** DAY 62 -- Is It a Reality Yet?

My son asked me yesterday if our mission was a reality yet.  I had to pause and consider the question.  Once I mentioned that it was a surreal vision, one that was so far away, it was hard to really believe that we are gong on a mission to serve, AND that we have even received a call.  We know where we are going and when we are going.  We don't  know what it will entail yet, but we are going.

We discuss it every day, make lists, talk about decisions that have to be made, and such.  But it really isn't real for me yet.  Bonnie is studying Spanish every day and feeling excitement.  But for me, it is still far away.  When I sit down and take the time to try to imagine what our mission will entail, I begin to compare it with my mission of long ago.  I correlate it with Elder Partridge of forty years ago.  But that is hard, because it won't be the same thing.  It is still like a dream to me.  Yes, it is coming and I can see on the calendar that the day will come when we will go into the MTC with all those other young missionaries.  Yes, we will be leaving our family and serving the Lord.  But perhaps the habit of anticipating and waiting for it has been so prevalent that it is hard to "feel" it.  It is hard to explain.  I know the time is coming where I will really be "feeling" the joy and excitement of serving as a missionary once again.

Wendy Partridge, my second cousin passed away and is now serving on her call with Father in Heaven.  She received her call to post mortal life on Wednesday, the day before we received our call.  We went to her funeral yesterday and what a Spiritual feast it was.  She was quite a special young lady. She was 33 years old.

We sent in our acceptance letter to the brethren letting them know that we accept the call to go and do.  When we tell everyone where we are going, it is seldom that we find someone who doesn't now someone else who is either there, or recently has been there.  I guess it is a common place to go on a mission.

We have been told by many that we will be receiving many more packets of stuff telling us info and things we need to do.  Bonnie has an appointment with the eye specialist on Friday, to see what we shall do with that in preparation.  Hopefully we will see another miracle, no pun intended, but appreciated.