Casey is home. We waited at the escalator for the arriving passengers. Skippy and Dillon stood right at the bottom, gazing upward for the first glance of a dark suit and missionary nametag. I knew Skippy would start dancing with excitement when he spotted his brother, but it was not Skip, but 16-year-old Dillon, who turned to me with an almost giddy expression, and said, “He’s here!” Ten seconds later, down he came into our arms… too tall, too skinny, already needing a shave at noon, and carrying a handcrafted sombrero, the gift of a hispanic woman he baptized in Dallas.
From Elder Josh McDaniel, I learned how to send a missionary out. What a great way to start, with a missionary that had spent his whole life preparing to go, and his whole life since holding onto the best of his mission, while adding new graces every single day. Josh is the most consistently cheerful and upbeat person I know, and I learned from him that every single day could be my “best day.”
Elder Breyman taught me hospitality. As I opened my home to missionaries not my own, I found that they were my own after all, and that I could truly love them that much. From Elder Breyman I also learned that everything is not just bigger, but also better in Texas, and that you can make almost anything from duct tape.
From Elder Krenkel, I learned that it was okay to fall down. Blood and bruises are a badge of honor, that show you haven’t been sitting around all day. Elder Krenkel also showed me how much a person can grow and change in a short period of time, and he never failed to amaze me with his humble love of the gospel and beautiful teaching style.
Elder Danielson showed me obedience and how to follow leadership. Coming from a tiny town in North Dakota, he was dropped into the middle of the Real Housewives of Orange County. For days, he simply followed Elder Breyman. By following a good example, the time came when he was a leader in his own right.
Elder Tyler McDaniel taught me that missionary work is about saving souls. Sometimes the soul you have to save is not a stranger’s, but your companion’s. His enemies were anger, frustration and discouragement, and he conquered them so that he could be free to do the work that Heavenly Father had laid out for him. He showed brotherly love to his companions, and kept a very little brother Skippy waiting by the mailbox for the amazing illustrated letters he sent so that Skippy would remember a brother over two long years. It worked.
Elder Gould taught me that life is not a popularity contest. His kind spirit and desire to do the right thing inspired other missionaries, members of the church and all the people that he met on his mission. He taught me the importance of confidence, and that when you are doing the right thing, you can and should be confident. Elder Hopkins taught me to express love for people that are not my immediate family. I had never really considered doing that, and he made me realize how important it really is, and that by extending that love, my family circle just becomes that much larger. From Elder Hopkins I also learned that stalkers aren’t just on TV.
From Elder Pfile I learned courage. He took his weaknesses, like a fear of street contacting, and turned them into strengths by conquering fear. He showed me how important it is to have passion for what you are doing, and never took a sick day in two years. He set the best example I have ever known of what it means to be truly repentant. From him I learned that the only true apology is a humble one. At the same time, he taught me about having fun even when things are difficult. He also taught me about loyalty, as he was fiercely loyal to me and my family.
From Elder Waller I learned that a tough and stern exterior may just be guarding a tender heart. He showed that when you know someone loves you, it makes all the difference. I learned from Elder Waller the power music has to unite people, and he also showed me the importance of gratitude for small acts of kindness, and the importance of doing small acts of kindness every day.
From Elder Hobley I learned compassion, as he showed that compassion to me in difficult times, and as he showed it to others. He helped me realize what a comfort a sense of humor can be, and that it is okay to be big, goofy and childlike because it makes everyone else happy when you are happy. What a great trait to have! He taught me to think before speaking or acting, but not to let people push you around. I also learned from Elder Hobley that one can hunt spiders with swords. Who knew?
Elder Crane taught me about discipline. All my missionaries were hardworking, but Elder Crane was one of the best examples of how to give your best effort at all times. He had the determination to reach goals that others would find too daunting to even attempt. He showed me triumph over adversity, and love for his companions. I learned from Elder Crane how a positive attitude and modesty (combined with the ability to blush) would attract people and make them want to learn from him.
From Elder Murray I learned about possibilities. Elder Murray was excited to try anything. His desire to excel was inspiring, and made me want to learn new things as well. Elder Murray was an example of patience and kindness under all circumstances, and in half a year I never even saw him give in to frustration, much less anger. That is remarkable. Another thing that Elder Murray showed me was how to build up the people around me by showing them their own best traits. I think his own best trait was childlike faith... another thing he taught me.
Elder Felkner was the example of gentleness and kindness. His McDaniel-like sense of humor was tempered by an awareness of others’ feelings at all times. While all of our missionaries have been unfailingly polite and considerate, Elder Felkner was the best example I have seen of being gentleman-like and moderate in his speech and actions. I learned by watching his loving behavior, particularly toward a certain pesky five-year-old boy, that there is no need to call attention to yourself… when you have a kind and gentle, yet confident attitude, people are naturally drawn to you.
And from Elder Casey McDaniel, I have learned that life is short, so you had better be about Heavenly Father’s business. He is an example of seeing to the heart of what is the most important, and pursuing that, without being distracted by unimportant things. I have seen how people are drawn to him and want to be around him and be like him, because of his clean spirit, positive attitude and his refusal to judge others. He has also shown me the joy that comes from being independent. I didn’t always appreciate that independence, but now it is priceless.
