I recently decided that I should have had more children. LOTS more.
The reason a person should have lots of children is that with many children comes the possibility of having many missionaries and being a Missionary Mom is worth every heart ache (and gut ache) associated with bearing and raising children. Really.
I’d heard antidotal stories about the blessings of having a missionary in the field and, in a benign, general sort-of way, I believed them. It’s all good, right?
Right. RIGHT!! So, SO right. So much more right than I ever imagined.
Before Chick left on his mission I was concerned about many things, including (but not limited to):
God. I find that with Chick gone, God is taking care of me. And He is doing a great job.
Lance’s health has improved; he is more present with us than he has been in years. Miles’ physical ability to help has increased and as has his determination to do so. The girls, who have always been wonderful, are even more empathetic, compassionate, and appreciative. There is an increased measure of peace in our home and, perhaps most significantly, in my heart; less angst, more tranquility. Peace is priceless.
God is doing a great job of taking care of me. He is also doing a great job of taking care of Chick. My son—the young man who was largely unfamiliar with the working end of a toothbrush, who spent as much time in fantasy worlds as he did the real world, who would much rather be reading than working—is becoming a man. He brushes his teeth “often twice or three times a day I want my breath to be fresh”. He is firmly planted in the physical world and completely committed to helping others understand the spiritual world. And he is working hard—really hard—and loving it.
I don’t worry about me anymore. And I don’t worry about Chick. He is in God’s hands and I trust those hands. Every night in my prayers I thank my Father in Heaven for taking my son, for allowing him to serve, for giving him experience, opportunities, and challenges. He is doing a much better job with my boy than I ever could. Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, thank you!
I love being a Missionary Mom.
Love,
Teresa
P.S. Below are excerpts from Elder (Chick) Hislop’s letters. Original spelling and punctuation (or lack thereof) has been preserved.
10/6/14 [NOTE: Elder Hislop entered the MTC on Oct 1, 2015]
for the first time i wAS EXCITED FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE AND NOT AS a time in which i would get to sleep a lot. and perhaps as a consequence I got more out of tyhis general conference than out of any other two.
10/20/14 [NOTE: Elder Hislop arrived in Washington on October 15, 2015]
I learned about who my companion was his name is elder burton and he has only been out only three months. he is a great guy and a good missionary he is willing to listen to me as I talk about books and all other sorts of things that I am interested in. ……. elder burton is constantaly telling me how good of a ward we have. and we do have a great ward. …..we are apparently going to have dinner at a members house everyday. I am excited to buy my own food. it is going to be amazing. it gets dark here around 6:30 so we really have to stop tracting at that time because people who might have potential lose it because of a ready made excuse. so we try to have appointment otherwise we do a walk of faith. but during the walk of faith miracle can occur. …... the miracle occurred when at 8:20 we prayed for a guidance to know what to do. and as we opened our eyes a man with a dog walked in front of us we talked to him. and we had more success with that man that with any noninvestigator the whole rest of the week.
the church is true
10/27/14 [NOTE: His birthday is 10/26.]
so thank you for the many gifts and candy and letters you sent me. I actually had a great birthday. with letters from the Jefferies gram and granddad aunt Nikki and her kids and family. however I had a great experience when at around eight we received a text from the stake president of the neighboring stake. saying "this is president pope from the Lynnwood stake I need to talk with you tonight. once you are heading home can you call me? Elder Burton and I were a little confused and worried. but we saw them and they had a gigantic cake covered in chocolate frosting it turn his sister is aunt Cathy. so I got a hand delivered cake on my birthday
11/3/14
I love all of you but I am writing this with one hand because my other had is massively huge and hard to move it happened after I saw my companion get hit by a car his bike is dead he isn't quite yet. I am really worried about him. we have had a lot of problems this week.
okay it isn't like I made it sound but it is all true. right after I wrote you last week I saw my companion ride out in front of a car and his bike got smashed and crushed like a pop can he just stepped of and out of the way and didn't get hurt in the least
11/17/14
I really am excited to do a lot of work. to get stuff done.
I really want to work. we got a lesson in with a super less active who is very friendly with us and is rather shy. ahd the lesson went absolutly amazing.
