You Are Hereby Called to Serve...

Derek received his mission call letter this week! It came to our house on Thursday and I hurried it to the post office to Express Mail it to him. The post office wouldn't guarantee next day in rural Rexburg, Idaho, so I went over to Postal Annex and paid the big bucks to have FedEx handle it. They guaranteed it would be there. And it arrived on time!

Derek had class and tests until after 7:00 p.m., and Caitlin and Billy needed time to get there all the way from Provo, so we were finally able to all get together on Skype about 7:45 p.m. Friday night! Gene and Michele happened to be in Rexburg visiting Travis and Tyler, so they got to participate, too!

Technology expert Cami making sure all the TV's and cameras were working. This is a picture of our computer screen.

We were anxiously waiting at home...

Waiting for Cait and Bill to arrive. He looks a little nervous. But I love that smile!

Tyler arrived!

Caitlin and Billy arrived!!

Yay! So excited they're there!

Here goes...

I love how Caitlin and Billy are looking at each other :).

This is the booklet that gives details about his missionary service, what to bring, etc.

  Oops, this isn't where it says where he has been called to serve.

Ah, here it is...

Derek reading the letter -

Dear Elder Sutherland:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Missouri Independence Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 13th, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the restoration and of the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart , might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have ever experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among his children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary.

You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please send you written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Monson

President 

The whole crew! Except Cami isn't in there, or Gene or Michele...bummer!

Derek will be an amazing missionary! We are so very excited and proud of him. There is a ton of church history in that part of the country. The early church members received incredible persecution until they were literally expelled from the state. He will learn so much as he walks where they walked and feels of the sacrifices made before him.