Home MTC started at 7AM Monday morning. He was doing his MTC through the England MTC so we weren't sure how the time would work. It wasn't bad though, he had to get up early other days, but he was done by 2 PM every day. He did companion study after that, but he could schedule that anytime.
He was up and ready when I got up at 6:30 AM. He looked so handsome and ready to go.
Lori sent me these signs to print up for him. So cute! He jumped right in and enjoyed meeting his companion and his district. His companion, Elder Blaylock, is from Texas. Jonah said they have very different interests, but they got along great.
Wyatt loved being Jonah's companion. They went to the gym together a few times. They also went to watch Colston open his mission call.
It was so nice to have this week together before Jonah left. We all just gathered in the evenings and played games or just hung out.
One night we went to the Orem temple to do baptisms. We were sad Caitlyn was at work and couldn't come. It was so cool to watch Jonah baptize and confirm Hallee and Wyatt.
I took pictures every day and Jonah would get annoyed and then I would tell him that I was taking it to send to Sawyer and he would smile for me. I sent her pictures and updates every day.
There was a girl who looked about Jonah's age who joined our group at the temple and Jonah baptized and confirmed her. I saw Jonah laughing and talking to her and assumed he knew her. When I asked him later he told me he just met her in the temple. Jonah is going to be the best missionary. He loves to talk to people and makes everyone feel like they are his favorite person.
She walked out with us and offered to take pictures of all of us. I was sure grateful for that.
Jonah got a little more casual as the week went on. He wore sweats since they could only see the top half in the zoom calls.
He had to start at 5:30 or 6:00 AM so he was exhausted and took power naps on his breaks.
Thursday night we went to the Payson temple to do a session.
It was great to be in the temple again with Jonah.
He loved the Payson temple and said that was the temple he wants to get married in.
Jonah shared a scripture on social media.
Jonah had a cool experience. He was supposed to interview a convert and he thought of Dennis Schleicher. Six years ago I went to Dennis' book launch and bought his book and shortly after that Jonah had to read a memoir for school so he read that. His book is about why he joined the church as a gay man. Jonah and I enjoyed the book so when we found out he was coming to West Jordan to do a fireside we went to it. We brought the book so that we could show him that we read his book. We stayed after to meet him and when he saw us holding the book he panicked and said he couldn't talk about his book because he couldn't promote it at a fireside. We understood what he was saying and got a picture of him and Jonah before we left. Apparently Dennis thought Jonah wanted him to sign the book (he actually signed it for me at the book launch) and he has felt guilty and worried about it all these years. Dennis is an influencer now, so I didn't think Jonah would be able to get ahold of him. Jonah sent him a DM and got an automated response so he commented on Dennis' post and told him he wanted to interview him and Dennis messaged him his number.
I found the picture of Jonah and Dennis and Jonah texted it to Dennis while he was talking to him. Dennis immediately remembered him and started crying. Apparently this has really been bothering him for six years and he said he has been praying for Jonah this whole time and wanting to make it right. He was very emotional and said this was an answer to his prayers.
Dennis did a whole post about it and it went pretty viral. Missionaries in Jonah's district saw it and asked him about it. People at my work saw it and his mission presidents in France saw it and commented on it.
Dennis said, "I told a child “no,”… & regretted it daily.
😢 After a fireside, a young boy stood beside his mother, holding a worn copy of my book. He had read it cover to cover and came to meet me, smiling, hoping I’d sign it. But because I was standing next to the stake president, I told him I couldn’t. I said, “This isn’t about promoting my book.” And I watched the light in his eyes dim just a little. I’ve prayed for that boy for six years. I’ve asked God to let me make it right. To somehow bring him back into my life to tell him I’m sorry… and that I never forgot him.
Today, that prayer was answered. He FaceTimed me from home MTC—he’s preparing to serve in Paris, France. Before our interview started, he said, “Dennis, I want to text you something.” What came through was a photo… of the day we met. Tears filled my eyes because I remembered the exact moment. His face. His book. My regret. When I told him I’d prayed for him all these years, he smiled and said, “No worries, Dennis.”
