1/3 of the Way!!!

I've been thinking about doing this post for a few days.  Elder Coffey is actually well into the middle third of his service in Lifou.  He has said that they are making great progress sharing the gospel with investigators as well as strengthening the members there on their little island.  In addition, Elder Coffey and his companions have weathered a cyclone and several earthquakes, learned to build a grass hut, eat bats and spent Christmas Eve in the hospital in Noumea, New Caledonia.  Seems like he's really had his hands full so far!

He is filled with love for the people of Lifou and talks constantly of ways to improve the missionaries' service there.  Based on the information that he has shared with me, I think that he has certainly found his place in the mission field.

You'd think that with Elder Coffey's success and happiness in the mission field, his mama would be so pleased and proud.  And I am.  But I still miss him like he just left yesterday.  I just can't seem to get used to having my son and friend so far away.  And to top it all off, a young friend is preparing a missionary slideshow for her mission farewell and asked for song suggestions.  I, of course, recommended 'We'll Bring The World His Truth' sung by the Moleni Brothers as it has always been a real favorite around here as our family missionaries prepare to go out and serve.  And, silly me, I thought I'd listen to it while I was thinking about it.  BIG mistake.  I immediately began blubbering.  *sighs*  Maybe I'll be in better shape by the time Elder Coffey comes home....

Here's a link to the song so that you can blubber along with me:

WellBringTheWorldHisTruth

Beautiful Lifou

Ben e-mailed yesterday to let us know that he has been assigned to Lifou, part of the Loyalty islands chain.  It's a relatively small, coral grown island less than a hundred miles from the coast of Nouvelle Caledonie.  It's so beautiful, isn't it?!?  In fact, I was looking through the photos that Ben and I had downloaded before he left.  Almost all the really beautiful beach and grass hut shots that we'd downloaded are actually of Lifou.  *sighs*  May his mission be as fruitful as his island is beautiful.

Missionary Monday - August 30

Elder Coffey is in Fiji!

After a month's delay, Ben left for the islands early Sunday morning.  He is now at the mission home.  He'll travel with the mission president and wife to New Caledonia on Wednesday.  At last! At last!

This photo was taken by Brother and Sister Jackson who accompanied Ben to the San Francisco airport.  That smile says it all, doesn't it?

Missionary Monday - Aug 23

Been so amazing to hear about Ben's experiences in San Francisco.  It can't possibly be coincidence that he's teaching a part-member family from New Caledonia, can it?  I didn't think so.

Mission President Wade has won some votes lately as Ben is able to have his iPod, albeit filled with uplifting music.  That was one of Ben's big struggles was envisioning two years without his music.  Sam is doing the honors of filling the iPod before we send it off.

And can I just say, I love missionary e-mails.  I was on the computer when his e-mails popped in this week.  It's like a nearly real-time snapshot of what's currently going on in his life.  Waaaaay better than waiting three weeks for snail mail!

Missionary Monday - August 2

Got another phone call on Thursday from Elder Coffey.  He was headed off to San Francisco for about a month to work while waiting for his visa.  He was very excited to be getting to work at last.  I had to laugh as I had written him a note (that he hadn't received yet) saying that I thought they should send him to San Francisco so that he could spend part of each day pestering the French consulate.  *snort*  Based on his e-mail today, he's got better things to do.  He's serving in a triple with two other elders who are working hard.  They had a baptism on the weekend.  Great example for Elder Coffey!

Missionary Monday - July 26

Thursday of last week, I got the 'best of phone calls, worst of phone calls'.  I was thrilled to hear from Ben at the MTC!  He's doing fine, but had bad news.  His visa has been delayed, so he won't be flying to New Caledonia tomorrow as planned.  He was a little bummed, but seemed determined to stay the course until the paperwork comes through. 

If you can spare a good thought or a little prayer for a missionary who's currently on hold, that would be great.  And if you could say a little prayer for the bureaucrat at the French embassy responsible to finish up this paperwork, that would be great, too.

As for me, I'll be praying for them both and waiting for another phone call to tell me just exactly where my son is going to be.

Missionary Monday - July 19

I know.  It's been a while since I've made written a missionary update.  It's not because Ben isn't doing fabulously at the MTC, because he is.  It's not because I'm not soooo proud of him, because I am.  It's just because I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that he's going to be several thousand miles away in just a couple of weeks.

I know that he's going to be an awesome missionary.  I know that Nouvelle Caledonie is where he is supposed to be.  I know that the Lord's hand is evident in all this.

I just miss him.  A lot.

Missionary Monday - June 28

Ben is halfway through his MTC training.  Funny how it seems like just yesterday that we dropped him off, but it also feels like he's been gone a long time.

The title of his e-mail last week was 'Proper Etiquette around Apostles'.  The mission president training has begun and so the First Presidency and all the Apostles come in to teach parts of the training.  I've been praying for Ben to have lots of spirit-enlarging experiences while he's in the MTC.  Casually meeting Elder Nelson was apparently one of those this week.  Ben has never been easily impressed by 'famous' people, but he has certainly been touched by his meetings with General Authorities over the last several weeks.  New Caledonia is a long way from Salt Lake City, so I'm hoping that these opportunities to spend time with the Lord's anointed will help carry Ben through the hard days.

