As we complete our training and are excited to depart, we find that the hardest part of going on a mission is leaving family, so we have decided that we are going to take them all with us!!! Our
daughter, Rachel the creator of PegBuddies has made this not-so-little
family group to travel with us to South Africa.
We are taking them with us because this is not just our
mission, it is our family’s mission, all eight of our children, eight of their
spouses and twenty-four of our grandchildren (whether every one of them want to
go on a mission or not :) The fact that they are all healthy, financially
stable and self-sufficient makes it possible for us to serve without serious worry and
their support and excitement has made it so much more fun.
We often talk about the sacrifice of missionaries, but
families sacrifice a lot too. We are very close to our children and
grandchildren and know that while we are going to miss them, they are also
going to miss us. Some will have important occasions where they wish their
parents or grandparents were there to enjoy it with them. Some may have challenges and
they’ll wish for the comfort of proximity. When they go to the cabin, it may
seem empty without us. Our grandchildren will miss working on wood projects, gardening or doing
artwork with us; they will miss grandma’s rolls and grandpa’s pancakes. So because
they will share the sacrifice, they will also share the mission and all of the
blessings attached to it. We’re sure the blessings will come.
What a wonderful idea.
ReplyDelete