2020 - Gratitude Day #25 - Missionaries

 Gratitude Day #25

Today I am grateful for missionaries.

Missionaries do hard work. and I am grateful for those who have had a direct impact on the course of my life. There is much sacrifice on their part, and on the part of their families.

In the 1940s, my parents and sisters were living in Logan County, West Virginia when Mom opened the door to two missionaries.

Accepting their call as a missionary to West Virginia, they came ready to preach the gospel. My parents' house was one of the doors they knocked on. When Mom answered the door, she wasn't looking for any church at all; but there was something that resonated in their message.

And, after listening to their teachings over a number of lessons, she made the decision to be baptized, along with my three sisters. Dad wasn't interested at all, so don't bother him with it.

This was in 1948, when women often did the bidding of her husband. Mom was going to do it with or without him. I believe she recognized truth, and saw a way to better her family.

So, in September of that year, she and Fern, Jean, and Betty were baptized. And, it began to change our family forever.

A couple of years later, Dad had moved the family to Ohio for three reasons:

1. To find a better job.
2. To secure better education for my sisters.
3. To make sure there was no Mormon church. (The missionaries had gotten a little too pushy for Dad. Dad would not be pushed in anything.)

Two years later, Dad was baptized. Three years later, I was born.

Mom had her door opened to missionaries all of the years that she could. There were "cottage meetings" in our home, along with great meals.

Years later, another missionary would make an impact in our family - Mr. Kerry. He left his home in 1971 to serve two years in the Delaware/Maryland Mission. It was during that time that the Washington DC temple was under construction. He fell in love with that part of the country, and returned a few months after his release from his mission.

Washington, DC Temple - Kensington, Maryland

Just two years later, I would meet this young man who had remained true to everything he ever taught on his mission. We married eight months later.

Two of our four children also decided to serve missions. Peter answered the call to serve in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission 1998-2000. I was nervous, for he was our oldest and the first to leave home.

It was a beautiful area, but it was also difficult. After his return, we learned of some of the abuses that go along with missionary work - doors slammed in their faces, beer cans thrown at the spokes of their bicycles, etc. But, he also fell in love with the area, and returned there to live after his return home.

At the  Columbus, Ohio airport - shortly before leaving for the Missionary Training Center.

Son Erik also decided to make application to be a missionary. And when his call came, we rejoiced and danced around!

And then, it hit me hard, and I cried. And, I cried.

He was going to the Russia Samara Mission.

Russia.

When I was growing up, Russia was the enemy. We all knew they were going to "get us", and often did the duck-and-dives under our desks at school. I didn't know how I was going to handle this.

It took pure trust and confidence on my own part to be happy for his call, and to send him off with a cheerful heart. But, we did. And, we were able to join him at the end of his mission to tour throughout some of the cities where he served.

We joined him at the end of his mission in December 2005. It was cold.

Kerry's father served a mission in the Southern States, as well as several of Kerry's siblings, aunts and uncles, and other ancestors. Their service has made a great impact on our family.

So today, I am grateful for the missionary army that has served around the world to bring good news to families. Though things have changed a bit due to the pandemic, there are still ways to serve. And, they are doing it.

So, the next time two young missionaries, male or female, knock on your door, be kind. They are someone's son or daughter. They are someone's brother or sister, or a grandchild.

And, of all of the things they could have chosen to be doing at their young age, they chose to serve.

Oh, and me? Yes, I served one, too! I served two years (2014-2016) as a missionary for the FamilySearch Wiki. I was over the Library and Archives for all 50 states, checking to make sure the information provided was good and credible. Anyone with a desire to do the work can find a place to serve.

Anyone.