Birthday Smiles for my missionary Grandson and a question for you.

Today is my dear grandson Jalen’s 19th birthday. I could not call him because he is serving as a Mormon Missionary in Osorno, Chile. However, I did email him and sent him a gift and a card. I have been thinking of him all day with love and prayers in my heart. I think if he listens with his heart he can hear me singing Happy Birthday all the way from CA.  Jalen fills my heart with smiles.

Our missionary program is a marvelous program.

To me it is a miracle that 1,000s of young men and women ,as well as senior couples, are willing to leave their homes and families for a year and a half to 2 years, at their own expense, to serve the Lord and teach His gospel. Go to Mormon.org to learn more about our missionary program and our beliefs.

Jalen has been in Chile about a month. It is winter there and very cold since it is so close to  Antarctica. This is a picture he sent of his little apt.  He said that he got wood to burn but can’t get his stove to work right.  His missionary companion is from Argentina and doesn’t speak any English. Jalen is still struggling with his Spanish but he says that he understands a little more each day. The hardest part for him is not being able to express his thoughts and feelings to others. It took my son about 3 months to start feeling comfortable with Spanish when he served his mission in Argentina.  Our missionaries are blessed and learn the new language amazingly quickly, but it is still hard the first few months.

You may wonder why so many missionaries are willing to go forth and serve… and why their families support them and want them to go… some at great sacrifice. One of our hymns called “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” explains it this way.

1. 1. It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle's front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I'll go where you want me to go.

2. (Chorus)

I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I'll be what you want me to be.

3. 2. Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand'rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I'll say what you want me to say.

4. 3. There's surely somewhere a lowly place

In earth's harvest fields so wide

Where I may labor through life's short day

For Jesus, the Crucified.

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I'll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I'll be what you want me to be.

5. Text: Mary Brown, 1856-1918

Music: Carrie E. Rounsefell, 1861-1930

Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, has asked each worthy young man to serve a mission and invited any young women who would like to serve to do so. But the main reason our missionaries are covering the globe is because they love our Lord Jesus Christ and have testimonies of His gospel. They want to share His good news with the whole world.

I miss my Jalen today on his birthday but I would not have him be any place else. I know that his missionary service will bless the people of Chile, his life and us as his family.  Happy Birthday Jalen

My Question for you is:

How do I find your blogs now that Google reader is gone?  Google takeout wants me to download to their archive.  Should I do it?  I want reader back!