Missionary Sighting!

My darling boy Sam, the one currently serving his mission in California, is smart, dedicated, funny and caring. He writes us great letters each week telling about the people he is serving, who he has taught and who has invited him to share his message about our church. He does not share much about himself and he has only sent a very few photos home in the 16 months he's been gone. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because he's not out there to provide entertainment for us. 

Lately though, in a few of his letters, there were tiny clues that maybe, just maybe, he'd been having some hard times for a missionary. I just couldn't tell for sure, so I was feeling a real longing to get some hard information. I don't like to distract him in my letters with my own worries, so I left him in God's hands and let him be. It was in the back of my mind, though.

So, my heart soared when I saw a real letter this week from the great state of California! It was from a family in the congregation where Sam is serving and it had PICTURES! My boy is doing great! He's smiling and happy and healthy. It thrilled me to see him with his companion and read the words of this kind family who took time to write us a letter. He and his companion had dinner at the home of this couple and they reported that Sam is working hard and is a credit to his upbringing. What a lovely thing to say, and it did a mommy's heart good, I'm telling you. It was just what I needed to continue to have the faith to let him have this experience completely independently and learn all that he needs to learn. 

This was a day-maker, for sure.