I'm Coming Home
Well, as you've probably heard were coming home. We'll be there about Sunday or Saturday depending on the circumstances.You'll be informed on the exact time of my arrival, the missionary department is supposed to contact you. That's all we know were safe though, and so far nothing bad has happened. See ya soon!
Isaac’s coming home. Six months earlier than expected. He’s coming home. Weekly, as we’ve talked to Isaac, there have been weeks where he’s been riding high and other weeks where he’s been down in the dumps. Ah, the roller coaster of mission life! His mom and I experienced it, too. But, the roller coast of mission life is just a microcosm of the roller coast of LIFE! Right?
Some days are great and others, not so much. Some days, there are reunions, vacations, weddings, adoptions, birthdays, anniversaries, lunches with friends, dates with your main squeeze, Christmases and the 4ths of July. Some days go on without much adversity at all like the April 25ths of life when the weather is just right and all you need is a light jacket.
But then there are other days when you find out you can’t have children, when a loved one is unexpectedly killed, when a child breaks his arm or puts a battery up his nose, when you find out someone you love has cancer, or when an unexpected call invites you to move your family clear across the country when you have learned to love a place and people you’ve spent 10 years serving.
Isaac coming home may feel kinda like a valley, but in many ways, it’s a mountaintop kind of day, too. He was blessed to serve in the Philippines for 18 months! How fantastic is that? Take it from a perennial “glass half empty” kind of guy, all I see in this are blessings! I feel very little devastation. He did what he was supposed to do and learned to love Jesus, Father and a people that he knew nothing about 18 months ago. And now, he may get to serve another group of people a little closer to home. He’s made lifelong friends and has eternal memories of being in the hollow of Jesus’ hand.
Just because the Philippines leg of his mission is over doesn't mean the journey has ended. His mission (his life) is just beginning. The ride has just pulled out of the gate. This may feel like a setback today, but in Father’s eyes, this IS the journey. This is how it was supposed to play out. Nothing’s been taken; all has been given. I look forward to what's ahead! Hurrah for Israel, right? #keepmovingforward #philippinesnaga20182020 #returnwithhonor #ofcoursehugs #Isaac1coronavirus0
All is Well
Elder Bills
We received this from Isaac two days ago. He will arrive in SLC later this evening. He will be in a 14-day isolation. He will still be a set apart missionary for those 14 days. Our stake president will then release him after that time. Isaac will then wait to be reassigned to a stateside mission where he'll serve the rest of his time. This may not happen quickly as many stateside missionaries are also currently being kept in their apartments.
Isaac has been serving as a missionary for just over 18 months, with the 14-day isolation, that will take him to almost 19. When he begins his reassignment, the remaining 5 months will begin. For now, we are excited to have him home for a short time.
I put this on Facebook earlier this week... just some thoughts I've had as his dad:
Isaac’s coming home. Six months earlier than expected. He’s coming home. Weekly, as we’ve talked to Isaac, there have been weeks where he’s been riding high and other weeks where he’s been down in the dumps. Ah, the roller coaster of mission life! His mom and I experienced it, too. But, the roller coast of mission life is just a microcosm of the roller coast of LIFE! Right?
Some days are great and others, not so much. Some days, there are reunions, vacations, weddings, adoptions, birthdays, anniversaries, lunches with friends, dates with your main squeeze, Christmases and the 4ths of July. Some days go on without much adversity at all like the April 25ths of life when the weather is just right and all you need is a light jacket.
But then there are other days when you find out you can’t have children, when a loved one is unexpectedly killed, when a child breaks his arm or puts a battery up his nose, when you find out someone you love has cancer, or when an unexpected call invites you to move your family clear across the country when you have learned to love a place and people you’ve spent 10 years serving.
Isaac coming home may feel kinda like a valley, but in many ways, it’s a mountaintop kind of day, too. He was blessed to serve in the Philippines for 18 months! How fantastic is that? Take it from a perennial “glass half empty” kind of guy, all I see in this are blessings! I feel very little devastation. He did what he was supposed to do and learned to love Jesus, Father and a people that he knew nothing about 18 months ago. And now, he may get to serve another group of people a little closer to home. He’s made lifelong friends and has eternal memories of being in the hollow of Jesus’ hand.
Just because the Philippines leg of his mission is over doesn't mean the journey has ended. His mission (his life) is just beginning. The ride has just pulled out of the gate. This may feel like a setback today, but in Father’s eyes, this IS the journey. This is how it was supposed to play out. Nothing’s been taken; all has been given. I look forward to what's ahead! Hurrah for Israel, right? #keepmovingforward #philippinesnaga20182020 #returnwithhonor #ofcoursehugs #Isaac1coronavirus0
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