Grandma and Grandpa are going away on a mission

My parents got their mission call to the Sierra Leone, Freetown mission (Africa) Wow! They leave on March 8th. I am so proud of them and will miss them like crazy but I'm so excited to hear all of their incredible experiences. This is from my Relief Society lesson:

After years of hard work in their individual careers, my parents were able to retire about 3 years ago. Life was getting really good for them…

-After years of being scattered all over the country, within the last 2 years, my six siblings have all returned to Utah with the exception of one brother in Montana.

-They have 21, almost 22 grandchildren, ages 10 and under. Three of them were born this year and one is due in a few weeks.

-My sister is a flight attendant for a major airline and they can fly anywhere for free or close to free. They have really utilized this benefit. They are serious partiers.

-They love to go four-wheeling and snow-mobiling and have a group of friends that they go on four-wheeling and snow-mobiling trips with regularly.

-A few years ago, they bought some property in central Utah and my dad has been busy clearing the land and drawing up plans for their dream cabin.

-On a side note… my mom doesn’t eat red meat, chicken or pork.

So, we met at my parent’s home a week ago Saturday night. With my siblings and I clutching our cam-corders and most of the grandchildren sitting on the floor with upturned faces, I listened to my mom read, with tears in her eyes, that they had been called to serve in the Sierra Leone, Freetown mission. As I heard my mom exclaim, “I don’t even know where that is,” and my brother going to fetch the globe, I thought “Why are they doing this?”

What on earth would make them leave their comfortable home and life and everything that they hold dear and put their fate and faith in a higher power for the next year and a half of their lives?

-Maybe it’s the prospect of not wearing nylons for 18 months.

-Maybe it’s BECAUSE they have 21, almost 22 grandchildren ages 10 and under.

-Maybe it’s because my mom is really anxious to see what culinary treats and mystery meats another country has to offer.

Maybe… but it’s not very likely. I thought a lot about it and the only reason I could come up with is that it’s true! As Job said, it is written upon their hearts as with an iron pen.