I cannot believe how all consuming preparing a missionary to go on a mission can be. No one really told me how hard this was really going to be. While Brooke was finishing up at BYU we were also trying to finish up all the paperwork we had to complete to get her Visa. It really is a waiting game...always waiting on someone else in hope they will get it back to you and then you can get them turned in on time. So during finals and everything else Brooke got really sick, first signs of a kidney infection. How helpless you feel with her so far away, but we both learned many lessons during this time...The Lord does not forget about you. He loves you and wants the very best for you. She had some friends give her a priesthood blessing and take her to the instacare. I was comforted to know that she was in good hands and that even though I cannot be there for her, I can trust that The Lord is watching over her and protecting her. She had a few more bouts with sickness but was able to work through them and have her testimony strengthened that she needed to go on her mission now. I know the reason she went through all of that was to toughen her up for the conditions in Nicaragua.
She got home and we went full force ahead with going through the templ for her endowment and attending nat's patriarchal blessing together. Mor shopping, packing, planning, dr.'s appointments, grandma coming for a visit, my house falling apart and being completely neglected right in front of my eyes and nothing I could do about it.
But it was all worth it. We made it through the hard stuff and are better for it. I have decided to adopt the saying from Gone With The Wind quoted by Scarlett O'Hara, "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." It has worked so far for me and has gotten me through really tough times. I have loved everything about preparing a missionary to go out to serve The Lord. She knows she is on the Lord's errand and is completely going to be 100% obedient. So excited for her and so excited to share her actual departure with you all next month.
6 comments:
I love that quote too... I can hear Scarlett saying it :) Congrats on all of those exciting things!
Such faith to support and send a daughter on a mission. When I went to Brazil, everything seemed fine, all the time, but I think back on the crazy things: drunk men, dead horses, bus drop offs at 3am... and the mother in me finds calm in the fact that I was watched over by members, friends, and for sure by the Lord. Love to you Kelly for your faith and letting her go. Did she go to the MTC in Mexico?
Congratulations! what an awesome, yet trying experience.
What a happy time for you. I love your perspective that her bouts of sickness helped prepare her for her mission -- and probably helped prepare you, too!
Exciting times! I know must take so much faith to let children go so far away when you as a parent have worked so hard to protect and nurture. I am so grateful that people do it though. Each missionary brings so much good and hope to the world.
What a huge job of getting a child ready for a mission. I'm sure you will all be blessed by your daughters willingness to serve and all of your willingness to support her.
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