** DAY 44 -- Many Types of Missions

I was driving to work today and it dawned on me.  In one week, I will be unemployed.  Hallelujah. In just 44 days I will be starting to realize a dream I have had for over 40 years.  I will be taking my Eternal Companion with me to serve in a Latin American country as senior missionaries.  When I pause to consider the wonderful, fulfilling work that missionary work is, I can't help but get excited, pause and offer sincere thanks for this dream come true, (soon.) 

My mind races back to over forty years ago and I joy in the memories of the work.  Then as I consider those we have talked with, those who have done what we will do, I realize that actual missionary work, tracting, teaching, etc, will probably not be too much of what we will be doing.  We probably won't be going door to door to seek out the honest in heart, those who are spiritually hungry. 

Mostly, we will be working with members in the DR.  We will be training them, helping them lead, teach, grow in their testimonies.  We will be working with those interest in the Perpetual Education Fund.  We will be working with the youth in their activities.  We will be emissaries of Christ in the lives of other members starting out in their journey through the LDS way of life. 

Does that take away from my enthusiasm?  Does that limit my excitement of going and serving if we are not seeking new "...gators.?"  If we are not involved in seeking beloved ones baptised, will that put a damper on my joy and excitement?  OF COURSE NOT.

Missionary work, in all it's forms is giving your all, your time, talents, testimony, and anything else He has given us, to Him in return.  It is forgetting, or at least leaving behind the rigors and challenges of life and giving it all to Him.  That is the joy of serving a mission. 

And besides, I will always be looking for 'gators, those who should be interested in the message, those who could be blessed with our way of life, and those Father will direct to us.  There are thousands, even millions waiting for someone to Open Their Mouth and preach the gospel, share the "good news."

We are going to be full time missionaries SOON.  We even know the dates and how long we have to wait.  It is very exciting, but first have to get rid of this last week of being a slave to someone else.