Wednesday was a hard day. My oldest son left home to serve an LDS mission.
For those not familiar, in the Mormon faith young men are very strongly encouraged to leave home for two years at the age of 18 or 19 to serve a proselyting mission for our church. They have no say in where they will go. During that time they can only write letters home once each week, and only call on Christmas and Mother's day, unless there are some exceptional circumstances. No dating, or any of the other activities you would expect young men to participate in. Suit and tie six days a week and they spend all their time with another young man, except for bathroom time. Young women have the option to serve for 18 months when they turn 19, but there is not the same level of expectation that they go.
We made if very clear to our son that it was his option to go or not. Almost, but not quite to the point of discouraging him. Social pressure to go is huge and we wanted to counter that as much as possible to make sure he went because he wanted to go. Apparently he did.
He has been assigned to the Missouri Independence mission. The geographic area encompassed by this mission assignment:
(http://fellingfamily.net/images/indymissionmap_sm.jpg)
My family is really close, and having the first family member leave has been really hard. He will be fine I am sure. Just hard to let go, especially the first time. At least I hope it isn't this hard everytime one leaves.
I just wanted to let it out a bit. Thanks for listening.
Also, anyone in the area, keep and eye out for a guy in a suit wearing a black name tag that says "Elder Felling". And give him a hug from his dad.
May God be with you and your boy. May God's countenance shine upon him and may He give the both of you peace.
Because of the way you raised your son he felt obligated to go. He wanted to do as you would do. Be proud.
Congratulations on a fine son. I think I was raised properly by my parents, but I'm not sure I could do what he is doing. I would be extremely proud of him if he was mine. 2 years will go by faster than you think. Tracy
Sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders and y'all raised him right. Congratulations :)
May his travels be with safe missions...Blessings for the passage and the absence from the family!