2016 November 23 Our Mission Call

THE CALL TO SERVE

After a preliminary discussion with Elder Rasband on November 4, 2016, Dane and I were called on November 23, 2016, by President Henry B. Eyring to serve as a mission president over an English-speaking mission somewhere in the world. He called me to Dane's missionary companion. We would start our service about July 2, after instruction beginning June 24 at the Provo MTC. We received the call letter by mail on Monday, November 26.

We learned the location of our call on Saturday, December 17, 2016. It was delivered by FedEx about noon. We were joined by over 40 family members (some present, others on the phone) as we learned it would be our privilege to serve in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission!

The South Africa Johannesburg Mission boundaries are the lighter color.

On Tuesday, December 20th, we submitted our picture and Bio information at the request of the Church News, for the articles published below in January 2017.

On January 6, 2017, Elder Dallin H. Oaks called and asked if we might be able to enter service in Mid-March to facilitate President Dunn's service in a critical assignment elsewhere. We said we could. Elder Oaks gave us permission to discuss the likely time change with our son and future daughter-in-law -- whose wedding plans were firmed and hastened to a March 11, 2017, wedding in the St George Temple. It was a very busy two months. We departed March 15th, and arrived in Johannesburg on Friday, March 17th -- where we were kindly welcomed by President Michael and Sister Linda Dunn.