Ben also talked about the opportunity that he had to clean the Provo temple during its annual closing.  Fortunately, hard work is something that Ben understands, so cleaning in the temple for a change rather than his usual participating in ordinances is still a good experience!

Missionary Monday - June 21

Ben's letter this week was so  amazing that I didn't know whether to jump for joy or faint from surprise.  LOL!  He's able to teach the missionary lessons in French already.  With great enthusiasm, he announced that he's gone on an English fast...no more speaking English.  This from the guy who wouldn't even put down that he spoke any French on his missionary application!  Go, Ben!  I mean, 'Allez, Elder Coffey'! 

Now that the weather has warmed up - a lot - I had to take pictures of the roses before they go on their summer hiatus...

'Betty Boop'

'Angel Face'

'Double Delight'

Missionary Monday - June 14

Soooo, just when I relaxed a bit, thinking that Ben is safely in Provo for several more weeks, we find out this week that he has been made district leader over his district.  The district where everyone has been at the MTC for a month already.  What?!?  He's also keeping up with them in classes, learning the discussions in both English and French at the same time.  Sounds like he's being fast-tracked, doesn't it?  He's loving it.  I'm worrying that he'll head for the south seas sooner than we thought.  My way of dealing with it all?  Praying all the time, just like I always do when I have a son on a mission.  *sighs*  Isn't the third time supposed to be the charm?  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all this.  Proud of my son, worried what is going to happen next.

On a much lighter note, Mike and I have noticed an interesting phenomenon.  Last week, our recycling bin was barely half full.  We laughed about the possibility that it was probably due to the lack of Mountain Dew cans.  This week, Mike will be at The Big Event (a Boy Scout camp for older boys).  When I asked about how he usually handles the trash as I would need to do it this week, he said that I really didn't have to bother.  We have less than half a bag to put out anyway.  *hmmmmm*  What was Ben putting in the trash that increased its volume so stupendously?!?  LOL!

Missionary Monday - June 7

First, an homage to the blessing that is e-mail...
Receiving messages from my missionary in very nearly real time is truly a joy.  Being able to easily type out replies on days that my fingers are not cooperative enough to put pen to paper is a relief.  Knowing that the Lord's work is able to roll with ease in this electronic age is a great blessing.

Ben's e-letter this week was full of excitement and testimony.  I've always known that he had a great testimony.  It's wonderful to see it out on show!  This week he referenced a favorite story of mine about Joseph Millett .  Elder Foster of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy came to speak with the missionaries and shared the Joseph Millett story with them.

I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who made sure that my son knows that he's more than just another missionary in the throng of young stripling warriors at the MTC.  And I'm thankful that He knows me, too.

Random flower picture taken last week...

Missionary Monday - May31

Okay.  I'm finally ready to talk about D-Day, also known as dropping Ben off at the MTC.  The day went really smoothly.  We left early enough to stop at Subway in Orem for lunch.  Since Joey had come along for the ride, we used up our last few extra minutes at a park in Provo near the house where Mike and I had lived when we were first married.

The MTC at first appearance looked jam-packed with cars and people, but it was actually a very well organized operation.  The missionaries were standing in small groups waiting to welcome the newbies.  When Ben got out of the Jeep, they quickly asked him about the important stuff...like having his immunization record, NOT having house keys, and was he ready to go???  There was just time for a quick hug, and then, he was off to start missionary life.  Much better, IMO, than sitting there blubbering during the presentation for the families.  Mike and I were both a bit teary-eyed, and Joey kept asking "where's Ben?"  We all went and drowned our sorrows in some Creamery ice cream at BYU.

A pic of Joey and her missionary...

A couple of action pics of Joey at the park...

Thanks Joey for helping Granny and Papa through a tough day.  We couldn't have done it without you!

Counting down...

Four dozen muffins, two coffee cakes, double batch of brownies, enough fruit to stock Jamba for a minute or two and we're almost ready to host family and friends for Ben's big not-Farewell talk tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing everyone, getting a little emotional as the big day draws near.

Something lovely is happening in our yard, trying to distract me from the worry and work, I think.

My doublefile viburnum in full bloom.  Only happens like this every three or four years.

It's Official

Ben received him mission call (on St. Paddy's Day!) to the Fiji Suva mission, French speaking.  He'll enter the MTC on May 26.  As you can see, he's pretty pleased with the Lord's choice for him.  LOL!

An-ti-ci-pa-aa-tion

*sighs*  This is one of the hardest parts of supporting a missionary son ... waiting for the call to arrive.  We have created a game called 'Where In The World Is Elder Coffey Going?' to help pass the time, but it's still hard to wait.  There's a certain level of spiritual energy that sustains a missionary and his family during the application process.  Keeping that level up for a smooth transition into the MTC is pretty difficult.  Now is not the time for doubts or mis-steps.

Thank goodness for a Father who knows us and loves us no matter what!