The journey begins.....with one letter

After what seemed like a lifetime, Chase received his mission call on April 24, 2009.
We called our family and friends to meet us at the church and be with us when he opened the letter. Wow! It was such an exciting moment! We had someone filming, someone taking pictures, and we had several cell phones all turned with people listening in as he opened and read his destination.
We put up a huge United States map and we all wrote on sticky notes where we thought he would be going and placed them on the map!

We also had a bag full of different items so that when he saw where he was going, he would put on that item and we would try to guess where it was he would be going! It seemed like forever as he carefully tore open the envelope!





Notice all the cell phones lined up on the table in front of him. Can you tell that I am a nervous wreck there in the background??? I could not wait to hear the news!





As he opened the letter, I told him to get out the item he needed from the bag and put it on so we could start guessing! He looked at me and said, "there is nothing in the bag to go with where I am going!" Total panic crossed my mind as I thought we had everything covered. It was then as he read the words:
You are called to serve a mission in the Brazil Sao Paulo North Mission. Everyone let a a scream of OH's and AHH's and lots of laughter....of course, I was left in shock!




Here is Chase with our current missionaries that are now serving in the East Texas mission. This is Elder Richmond and Elder Ellertson. They have been so good to let Chase go out with them on teaching appointments, etc. This not only helps to prepare Chase for his mission, but also strengthens his testimony. I am thankful that the missionaries were able to be there for Chase and share in this great moment in time!


Thanks to all you that helped us get prepared that evening with cameras, maps, videos, cell phones, etc, and just for being there to share with us this special moment of a lifetime! We appreciate all that you do and continue to be there for Chase.

more pics to follow......

The Mission Call.....April 24,2009

Waiting for Chase's mission call in the mail was so exciting! Every day, Chase and I would race to get the mail, thinking it would arrive. Day after day, we watched and waited....and then it came! I was about to leave the house when I saw the mailman approaching. I jumped out of the van and rushed to meet him halfway into the yard, followed by Chase running out of the house, jumping off the porch and over the bushes to meet him, too! Oh, to see the look of horror on that poor mailman's face! As we were rushing towards him, I was explaining to him the reason of our behavior.....I am sure it was quite a sight! When I saw the large white envelope in his hand, I quickly grabbed it and started jumping and spinning around the yard screaming, "YES!!! YES!!!! IT CAME!!! IT CAME!!! AAAHHHH!!" I'm sure my neighbors and the mailman think I'm crazy! As soon as we had the letter, we called our family and friends and told them to meet us at the church and we would wait to open it then. Oh, it was so hard having to wait..... I still look back to this historical day and laugh! Oh the joy of receiving the "mission call!"