SAM IS FLYING BACK TO MADAGASCAR MONDAY MORNING!!!!!,
click HERE to read article in the Deseret News about the RETURN of MISSIONARIES!!
Because he is flying today, he won't have a p-day to email home this week. So, I wanted to document this crazy situation for his blog and share with you some special thoughts and experiences from a mom's perspective and from my tender heart.
First of all, last Saturday, I read a newsletter that is sent out every week to all of the Mada missionaries. It said,
News Flash: We are going back!!! I jumped out of my seat, I was so excited. I continued to read that there would be 12 missionaries sent back this week to help prepare for all of the missionaries to return. They said the 12 would be coming from Reunion, Zambia, Durban South Africa, Congo, and CALIFORNIA! No one knew who these 12 missionaries were. Sam's P-day was bumped last week to Tuesday because of the holiday so I couldn't even talk to him until Tuesday.
Then he got on line Tuesday, he said; "Hi Mom!" I said ,"Hi there, what's knew?"
He replied, "something very exciting is new. I may be going back to Madagascar very soon."
He went on to say that Pres. Henrie in California had texted him..."Elder Allen please call me!" He said he was nervous. When he called, Pres. Henrie asked him if he missed Mada.
He said "yes."
Pres. Henrie said, "do you think about it all the time?" He said "yes."
Pres. Henrie asked if he "would like to go back?" Sam said "yes."
Then Pres. Henrie said that Pres. Foote had called from Mada and was given permission to bring back 12 missionaries this week and Sam would be one of them. Sam said his heart skipped a beat and he started shaking with excitement. He was worried because he didn't have travel plans and he wasn't sure if it was too good to be true. So we waited and prayed. Then I saw the news release from the church on Friday night. Saturday night, I received a text from a member in Sam's mission (Sister Alexander), it was Sam. He said;
I am flying out early Monday morning with a Senior Couple
and I AM JUST SO EXCITED AND HAPPY!
SO IT IS REAL!!
He is on his way back to help President Foote and 11 other missionaries prepare for the reopening of the Madagascar mission. He feels so honored to be able to go back. The rest of the missionaries are expected to follow soon!!! Quoting Pres. and Sister Foote and every Mada missionary and their parents,
"OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED"!
Just a few thoughts:
A Place PERFECT for Him ~ When Sam was deciding if he wanted to serve a mission, he prayed that he would be sent to a different mission that would be perfect for him. I prayed he would go somewhere he would have to serve the people in rough conditions and he would realize how blessed he was. Madagascar was an answer to both of our prayers. He was blessed so much with great support from his friends and family as he went on this journey. As his friend Ethan said,
"our Sammy has left the shire." He learned so much in the MTC and was blessed with an awesome MTC group of 13 amazing young men. From the time he left the MTC, he has truly had crazy adventures. After flying 35 hours to Mada, they lost his luggage and as he drove through the city he realized that Mada was one of the poorest countries in the world. The culture shock and the language barrier were tough, but he pressed forward with faith. He saw people dig up their dead and dance with their bones, he saw flooding, walked through "poopy" water, had bed bugs eat him alive, rat infestation, he was thrown in jail for not having his papers, Cyclone Enawo destroyed his area, an earthquake hit while he was sleeping, he had chickens climbing on him, he taught lessons in shacks by candlelight, he had drunk people try to break down his doors, he even watched people die, and then the Bubonic Plague. Madagascar did not disappoint!!!
A Loving Mission President ~ With all of the bad came so much good! He saw the poorest of poor people love the gospel. These people loved the missionaries. They were happy and loving and always smiling. He had awesome companions and roommates that have become lifelong friends. He had amazing opportunities to serve. He saw lives changed and his life changed the most. His testimony grew and he truly became converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was very aware of a loving Heavenly Father who had provided a way for Sam to share the gospel message with these people. He also had a loving mission president that would do anything for his missionaries. He taught them, he counseled them, he ate with them, he played with them, he taught his missionaries that it wasn't about the "stats" it was about the people! And he taught Sam through his example of love and service. He had a mission mom who gave great hugs and took great pictures and always remembered the "moms" at home. Because of this, these missionaries loved Pres. and Sister Foote and worked hard for them!
