... you have been found worthy.... to serve....in the ALPINE GERMAN SPEAKING MISSION! What? Really? Where is the Alpine German Speaking Mission?

This is my favorite picture...after my dad read Alpine Germany...my mom said.."Really? No.." and my Dad said pointing to the letter and said, "Yes, Carolyn it says it right there!"

After he finished reading the letter and we all took turns looking at the prophets signature, the packet of information of what to bring and when to report to the MTC, we jumped online and read all we could about their mission. These are a few things we discovered. It's a new mission created in June 2011. With the boundaries entailing the German side of Switzerland, Southern Germany (from Munich south) and all of Austria! This is great! Several years ago, my dad served his youth mission in Vienna, Austria and so we quickly realized that he will be going back to his old mission. How neat is that!?! He was able to take my mom a few years ago and so he brushed up on his German and introduced it to my mom. It was a neat experience and trip for them to take and I think it is making things a little easier for my mom to get ready to go, having already been there once as a tourist.

My mom is a little nervouse learning a new language. German is a rough and harsh language to speak, but the most wonderful part about their mission is that they have been called to serve in a Youth Center. I have never heard of these until now, but it is really and inspired idea from the church. In 2003, the church set up 5 Youth Centers in Europe. They are designed for the Young Single Adults in the church. It's a place for the youth to go, before or after work or school, a place to have FHE, insititue, parties and even a place for peace in today's crazy world. Most of these youth are the only members in their familiy and need somewhere to go for questions, support and a good enviroment to hang out, study or meet people. As of 2011, there are over 200 of these centers in Europe and my parents are going to be in charge of one of them. The church has really struggled in Europe these last few decades with many young people gettting baptized, but finding that with no support many go , going in-active, marrying non-members or so on. What a perfect mission for them! They are so great for teaching, accepting and giving support. My mom has been told to bring an apron and all her cook books because she will be doing a lot of cooking and entertaining.

Megan and Emma enjoying a night together with cousins

It's really amazing how the Lord works. Of all the several missions out there, this is absolutely perfect for them. They are going to bless many lives with their sweet testimonies, strong commitment to values and my parents are the best people to go to for advice with education, careers, family and any gospel principle. I have come to realize that we are going to be giving up our mom and dad for 18 months, but that many others in Eupore are going to be getting the best mom and dad ever, on loan of course!