💬 I don’t even read DMs half the time (I get hundreds daily and can barely keep up—especially when the anti-ones start blowing up my feed 🙃). But something told me to open his comment, respond, and send him my number. That something… was a prompting. And today’s call reminded me that God never forgets our hearts—even when we feel we’ve failed.
📖 I testify that the Savior works in the details. That prayers—even the quiet ones whispered with regret—are heard. And that one missed moment doesn’t mean we’ve missed our purpose. Sometimes… He circles us back just to show us He never stopped listening."
Jonah was a little embarrassed by the whole thing and all of the attention. I told him that this was for Dennis, obviously he needed this and Heavenly Father worked through Jonah to help him. I thought it was really cool that Jonah was prompted to reach out to Dennis.
Friday was Joanh's P-day and Keith's birthday. We got Costa Vida for an early dinner.
Colston and Kyle came by to bring Jonah some donuts.
We went up to Dad's for a family get together that evening. Matt, Lori and Elena came into town for Jonah's farewell. It was fun to have time to visit. It was really hard not to have mom there.
Elder Loosli killing it on his first week as a missionary.
I'm so grateful my kids grew up around so many cousins!
On Saturday Jonah had all his MTC meetings and that afternoon the Carr's came over to help us get ready for his farewell. Katie and Kiara helped me make crepes. We made over 300 crepes! I could not have done it without their help.
Tiff and the kids came over to help too.
I told Damon we needed a picture with him and Jonah so we can compare them in two years.
While we were making crepes Keith, Ben, Wyatt and Rockwell were working on putting up this giant canopy that I borrowed from Karrie. She couldn't find the instructions, so it was quite the project. Wyatt loves any chance to show off his muscles!
Matt, Lori and Elena came over and brought a package that was addressed to Jonah at Home MTC. They are so thoughtful!
It was Cody's P-Day that day so they planned his call so Jonah could talk to him.
We wanted a picture of these two missionaries together!
BFF's from day one, now both of them missionaries.
Jonah was so excited to talk to Cody.
After that Jonah was finished with his meetings and wanted to try making a crepe.
They needed Matt and Jonah's help on the canopy so they went out to help them.
That things was no joke! Wyatt finally found some instructions online and they realized they were close, but they had done things in the wrong order and apparently the order really mattered.
These guys worked so hard on this and it was so hot! I told Jonah while he was inside at one point that they didn't need to put it up if it was too much trouble. He said, "oh no, the dad's are invested now, it's personal, that thing is going up." Ha!
It took all day to get all of this done. I ordered some pizzas and Kiara was so nice to go pick them up. Lori and Elena washed and chopped fruit. Matt and Lori went to the store to pick up some last minute things for us. I cannot express how grateful I am to all of them for their help. It was very stressful to have his farewell at the end of home MTC and the day before he flew out for England. I could not have done it without everyone's help. It also made it so much more fun to do it together! They helped us get everything ready Saturday night so I didn't have to stress on Sunday. It was so hot so I'm glad we had the shade tents.
Jonah loves Chipotle so I told him we would buy him some Saturday night. Ben thought it sounded great and they went and got Chipotle for them and Jonah and ordered extra for us. Katie and Ben are so generous. Jonah loved sharing his double wrapped burrito tips with Ben.
We had a great time finally sitting down and just visiting.
Later that night Maddox came and picked Jonah up so he could be his companion and they had one last basketball game on James' court.
Home MTC was a challenge in some ways and amazing in others. It was hard for Jonah to be right here by all his friends and by Sawyer, but not be able to go hang out. I'm proud of him for diving right in and working hard. We loved having this time with Jonah before he left.
1 comment:
It was pretty cool to see him as a missionary, with a tag on, spreading the joy of the gospel already.
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