Sunday, November 3, 2013

The Call......"INTERESTING NEWS"

I am so excited to begin another blog.  This assignment has taken us by complete surprise.  I am recording now for our posterity how this all came about.  Bob received a phone call from the secretary of Elder Don Clarke, First Quorum of the Seventy on Monday morning, June 3, 2013.  He was playing farmer, changing the morning water on the Sunkist ranch.  He was informed that Elder Clarke  would like to meet with both of us this week and options were given as to a personal visit vs internet.  Bob called me and asked how much longer I'd be that he had some "INTERESTING NEWS" to discuss with me.  Of course, all kinds of things were racing through my mind about the business, our family, etc.  When I arrived home he shared with me what had transpired and showed me the phone # on his cellphone...in case I didn't believe him..  We had planned to take off and go to the beach house for a couple of days so that is exactly what we did.

It was like we had ants in our pants.  That is about the only way I can describe our anxiousness.  We had a few things we needed to take care of at the beach house, (we had just purchased new furniture, which we wouldn't have if we had known what was happening in our near future) and we had some finishing touches and rearranging that needed to take place to put things in order.  With that completed and much discussion and prayer following it was decided that we should return home and pack for our trip and appt with Elder Clarke on Wednesday.  Remember the ants.....they are still so very much alive and moving around.  Yikes!
The boys were left in charge and given a vague understanding of what was going on.  We were on the road again at 11am Tuesday morning headed to SLC.  We attended a temple session Wednesday morning before we found ourselves in the Church Office building headed to the 3rd Floor.

Okay, I have to stop here.  I really was quite confident that we were being asked to serve as a counselor to the new Fresno Temple Presidency.  This would work perfectly into my life with grandbabies, friends and familiar responsibilities.  Crazy but when the door to the elevator opened and the great big letters on the wall read.....MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT, I had to swallow a great big gulp and move forward in faith that Heavenly Father is in charge and knows what is best for each of us.  Elder Clarke greeted us and showed us to his office.  There was some small talk; he asked us if we were worthy to hold a temple recommend and then pulled a letter from a file indicating that Bob had been recommended and approved by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to serve as the President of the Guatemala Mission Center. My mind was racing now, my heart pounding and yet my senses were completely numb.  Is that possible? Discussion followed about contacts, expectations and Elder Clarke's experiences in Guatemala.  We left 50 minutes later in a daze, knowing once again our lives would be focused away from home and family, serving in a foreign country ..... but helping to prepare missionaries to Hasten the Work of the Lord in these latter days.  We sat in our car in the basement of the Church Office building searching for answers to so many questions but knowing and trusting that all things work together for those who serve the Lord.  It is with great humility and thanksgiving that we embrace this new opportunity to Serve the Lord with all our Heart, Might, Mind and Strength.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

President and Sister Cox,
I look forward to reading your blog. PLEASE update it as much as you can. You were amazing parents and examples to me during my mission!

Con Amor,
Derek Hansen

Unknown said...

We are excited to meet you! We are the Pitchers. We serve as Temple Missionaries as well as helping out in the Rama B in the CCM. You are going love the country and the people. Of course the CCM is a Spiritual treat with all of the missionaries that come and go. See you soon. Saludos a todos.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for your sacrifice to serve this mission! I know you must miss your family so much. We sent our son to the CCM about a week ago. You and Presidente Cox are such a blessing to him. He loves you both. I am so grateful you accepted this call to serve.
Sincerely,
Sister Orr