I love all of you guys
12/15/14
this week was hectic and hectic and even more hectic I worked my self to the bone last week.
there was not a single day were we got any time to relax. and if it everlooked like we would have some time to sit down and study or put in some time fillers. we were called or ran into someone and was asked to go and help or contact or teach it was a very very busy week. ….. I love this work.
12/29/14
Sunday wsa spent a lot in tchurch meeting and sunday two investigator including a family came to church this is the first time I have had an investigator at church that wasn't coming before.
I know that I am doing the right thing. I know that god lives I know the book of Mormon is the word of god. andi know that familiies can be together forever.
I love you all
elder hislop
1/12/15
……The next day we went to visit a less active. Her name is Sister Savage. She is so fun. As we were talking with her she offered us ice cream bars. Unfortunately her non-member husband was the one who gave it to us and he gave us coffee flavored ice cream and I had no idea until I was 75% done so there’s that.
I love my area. I love my companion who is going to be leaving me soon :( Transfers are this week.
I know the church is true. I know that my Redeemer lives. I love Him and I know that He loved me enough to die for me. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet.
I love you all.
Elder Hislop
1/19/15
yesterday I had my first major anti-Mormon contact. and surprisingly it was A MASSIVE testimony builder. the lack of the spirit while he was talking was so incredibly apparent. I knew that I never, never wanted to feel like that again. I feels so good to be always have the spirit to be with me. I love it. ……I really enjoy my life right now and my mission.
with love Elder Hislop
The reason a person should have lots of children is that with many children comes the possibility of having many missionaries and being a Missionary Mom is worth every heart ache (and gut ache) associated with bearing and raising children. Really.
I’d heard antidotal stories about the blessings of having a missionary in the field and, in a benign, general sort-of way, I believed them. It’s all good, right?
Right. RIGHT!! So, SO right. So much more right than I ever imagined.
Before Chick left on his mission I was concerned about many things, including (but not limited to):
- How many times will his companion hear him ask “If you could have any two super powers, which would you choose?” before he punches him?
- If he drinks cherry Kool-Aid, will it stain his teeth red because he hasn’t brushed them in so long?
- How many times will he lose his planner before his mission president chains it to his wrist?
- And, perhaps most significantly, who will take care of me while he is gone? Chick was my go-to guy, the one I could always count on to lift, carry, dig, mow, haul, and help. Who would do that for me?
God. I find that with Chick gone, God is taking care of me. And He is doing a great job.
Lance’s health has improved; he is more present with us than he has been in years. Miles’ physical ability to help has increased and as has his determination to do so. The girls, who have always been wonderful, are even more empathetic, compassionate, and appreciative. There is an increased measure of peace in our home and, perhaps most significantly, in my heart; less angst, more tranquility. Peace is priceless.
God is doing a great job of taking care of me. He is also doing a great job of taking care of Chick. My son—the young man who was largely unfamiliar with the working end of a toothbrush, who spent as much time in fantasy worlds as he did the real world, who would much rather be reading than working—is becoming a man. He brushes his teeth “often twice or three times a day I want my breath to be fresh”. He is firmly planted in the physical world and completely committed to helping others understand the spiritual world. And he is working hard—really hard—and loving it.
I don’t worry about me anymore. And I don’t worry about Chick. He is in God’s hands and I trust those hands. Every night in my prayers I thank my Father in Heaven for taking my son, for allowing him to serve, for giving him experience, opportunities, and challenges. He is doing a much better job with my boy than I ever could. Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, thank you!
I love being a Missionary Mom.
Love,
Teresa
P.S. Below are excerpts from Elder (Chick) Hislop’s letters. Original spelling and punctuation (or lack thereof) has been preserved.
10/6/14 [NOTE: Elder Hislop entered the MTC on Oct 1, 2015]
for the first time i wAS EXCITED FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE AND NOT AS a time in which i would get to sleep a lot. and perhaps as a consequence I got more out of tyhis general conference than out of any other two.
