We met with President Henry B Eyring via video conference, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints.
It was an amazing, powerful, humbling, sacred experience and something we will forever cherish. After 45 min of instruction and powerful counsel, President Eyring extended the call to Rodney A Ames and asked him "to serve as a Mission President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for the period of 3 years, English speaking" He then extended the call to Kimberlee Nicole Jensen Ames "to serve as a full time missionary for a period of 3 years in the mission in which your husband presides" We accepted. Afterwards, we tried to write down everything we could remember while it was all fresh in in our minds of the experience, the counsel, but mostly the feelings and impressions that we had. This picture was taken just seconds before we were to begin our meeting.
Looking back now, it seems that nothing could have prepared us for the experiences we were about to embark on. We had no idea just how much we would grow mentally, spiritually, emotionally, socially and yes...even physically. (hence, amesallaround was created, covering all the areas of our lives) We had no idea just how much these 18, 19, 20, 21 + some Elders and Sisters would touch and inspire our lives to the point where we would do anything for them, anywhere, anyplace, anytime. And to think that we only have 2 1/2 years left!! As I mentioned to a couple of sisters that I was out with the other night, teaching an investigator at a members home..."lets just enjoy and treasure every single moment"! I didn't dare have the heart to say, "because its going to be over before we know it"....I just thought it.
When my adult sons came home for Christmas, they had the opportunity to observe and train with some of the missionaries while their dad did interviews. It was so very sweet and exciting to hear of their experiences when they returned at the end of the day. To hear them comment on how awesome the missionaries were, how inspiring and motivating they were. I think one of the comments made, sums it all up in one sentence "being around the missionaries, studying and learning with them just really puts life in perspective, its just awesome"! And it is indeed awesome. Its awesome to see how happy and in control of their lives these missionaries are. Its awesome to see these missionaries serving and helping all of those around them. Its awesome to see these missionaries using their agency to study, to question, to then find answers to those questions and then teach it patiently to all that will listen. Ultimately, its awesome to see these missionaries learn the Doctrine of Christ, to see them teach it to others at the same time applying it to their own lives. The result being that it changes lives, it changes the lives of those they are teaching and influencing and they are happier than they have ever been.
"MISSIONARY WORK IS NOT EASY. IT IS THE MOST DEMANDING, THE MOST COMPELLING, THE MOST EXHAUSTING,
AND YET, WITH IT ALL, THE MOST HAPPY AND MOST JOYFUL WORK IN ALL THE WORLD.-Ezra Taft Benson
