Taylor

Ian's buddy got a mission call last week.  I say a mission call, not his mission call because his mission call will hopefully come in January or so.  He's a heart kid.  They want to see if he can handle the rigor of missionary life before they present  him with a 2 year commitment.  It's too bad, but I'm really glad they didn't just tell him no.

He'll be serving in the Fresno Mission for 12 weeks beginning on Halloween--good day for anything.  He won't go to the MTC because he can't do the higher altitude of Utah.  His call will need to be semi-local because his doctors said he could only go if he didn't miss his annual appointments.  He doesn't know yet whether he'll be able to go to the temple before he starts.  In situations like this, elders don't usually, but if he doesn't,  his father will be in Afghanistan and unable to go to the temple with him.  They are waiting for special permission from Salt Lake.

My point in recording this story is that sometimes it's really hard to do the right thing.  This boy has wanted to serve a mission his whole life.  Everything about the whole process has been complicated.  It would be so easy for him to say, "Nevermind, I have a health condition.  I'm off the hook."  He's not doing that.  He's dedicated.  He's determined.  No wonder he and Ian were friends!

I sure hope he gets a happy ending for his mission--and his life.