10/20/14 [NOTE: Elder Hislop arrived in Washington on October 15, 2015]
I learned about who my companion was his name is elder burton and he has only been out only three months. he is a great guy and a good missionary he is willing to listen to me as I talk about books and all other sorts of things that I am interested in. ……. elder burton is constantaly telling me how good of a ward we have. and we do have a great ward. …..we are apparently going to have dinner at a members house everyday. I am excited to buy my own food. it is going to be amazing. it gets dark here around 6:30 so we really have to stop tracting at that time because people who might have potential lose it because of a ready made excuse. so we try to have appointment otherwise we do a walk of faith. but during the walk of faith miracle can occur. …... the miracle occurred when at 8:20 we prayed for a guidance to know what to do. and as we opened our eyes a man with a dog walked in front of us we talked to him. and we had more success with that man that with any noninvestigator the whole rest of the week.
the church is true
10/27/14 [NOTE: His birthday is 10/26.]
so thank you for the many gifts and candy and letters you sent me. I actually had a great birthday. with letters from the Jefferies gram and granddad aunt Nikki and her kids and family. however I had a great experience when at around eight we received a text from the stake president of the neighboring stake. saying "this is president pope from the Lynnwood stake I need to talk with you tonight. once you are heading home can you call me? Elder Burton and I were a little confused and worried. but we saw them and they had a gigantic cake covered in chocolate frosting it turn his sister is aunt Cathy. so I got a hand delivered cake on my birthday
11/3/14
I love all of you but I am writing this with one hand because my other had is massively huge and hard to move it happened after I saw my companion get hit by a car his bike is dead he isn't quite yet. I am really worried about him. we have had a lot of problems this week.
okay it isn't like I made it sound but it is all true. right after I wrote you last week I saw my companion ride out in front of a car and his bike got smashed and crushed like a pop can he just stepped of and out of the way and didn't get hurt in the least
11/17/14
I really am excited to do a lot of work. to get stuff done.
I really want to work. we got a lesson in with a super less active who is very friendly with us and is rather shy. ahd the lesson went absolutly amazing.
I love all of you guys
12/15/14
this week was hectic and hectic and even more hectic I worked my self to the bone last week.
there was not a single day were we got any time to relax. and if it everlooked like we would have some time to sit down and study or put in some time fillers. we were called or ran into someone and was asked to go and help or contact or teach it was a very very busy week. ….. I love this work.
12/29/14
Sunday wsa spent a lot in tchurch meeting and sunday two investigator including a family came to church this is the first time I have had an investigator at church that wasn't coming before.
I know that I am doing the right thing. I know that god lives I know the book of Mormon is the word of god. andi know that familiies can be together forever.
I love you all
elder hislop
1/12/15
……The next day we went to visit a less active. Her name is Sister Savage. She is so fun. As we were talking with her she offered us ice cream bars. Unfortunately her non-member husband was the one who gave it to us and he gave us coffee flavored ice cream and I had no idea until I was 75% done so there’s that.
I love my area. I love my companion who is going to be leaving me soon :( Transfers are this week.
I know the church is true. I know that my Redeemer lives. I love Him and I know that He loved me enough to die for me. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet.
I love you all.
Elder Hislop
1/19/15
yesterday I had my first major anti-Mormon contact. and surprisingly it was A MASSIVE testimony builder. the lack of the spirit while he was talking was so incredibly apparent. I knew that I never, never wanted to feel like that again. I feels so good to be always have the spirit to be with me. I love it. ……I really enjoy my life right now and my mission.
with love Elder Hislop
Elder Hislop arrives at the Seattle airport.
There is a fabulous lady in Elder Hislop's area who posts pictures on a special Everett Washington Missionary Moms Facebook page. She also sends emails to the missionaries' mom. She sent me this message "Had your son over for dinner tonight! He tried sauerkraut and was a good sport about it. Lol its a traditional new years meal for my family to have pork and sauerkraut. (it's a Swiss/German thing) my husband hates it and will only let me make it for new year's. Ha ha your son was very sweet and even took seconds. We all got into a long conversation about Marvel vs DC comics. It was a pretty fun night. " It was SO wonderful to read her email. I felt almost as if I had been there. SO.............if you have the missionaries over for dinner, ask them for their mother's email addresses and send a little note. The results are very gratifying.
Brandon Sanderson is an internationally famous author. He is also Chick's favorite author. Lance and Tanah went to the signing of his most recent book. While there, Lance asked him to write a brief note to Elder Hislop. He graciously wrote the above letter.
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