Mission Call Came Knoxville Tennessee Here We Come

Here is proof that it came in the mail.  Now just let us tell you some of the stories behind why we are going now.  When dad retired we were looking at going to New Zealand for about 6 months.  We had been talking to a group called Global Medical Staffing that places physicians throughout rural areas.  Dad had wanted to keep some of his skills up and did not want to fully retire.  So we thought this was a good option.  He also had told some of the doctors he was close to and had helped in surgeries to keep him on the active list.  So he was helping with surgery here in Idaho Falls waiting for an opening with New Zealand.  The New Zealand thing never seemed to work out because most of the areas wanted someone for a year.  We were not sure we wanted to commit a year.  Previous to retirement we had been in contact with the medical missions department.  We had talked to an Elder Switzer a year ago when dad thought he was going to sell his practice then.   So they knew of our coming retirement and told us to let them know when we were ready to go.
     As retirement came we became more and more unsure about what we were suppose to do.  Nothing on the New Zealand thing seemed right.  The helping with surgeries were not supporting the cost of having malpractice insurance.  We had been fasting and praying about our situation.  The other concern was for Susan.  We knew that her situation was not very stable and we did not know what she would be doing.  Talk of coming west or staying out in New York was always being discussed.  If she came out west she would need help moving.  If she was going to need to work or go to school she would need help.  All of these things were heavy on our minds.  One day a phone call came from Elder Christensen's office they wanted to set up an appointment for dad to talk to Elder Christensen.  It was an interview after being stake president.  He was going to be in Blackfoot.  When I answered the phone and knew who it was an immediate burden lifted off my shoulders and I felt a calm that I had not felt before.  It was so tangible that I could not understand it.  After the interview dad received a strong impression that he had been a leader in a position where people watch what you do.  In other words he had beenan example to others.  He would never not be an example to others who knew him.  He felt we needed to go on a mission now.
     That is why we then contacted the medical mission department.  We then went to SLC to be interviewed by Elder Switzer.  Some of you know that he had presided at Susan's stake conference when I was out in New York.  I had not met him but at least had seen him and felt of his spirit through his talk.  After the interview I mentioned that I had been at that stake conference.  He then asked me why I was there and I said that Susan lived there.  He then said in the next question what does her husband do out there.  That brought a hesitated answer and a few tears.  That is when he suggested that while we wait for a area medical advisor position to open up in 2018 we should go on a regular mission and request the Rochester mission so we could be close to our daughter.  As you know we are not going to Rochester.  However just having the experience of being at the stake conference where he was and then having him ask the question about Susan's husband and then telling us we could ask for that mission.  Is more than a coincidence for me.  I still feel Heavenly Father knew what our concerns were and it let me know that He knows us and cares about what we care about.
     So after learning that the Rochester mission already had medical there and that there were many other missions without medical people he told us that Michigan and Indiana was a possibility.  As you know the call came differently than all of these choices.  We are fine with that and it will be interesting to know why we are to go to Knoxville.  What have we learned from all this,  is that the Lord is always aware of our needs even if it is just for us to know that He knows us and that there are no coincidences.   I ponder the little things that have happened in our coming mission call and every time I think of it I know that He knows me.
     Now for all of you that are family and dear friends  know that we love you and we will miss you tremendously.  But we will go and do the things the Lord commands at this time in our lives.  He has blessed us so much and if we can do one small thing by going on a mission and serve faithfully we want to do it to show our thanks for His blessings.