** Day 53 -- (14 days left) A Discussion and More info about Mission

53 days until we leave to DR.  14 days working days until I quit.  Both important days.

Last night I awoke at 3 in the morning.  I had a conversation with myself.  Crazy, or does that show I am crazy?  Or maybe even heading toward that state of being crazy.  Oh well.

I asked myself if I was excited about going to Dominican Republic.  My mind raced to all the reports I have received from many people who have experienced DR.  I got so excited I could not go back to sleep.  I asked myself why the Lord had called us to DR.  I started counting the talents and abilities of Bonnie and knew that she has a great work to do there.  I considered my love of people, making friends of strangers, etc.  I got excited again.  I asked myself if I was going to be able to do all that needs to be done.  I answered that, "Yes, I am." 

I asked myself if it was going to be hard to go, and I paused on that one.  My grand kids are going fishing today, and I don't get to go because of other obligations.  We love to go together and have fun even if we do not catch anything.  It will be hard to leave my grand kids, knowing they will be fishing without me.  But then if I consider what I will be doing, NO it won't be hard to leave.  

I paused and considered teaching institute for many years to the youth.  I paused and considered the wonderful time I had in teaching Gospel Doctrine for more than 10 years.  I considered how much I love to teach, and I knew I would enjoy being involved with CES in Dominican Republic.  

I knew that Father is sending us there for many reasons we do not see yet.  But I also know that we have great talents to offer Him in His work in the DR.  As I pondered the many blessings, miracles, and opportunities we have, and will have, I finally, feeling so blessed, and feeling the comfort of the Spirit, I finally returned to sleep for a few more hours before I awoke.  

It is hard to be at work when soon I will be doing so many things so much more rewarding and fulfilling when we are serving full time, doing we know not what....

Yesterday I talked with a brother Rappleye from Santo Domingo.  He told me lots about our mission.  Elder Rappleye is in charge of CES institute and seminaries.  He said that they have been requesting someone in CES programs for over one year.They are dedicating a new institute building in our mission. Bonnie and I will be in charge of it, getting institute going, and so forth.  It has taken ten years to get this building built and we get to go and help get it going.

There are only TWO senior couples in all of Dominican Republic, Bonnie and I will be one of them.  Exciting.  It is so hard to wait the almost two months to go.  I am ready TODAY.