Called to Serve Richmond

As many of you may know, my parents recently left their Cowiche homestead to move to the opposite side of the country because they accepted an assignment to serve as the mission presidents of the Virginia Richmond Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our family believes this call was inspired of God and that the work they will be doing is important to building the kingdom of God here on earth. In fact, we are so certain that this request originates from Deity that my father left his job, my mother her house and her garden and my three youngest siblings left their friends and schools. There couldn't be any other incentive to do such a thing when you know that mission presidents and their families are not paid for these services anyway.

During this three year assignment, my parents and the siblings living with them will stay in a home provided by the church and will be reimbursed for everyday living needs such as food, some clothing, medical expenses, etc. They will be provided with exactly what they need to live during the three years they serve, but will return with no extra payment, bonus or guarantee on their financial future. Additionally, my dad will not be available to return home for events in their family life such as grandchildren being born, funerals, weddings, etc. My mom and the kids would be able to travel if desired, but the funds to do so would not be supplied by the Church.

Although this may seem punitive from the outsider's view and although they might miss some seemingly important events during the three years they are away, my parents will spend all their time keeping track of, and helping the young adult missionaries that have been assigned to their area. They will be responsible for preparing these missionaries to teach the gospel, keeping them healthy and showing them how to be examples to those around them. My family will be the parents and families that these young missionaries chose to leave behind when they accepted their own call to serve; my family will be the security of 200 sets of moms and dads who have sent their children off to far away cities in unfamiliar circumstances.

It may seem like a crazy sacrifice to make for both the young missionaries, their presidents and the families of all involved, but we see it as a small part of our lives that can be exchanged to spread goodness and light into the life of countless others. We believe that God cares so deeply for all his children that as earthly brothers and sisters we will be asked to sacrifice some small parts of our life to share the blessings of God in the lives of others.

When we know that God himself sacrifices his precious time on us, his children, we cannot be selfish enough to think that we could be exempt from a call so great that God and His Son have been wholly emerged in its planning and governance since before the creation of the world! (Moses 1:39)

As Elder Bruce R. McConkie once said, "'If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will, in the end, make no difference what you have chosen instead.' When we put first in our lives the things of God’s kingdom, we are speaking of the earthly kingdom which prepares us for the heavenly kingdom. With us, in this life and in the life to come, it is and should be the kingdom of God or nothing".

James and Sara Perry have been called to serve Richmond and if you would like to follow them during this experience, I will be providing updates from them on their new blog at http://calledtoserverichmond.blogspot.com.

Thank you to everyone who helped jump-start this adventure and for your many prayers on our behalf!