Melody's Mission Call!

We returned from our visit with Michael, Brittany, and their family in Harrisonburg on June 26, and as much as we always hate to leave, this time we were eager to arrive home because we were pretty sure Melody's mission call would be waiting in the mailbox--and it was!  As she pulled the large manila envelope out, she was so excited she could hardly stay in her skin; eventually she stopped dancing around the driveway and hurried up to her room to have a word of prayer and open it in private.  By the time I came in with some stuff from the car, she was in the foyer, weeping incoherently and almost hysterically.  I knew before Bob clarified that these were tears of joy, but it was several long moments before she showed me the letter, signed by President Monson, calling her into the Lord's service and assigning her to serve in the Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission!

(I hate to admit this, but I'm pretty sure this is not the expression I'd have on my face if I'd just been told I needed to learn the Russian language by the end of the year...any year...  It may take me that long to just learn how to pronounce the name of the mission!  I feel like calling for Vanna White to see if I can buy some vowels...)

As you may be able to read, Melody will be learning Russian in the MTC in Madrid, Spain.
We spent the next hour or so excitedly discussing various aspects of the call and things Melody enthusiastically shared with us from her packet and the internet.  She stayed up late into the night calling all her siblings (fortunately most of them live in later time zones...!).  We are so grateful for her whole-hearted desire to serve the Lord and accept His assignment.

We are also grateful for and humbled by the influence and preparation Melody was blessed to receive as a result of her service in the Atlanta North Mission home the past year under the direction of  President and Sister Bennion.  (I butted into the picture too, as I had the same privilege from the beginning of their mission three years ago.)  It was while serving there that she first heard the Spirit whispering things she had never considered; it was there that those promptings were confirmed, and she made the decision to serve a full-time mission.  She's already a great missionary!  She is teaching the "new member" lessons to a former classmate who recently joined the Church, and is a good example and influence wherever she goes.

This has nothing to do with anything, but President Bennion served in the same mission Bob did, several years earlier; he was also "Cosmo," the BYU basketball team's mascot, during his time in Provo!  He could make baskets from mid-court while riding a unicycle!  (Sister Bennion told me that, not President...)  We miss them and their daughter Christine already!