To say the least, we are NOT patient people.
After pushing the send button on our papers we have learned alot about the process and emotions that can be sent coursing through your mind. The process part is that when we pushed the button, it then goes to the Bishop. And being the controlling, NOT patient people that we are, we immediately begin hounding the poor Bishop. "Did you get it? Did you get it?", "Diddya, Diddya, huh, huh, huh?" He then has to add his comments and forward it on to the Stake President. And no, we didn't hound THAT poor man..... we bothered his Executive Secretary. He then makes sure we get a final interview with the Stake President prior to pushing the real, final submit.
In the meantime.......
When we submitted our papers, in the preference portion of our papers we could never commit to what it was we exactly wanted to do. Many people were great to offer suggestions. We simply put the area... South America Northwest Area. Either an office assignment or Temple assignment. We just want to serve where we are needed. And we also listed the Holy Land. It never hurts to ask, right?
But, in the meantime.... We had noticed a new opportunity for service pop up in the Senior Missionaries listing.
International Digital Communications Specialists
That opportunity gave a contact name to call to find out about this new service.... . After reading the description, we thought that sounds fun, new and exciting. So we made the call. We had a lovely visit with an Elder Lassetter. He was very excitied someone was interested and immediately set us up with an appointment for a conference call with his supervisor, Matt Robinson (who was out of the country in Asia). That conference call was exciting. We learned a little more about the opportunity but in general, vague kind of descriptors because it is new for them too. But, hey we are game for a challenge. After the conference call the Brethren asked us to not push the submit button with the Stake President until they got back with us. They wanted to be ready to catch our mission papers and get it throught the assignment process quickly. They were so excited about us wanting to serve there they even wanted us to have a phone interview with one of the Area Presidency from there. They said, "Expect a call from Elder Chris Waddell". Remember the disclaimer statement at the beginning? Wow! We are coming out of our skins now! And wouldn't you know we get our Stake President's interview and we have to tell the Stake President, "We were asked not to push the submit button until they get back with us". We were a model of great restraint...... on the outside only.
But in the meantime, meantime.....
Life still has to go on and function. Dalene is still working and serving on the school board and has commitments to keep. We had to go to Phoenix for a ASBA meeting, but while we were there, Elder lassetter was emailing us wanting contact information for the Stake President and our ward and stake. All so exhilerating... in a scarry kinda way. The unkown and still waiting for Elder Waddell's call is putting stress on our skin with our insides trying to come out. But they still didn't give us the go ahead to submit yet. Then on the following Wednesday evening, Elder Lassetter said, "Okay, now, just make sure your Stake President puts on your papers the specific assignment and area." Well you know we aren't gonna be sitting around now. Yes, it being Wednesday night, stake people down in the offices, we made haste to the Stake Presidents office. And he was out of town.... But Brother Thatcher gave us permission to call him, so we did. Rude aren't we? But we had to do it so we could releave the pressure on our skins.
We worried about him being able to get the applications submitted while being out of town, but technology is a wonderful thing. We didn't have to wait very long to wonder if he did it. We got a call the following morning from Mission Medical in Salt Lake. A doctor calling to verify things in our application.... so we know they have them, whew!
Let the waiting begin...... some more.
December 19, 2014 was an exciting day! 5 1/2 weeks it took. We are so average. The Senior Missionary site says 4-6 and they mean it. Yes, we did get into the habit of checking the mail everyday, just like a couple of silly kids. Salt Lake was probably doing it on purpose so we could have the FULL missionary experience. Yeah, that's it. We showed great restraint.... we waited until the evening so others could be there to share in the fun. Although Jennifer wanted to see if she could get a head start..... She is her father's daughter truly.
WHERE?! Well that wasn't on our radar..... I thought the Stake President said they had something else in mind.... not someplace else. MEXICO AREA as International Digital Communications Specialist. WOW that is the assignment we requested but never expected Mexico. Wish we could have been a fly on the wall when the assignment discussions were going on.