I am going to do something today that I generally avoid. I’m posting the letter we received from our missionary son today. I only share his letters with family, for a variety of reasons. Let’s face it… we Mormons are pretty strange. We have our own church vocabulary. I mean, what is an investigator? A person you hire to solve a case, right? Nooooo. In Mormon lingo, it is someone who is learning about our church. We send our sons away for two years when they are 19 years old, where we don’t see them at all, and only talk to them twice a year by phone. Hmm. The more I think about it, the less crazy that sounds:). But Casey (Elder McDaniel) only has about two and a half months left of his mission. He has become fluent in Spanish and is becoming quite proficient at ASL (American Sign Language). He was unique and fun when he left, and over the last two years, he has become just downright amazing. By the way, in the photo, he is the tall, skinny one wearing all white. I learned a lot from his letter today, and I thought you might find it inspiring as well. So here goes...
Yesterday we had a special visitor. The whole mission was invited to go to a meeting in Arlington. We had a pretty good idea of who would be there, and we were right: President Uchtdorf! All the missionaries in the Dallas and Ft. Worth missions went to see, and shake hands with a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of God. Well... all except for one missionary. When we found out about the meeting we were very surprised, because it was the same time as our church services. We would have to leave before church, and get home after. I had very mixed feelings. We have two baptismal candidates scheduled for this weekend. We needed them to go to church, and we also we had an awesome new deaf investigator coming. The mission president said I would be crazy not to go. Also the other missionaries were talking about it all week. I asked them what I should do, which they all answered with ease... of course I should go see President Uchtdorf. But it didn't feel right. So I was praying, and it was clear as day, and obvious. I have less then three months left. I spend too much of my mission trying to experience and learn. I knew it was time to give selfless service. I think the other elders got the idea I didn't want to go, or that I was trying to vindicate myself somehow. But that wasn’t the case… I wanted to go so bad! Anyway, I set up plans to have my companion go, and I would stay back and “watch the sheep.” He took a tape recorder so as to not leave me out. And for the next couple hours I was the only missionary in the entire Texas Dallas Mission. I didn’t know what would happen in church, but it was way worth it. Each of the members that heard that I stayed back said I was crazy. But I could see the bishop could tell I stayed back to support him and his ward. Our deaf investigator came, and she got lost. But I felt prompted to walk the halls during the meeting, and there she was. Also as I was walking by the stake president’s office, one of his councilors called me in, and thanked me for all the translations I’ve done. And I was able to take care of our Baptismal candidates. When I told one of them I stayed back to make sure all the investigators were taken care of, she started to cry. But I didn't feel bad at all for missing it, even when the other elders returned, talking it up. Later I was reading in Alma 18. When Lamoni asks where Ammon was, the servants reply, “You commanded us to feed, and prepare your horses.” (Apparently watching Ammon chop off arms, made them forget that detail!) And Lamoni was overwhelmed to hear that Ammon was caring for his animals. You may remember the talk Elder Oakes gave... “Good, Better, and Best.” It would be good to listen to an Apostle of God and shake his hand; It would be better to selflessly serve my brothers and sisters; but it was best that I could be where I needed to be to have special oppurtunities to serve, and listen to the Apostle's talk afterward, and apply those words to my life. According to the mission president and other missionaries I am crazy. But that is okay, because I am so happy to be a missionary, and to serve my brothers and sisters, and bring them unto their ultimate Savior.
This is getting long, but it was a crazy week. We took Sis. Leyva to visit the temple (the photo is of her baptism). We had helped her set a goal and she acheived it: She finished the Book of Mormon before we went to the temple Thursday. She hasn’t even been a member of the church a whole month, but now knows more than the majority of members in the world.
I also went on an exchange with My son, Elder Kelly {meaning that Elder McDaniel trained him as a greenie missionary many months ago}. He is the New AP (assistant to the mission president). I was nervous, but I was glad to see there were still plenty of things I could teach him, and new things he could teach me. Did I mention my bike was stolen? It was sad… my 200 dollar bike almost lasted all two years. I got a full 9 months in bike areas with it. Anyway don’t worry… having your greenie be the AP has certain benefits. Anyway I hope y’all have a great week. Love Elder McD.
I change my bloggy skin fairly often. I must admit, I like it here in the blog. It is its own world. It has certain, shall we say, advantages over the real world… for instance, it is always clean here, and if I leave for a couple of hours and then come back, SURPRISE! It’s still clean. Not so in my real house. I would love to decorate my house, but I find it prohibitively expensive. But here in my blog, I can slipcover, reupholster… even using this particular fabric that looks like it costs $85 a yard… and the cost to redecorate? $0. Take that, Mastercard. At that price, I can afford to change my blog every time I change my mind.
I probably won’t keep this “skin” for long. It is really a lot to take in. But as I was browsing through blog decorating land (this one is from www.shabbyblogs.com), I saw it and just had to try it on. And when I did, I found myself transported, somehow. There was something about it that reminded me of a favorite book, Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. It was though in my room a forest grew… and grew… until the ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around. I am just waiting for the ocean to tumble by, with a private boat just for me, so that I can sail through night and day, and in and out of weeks and almost over a year… to where the wild things are.
I enjoyed Where the Wild Things Are as a child, but I enjoy it even more as an adult with a Max of my very own. Every one of my boys has had a little Max in him. Sometimes more than a little. Last July Skippy was about to turn five, and the day before his birthday, a package arrived from Amazon.com. It was a beautiful hardcover edition of Where the Wild Things Are for Skippy from his missionary brother, Casey. There was a card inside. It read: “To: Skippy (The Wild Thing). Have a Happy Birthday. Eat lots of cake. And cause lots of mischief… just as long as you’re wearing a wolf suit. Love you much. From Casey (The Original Max).”
This is my day today. No, I’m not being metaphor- ical here. This is actually a picture looking out the backyard. I sent Skippy out the door in short sleeves into what I thought was a sunny day... and five minutes later there was thunder, lightning, hail and rain coming down like bullets.