I Never Worried until Now ~ Well, as you know the adventures didn't stop there. Just as he was in the prime of his mission. He was training a new missionary. Serving as a district leader. And had many investigators truly interested in the gospel. In fact, he had 10 baptisms scheduled. That bubonic plague became a pneumonic plague and was spreading rapidly and killing many people. This awesome mission president was being told he may need to evacuate his missionaries. They put restrictions on them; they moved them out of some of the areas, no public transportation, don't go into people's home, stay away from crowds...everything that missionaries need to do. Finally they put the missionaries on LOCKDOWN! Do not leave your apartment for 2 days. Then they packed them up, were told not to say good bye or tell anyone so they wouldn't be exposed to the plague and then they gathered at the mission home. The President was told he needed to have all of his missionaries out of the country in 4 days. The evacuation began. One by one each missionary was given new calls and flew out. Sam's visa had expired and he had to wait and watch everyone leave. Most missionaries were staying in groups in Africa. Sam was called to San Fernando California and had to fly alone for 35 hours. Parents waited patiently to hear from their missionaries. Sam was the last to arrive in his new mission. He was sad, exhausted, and confused and dirty. He was worried about the 10 baptisms he had a abandoned. (He just found out they were all baptized in December!) But with all the craziness in Mada, I never worried about Sam. Until he was sent to California. I worried about Sam more during the 3 months he was in California then the 14 months he was in Mada. I cried more for Sam when he left Mada then when he left me to go on his mission. He was so sad and struggling with the abrupt change and so worried about Mada. I knew he was having a hard time.
Making the Most of the Situation ~ The adventures continued. While Sam was in the Paris airport, an LDS couple let him borrow their phone to send me a text. Pres. and Sister Henrie picked him up in California from the airport and let him call us. They let him sleep and then they took him to buy some new clothes. He spent 2 weeks in a threesome. He complained more about the culture and the language barrier in California than he ever complained in Mada. Sam was assigned to be a trainer to a new missionary who was supposed to be going to India but was waiting for his visa. So they both felt a little like they didn't belong. He was made a district leader and assigned a double area. He was trying so hard to be a good missionary and he had been told he would not be returning to Mada. Right after he got to California, there were some massive wild fires and mud slides. Adventures seemed to follow Sam no matter where he was serving. He was making the most of his situation and trying to work hard and stay positive.
A Mother's Prayer for her Missionary ~ Through this whole process, I have truly felt that Heavenly Father has been aware of Sam. As his mom, I saw so many tender mercies and felt a comfort and a peace. I received a picture or a text from strangers who were with Sam just when I needed to see that Sam was okay. I would be reading in my scriptures and the story would directly apply to me or Sam and I would share many thoughts with him. I would hear a talk or see an article that was just what I needed at that time and send it to Sam. I have never prayed so hard for Sam. I diligently went to the temple every week to put his name on the Prayer Roll. I had many sacred experiences in the temple that told me his adventures in Mada were not over. I had faith that he would return and I knew that was a righteous desire of his heart too. I knew Heavenly Father had a plan for Sam. I also knew he was called to Mada for a reason. He had prayed for that before his mission and so had I. I still don't know exactly why Sam had to go clear across the world for 3 months to serve in California. I truly believe things happen for a reason. Sam wants to study film for his career, he met many amazing people in the film industry. There was a sweet Sister Alexander who helped Sam through some tough times.
Brother and Sister Alexander
Elder Peters
She invited him to her home for the holidays with her family. She told me Sam had a special place in her heart. Sam told me the same thing about her. Maybe he needed to meet Sister Alexander. Maybe Sam needed to see 2 different cultures to appreciate his own blessings. I don't know why he was needed in California for this time. But now he is needed back in Mada.
Finally, I used to ask Scott, why did Sam have to go to California. Why couldn't he stay in Africa? Why couldn't he have stayed with the groups of other missionaries? Why couldn't Sam stay with Pres. Foote? Why did Sam have to travel alone and go to a mission with no friends? Why Sam???? And Scott answered,
"WHY NOT SAM?" And now Sam has been given a gift; a second chance! He gets to return to his mission with a new perspective. He knows each day back there is a gift, a miracle of sorts. He is honored to return with Pres. Foote and many other friends to his beloved Madagascar and prepare to reopen that mission. He will see things with new eyes. He will not take one day for granted. He has exactly 6 months left and he is so excited and so happy to go back!! And as his mom, I couldn't be happier for him. Keep them all in your prayers as they make this journey...especially Pres. Foote. There are still 60+ missionaries anxiously waiting for the phone call to return! They have much work to do and the Lord wants them back!
Love,
Jenn
Sister Alexander sent this picture today and said this is how Sam has looked ever since he found out and told her he was going back to Madagascar. She said look at that happy sweet glowing face. Sam called us last night and he was so pumped up to be going back today! It was so fun to hear him sound so happy!
