This is Nathan's official missionary picture. It will go on the "missionary" wall at the chapel. The ward acknowledges the missionaries that are currently serving missions by creating a small wooden plaque that has a 4" x 4" photograph of the missionary, a map of the continent with a star where that missionary is serving, and a scripture that the missionary has picked out lettered in gold print. Nathan has waited and prepared so long and so hard for this moment. I am so proud of him--I love him and am so grateful that he is my son.He will be serving a full-time part-time mission. He will still continue his studies at college and live with Brent and me, but he will also be called to work with the Director of the Family History Center in our ward. He'll do some of his work at the library and some on-line. He is currently called for 12 months, with an interview and possible extension to serve for a total of 18 months. He does not flutter about the house like I do when I've gotten a good grade on an Algebra test (198 out of 200 on my midterm!) or taken an especially great photo (I caught a bee in mid-flight last week!), but he seems more settled, more content. I know that he has felt deeply his life-long plan to serve a mission. It has seemed like he's stuck in the rabbit hole--rushing to somewhere for something but not knowing where or what. Now he has direction and purpose and will have a start and an end to his missionary call. That is a great comfort to him and his Asperger's driven need for precision and perfection. He was born, baptized, confirmed, been given the Aaronic Priesthood, and then the Melchizedek Priesthood. The next step in his plan was always to go on a mission. It looked like that would be impossible until just a few months ago when something--I can't even say exactly what--happened inside of him.
He will be a great missionary. I congratulate him with all my heart.
