DAY 128 -- Building a Ship, and Going and Doing

We now have our mission papers.  You  would not believe how many questions they ask us.  Would you believe 55 pages.  It is going to take us four months just to fill out the pages for the application.  They ask how many stairs we can climb?  How long can we stay up at night?  Do we win every time we play scrabble?  Did I enjoy being a speed bump that one time? Do I like the Y or the U?  Will I be impartial if I am called to be a ball boy at Cougar Stadium?  Can I love my neighbor when they are not doing according to my wishes?  I mean, you would not believe it.  Perhaps you would.

It is another step toward a mission call.  It is exciting to know that we are starting along the path to leave this area and enter another where we will be serving the Lord twenty four/seven. 

Bonnie continually reminds me that we are building a ship like Nephi.  We have the blue prints, and are pursuing it through thick and thin.  We have been told where to get the ore, and given an idea how to smelt it into whatever is needed in our ship.  We are alone, but we have many kids, and loved ones praying for us to finish the preparation of our ship. 

I have never build ship, at least this size.  When I was young, I built a kayak and went to Mexico.  Now I am building a cruise ship to go to India?  Or was that Korea?  We build a ship that will take us wherever across the globe.  Father is helping us with many tender mercies when we encounter any obstacle.  We are both working on this ship, both excited about where it will take us, but not really caring where our destination shall be.  He knows, and that is all that matters.

Soon we have to start preparing this ship by visiting inspectors who will check out our workmanship. In other words, he will inspect our bodies to see if they will hold up in different parts of the world.  We would like to have all these medical things taken care of by April so we can send in our papers of application. 

I remember one of my sons having his mission changed because of a bowel obstruction.  I am sure many missions are modified as to where because of health.  I feel we are both healthy enough that we could go anywhere, even the Moon, or Mercury, or Mars, or that place that is no longer a planet, Pluto. 

We will go where He wants us to go.  That song takes on a much different meaning when we are so close to going.  Called to Serve is also another one that is difficult to sing, for the tears get in the way.  There are many hymns that touch the heart strings and lend joy and excitement as we sing some of them.  We will go and do..