DAY 13 -- Forty, A Significant Number - S. President

The children of Israel were in the wilderness wandering and eating manna for forty years.  Moses was in the mount forty days and nights.  Jonah waited for Nineveh to be overthrown for forty days.  Christ fasted forty days and nights.  In Luke it tells us that Christ was tempted for forty days.  Paul said that he received forty stripes five time, save one.  Bonnie and I will have been married in thirteen days for forty years.  Perhaps we shall be waiting forty weeks for our next interview?

About one month ago, Bonnie and I went for a walk above where we live.  We talked about our mission and our patience.  Well, we went again yesterday morning and walked the same path. We said that perhaps in another month or so, we would again be walking up there wondering if one day in the future we will be interviewed, or one day we will get our call.

When we get into the frame of mind when we realize that soon it will have been two months since we submitted our paper to our bishop, when we get frustrated knowing that Orrin Hatch has my phone number but perhaps the stake president does not, when we get frustrated waiting to further our preparation for our mission, the sweet calming revelation or inspiration comes into our minds telling us the He is in charge, He knows what He is doing, and one day, or not, we may know the reasons why it delayed as it has.

We entered our wilderness of free association, or our room that we have been given by my son to store things, and started organizing.  It has to be done, and when or where we go is not going to change the work that has to be done.  So we decided to tackle it, throw things, decide what we are going to do, and free up our lives.

There is hope smiling BRIGHTLY before us and we know that our interview is coming.  Every day it is one day closer, and thus so is our mission call.  It is coming. (I wrote that on Saturday, in readiness for Sunday's post.)

NEWS BREAK:  Today, Saturday at 1:30, I received a call from the Stake President and we are meeting with him tomorrow, Sunday at 9:40 after Sacrament Meeting.