Go Forth Meeting- October 1st

I am just going to paste in the story about this event.  It touched the missionary involved so much that she  asked me later in the day to write this story up so that she could put it in her journal correctly.  

"A missionary in our zone approached us several weeks ago and asked how to refer someone to become a senior service missionary in the mission and the Church History Library.  We gathered the needed information and forwarded the information to Elder Temple who contacted Sister Newbold and then did all of the needed paperwork.  We received notification that she had been approved as a missionary and would be in the September 25^th training group. We were also notified that she was pre-assigned to our zone.  We were a bit surprised at that but thought that perhaps she wanted to work in the same area with Elder Creswell and that had been approved.  Typically, pre-assignment occurs when an employee or supervisor working for the Church History Library recruits a person specifically for their group.  That was not the case in this situation but we were always excited to add new missionaries, so we didn’t question it…..

Until we met Sister Newbold on Monday afternoon of the training.  It was clear that she was unaware that she had been pre-assigned to our zone.  We spoke to her specifically because we are all from Syracuse and we expected her to recognize our names as her zone leaders.  Afterwards, both Elder Hall and I discussed it and realized that she should be available to be assigned anywhere that the spirit would direct the mission presidency.  She didn’t have to be in our zone.  So, with somewhat heavy hearts, we called President Parker and shared our point of view.  He was very kind and grateful for the phone call and said at the end that we probably shouldn’t expect any missionaries this time, because “others had greater needs at this time.”  We realized that, but still felt that Sister Newbold needed to receive her assignment as the other missionaries did.  (It seemed that the pre-assignment had occurred because we had forwarded her information to Elder Temple.  He had assumed that we as zone leaders were doing that on behalf of an employer.  Just a misunderstanding.)

Imagine how surprised and excited we were to receive the email informing us that Sister Newbold was assigned to our zone.  It seemed so unlikely and yet it had happened.  We knew that she was meant to serve in our zone and in the Church History Library and we were so excited!  As we have gotten to know her today, that feeling that she belongs in our zone with our missionaries came time and time again.  So, the result was the same—Sister Newbold was assigned to our zone, but now all of us—the mission presidency, us as Zone leaders, and Sister Newbold—know it was right.

(Sidenote:  When President Randall accidently started to introduce you with the other missionaries assigned to the Library Zone, there was a moment there that I was sure that was going to happen right there in front of us and you wouldn’t serve with us.  We have heard but never seen it happen when the list was changed the morning of the meeting.  I thought that is what had happened with you.  I was very relieved when President Parker stood and corrected it for President Randall.)"

Of course, it was fun to get to know her as a fellow Syracuse citizen.  She lives about a mile down the street from where Gary's house was growing up.  They moved into their house in 1999 shortly after we moved to Syracuse.  Her husband has passed away but she decided to follow through with their goal to serve missions after retirement.  She served a mission to Australia which was cut short by Covid and she was reassigned to Baltimore.  Now she is serving this senior service mission at the Headquarters Mission.

She sent us this picture of Gary's old house---you can see why she knew which one it was as soon as Gary explained it. 

This was actually a blue spruce tree which was in front of Gary's house while he was growing up.  In fact, there is a family story that Gary mowed over it, but it still lived when he was learning to mow the yard as a kid.  The owners after Gary's parents had to take it down because it was getting old, but had the stump sculptured into a work of art.

Another fun day in the mission field---