Waiting for her Mission Call

Watching out the window for the mailman.

He's LATE!

Here he comes!

It's cold out here...sharing Mom's new

blankie Aunt Lynn made her.

Our mailman is on vacation. This is his sub.

She does NOT have an envelope from Salt Lake.

This was Friday 28th of Dec, 2012.

We'll try again tomorrow.

Her Mission Call came Saturday

the 29th of Dec 2012.

She's so excited to open it. Her friends have been called and they are on their way over. Kristi has been called and she's on her way too. Cassi has her computer so she can Skype with Ryan. Mom has Lindsay (her cousin) and Grandpa Beaujeu on conference call on her iphone. As soon as everyone is ready...

Is everyone ready?

Dad is anxious to hear. First we all

made our predictions.

Than:

Dear Sister Dodge:

You are hereby called to serve as a Missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the California San Fernando Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, Feb 13th, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the Mission President.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. Etc.

Such a precious moment to share with

some of those she loves.

Tears were shed, and it was wonderful.

Nothing like supportive friends.

Kylie, Cassi, Korbi, & Jeron

Team hug!

Cassi & Korbi

Kylie, Cassi & Korbi

Later, on her phone reading her book of

instructions to her long distance family and friends.

When Cassi got home from BYUI in August her plans were to work and go back to BYUI for another semester or two (Jan-July) and then when she turned 21 in July she would immediately be prepared to turn in her Mission papers. But in the Semi-Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Thomas S Monson annouced that the age requirements for full-time Missionaries was being lowered. Now young men must be 18 (19 in the past) to qualify, and young women must be 19 (21 in the past) to qualify to serve. There was a LOT of hootin and hollering at our house. Cassi no longer had to wait until nearly a year in the future. She could begin preparing her papers right away since she was already 20. What a wonderful blessing. She was so anxious to get going.

Along with the announcement came a huge surge in the applications of Missionaries ready to serve. The Deseret News (Salt Lakes leading newspaper) reported that the average applications per week went from 700 to 4000. That is a 471% jump. With slightly more than half of those being women. So then the questions became, 1- Will the process take longer? 2- Will the wait to enter the MTC be prolonged? 3- Will some of us be asked to wait?

As Cassi worked at preparing her papers. She began coming home from YSA (Young Single Adults) meetings, and events with excitement as Mission calls started coming in for many of her friends. The most interesting thing was not where they were going...although indeed that IS interesting and exciting. The most interesting to Cassi was WHEN they would report to the MTC. Most were already receiving report dates in March. Then April. Then when her friend Kyimi Ruberson got his Mission call and the date he is to report isn't until May....oh Cassi was bummed. She was so worried that she'd have to wait to report. I told her that no-one knows the desires of her heart more than Heavenly Father. I advised her to trust God, have faith, and be believing.

Well, She got her call on Dec 29th of 2012...and her report date is the 13th of February, 2013. That was a few days over 6 weeks to prepare to GO! Wow! Watch out what you ask for. Hahaha. Isn't Heavenly Father so wonderful? He does know us, and the desires of our hearts. He knew Cassi wanted to speak the beautiful Spanish language. And He knew she wanted to be about her Father's business quickly.

I'm so thankful. What a wonderful time for Cassi and our whole family. There is nothing on earth Jerry and I would rather see her do  for the next 18 months of her life than serve our Savior Jesus Christ, and be a representative of Him and His message.

My cup runneth over.

Momma D