First week in the MTC

Our lovely boy has been in the South Africa MTC for a week now.... We still miss him terribly - he's struggling with homesickness and all I want to do is give home a big hug but I can't.....

Besides this he writes that he is bonding really well with his district and that he is learning lots and that his testimony has grown. He wrote that he finds the food odd... Not surprised there!

As easy as it would be to say come home, I know he'll kick himself for not giving himself more time and potentially missing out on life lasting memories and friendships. As family we have sent him words of encouragement and we are blessed to have some wonderful friends who have shared in this process. 

It was my first day back at work since Ryan left this week. It was a hard day - tears held at bay..... Only to pour out later in the evening as I spoke with my sister-in-law who was a complete wreck on the phone. I try really hard to keep it together but sometimes that's not enough... As we drove to my mums at the weekend I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.....

Haven't received any photos yet... Hoping it will help us to see him looking well. The MTC is quite intense from what I hear - lots of lessons and studying - we're hoping Ryan finds the process easier when he is out in the mission field based in a ward and mixing with the members.... Fingers crossed. We're planning a family fast this weekend with Ryan as our focus.

Going, Going, Gone

Yesterday was bittersweet - one of the most difficult experiences and yet one where our little family came together and the love I felt for each of them grew ten-fold.... I am now a Missionary Mom. My mum bought me a badge to prove it!

We had an e-mail earlier today from Ryan (aka Elder Summers) to say he had arrived safely at the MTC in Johannesburg, South Africa. We look forward to the correspondence we will receive over the next 24 months. I sent him my first e-mail as we left the airport. We have been overwhelmed by the love we have felt and had expressed to us through FaceBook messages, texts and phone calls. Nothing really prepares you for the feeling of bidding farewell to one of your children knowing you won't get to hug them for 2 years. We are a huggy family anyway but yesterday I wanted the hugs to last forever. The morning started with Ryan being set apart by our Stake President, Daniel Griffiths at the Stake Centre. What a wonderful experience to witness my husband, Colin and eldest son, Josh, assist Pres. G in setting Ryan apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As his parents we had the chance to bear our testimonies and later to hear Ryan bear his.

We had been joined by both grandmothers and Colin's sister, Rochelle. Many, many tears were shed. Afterwards we headed back home to - en route Rochelle's car got hit in the back. Never a dull moment in the life of the Summers... All in the car at the time were fine. We decided to grab some food before we left for Heathrow. We had a lovely time at The Foxlydiate Arms and felt well-nourished as we left.

With the car loaded with luggage and immediate family Ryan said his final farewells to Grandma, Nanny & Aunt. The journey to Heathrow was without incidence - we made it to Terminal 5 in good time. We spent time together - final phone calls were made to loved ones who hadn't been able to be with during the day - including Caroline, my sister who lives in Utah, and Chad - who had served as a missionary in our ward and lived there afterwards for many years - we love him dearly and are grateful for the wonderful example he has been to ur children. Got to love FaceTime!! The emotions were very strong as it came to say our final farewells - I feel them rushing to the front as I write this. To watch him pass behind the security screen knowing that was it for two years was hard! Im not going to lie - my heart felt like it had been pulled out of my chest - my throat ached and throbbed.

On the way home, one of my friends, Louise, who had been a Missionary Mum herself before called... I really appreciated her taking the time to phone - I didn't think I'd want to speak to anyone at that point as it was all to raw but she was just the right person. We were all completely emotionally drained from the rollercoaster of emotions we had gone through that I was thankful to get home and sink into my bed. I woke up early this morning and my first thoughts were to how he was getting on - I checked FlightTracker which showed his location on a map - this gave me a bit of reassurance and allowed me to eventually go back to sleep. As I look at the clock I automatically put it an hour forward in my head and try to picture what he's up to.... Right now it's 4:45pm - so he should have experienced his first SA meal.... can't wait to see how he adapts. He's tried really hard lately to become more open to other foods.... We joke as a family that Ryan is like one of the dwarves in The Hobbit who when presented with a banquet enquires "Have They Got Any Chips?"

Ryan's Mission Call

LI had a text at work on Wednesday morning from Ryan to say his papers had arrived. After being held up because of passport issues the day has finally arrived that we would find out where he would be serving. We managed to get Caroline & Mum on FaceTime and my Dad on the phone. Colin called his mum, who was with Rochelle and Caroline celebrating Zach's 5th birthday. 

Sooooo..... Ryan is to serve in the South Africa Johannesburg reporting at the MTC on Thursday 27th October. 

Overwhelmed

Last night Colin and I were messaging each other back and forth whilst he was at work, discussing the financial implications of Ryan serving a mission. He will have items he'll need to purchase to take with him, as well as a cost of around £6000 for his contribution towards costs.... that works out at around £250 per month. Both of our parents have said they would like to contribute towards Ryan's mission which is really touching and takes a little more pressure off us.... This morning I had a phone call off one of my sister's to say that her and her husband would like to help support Ryan. I was overcome with emotion - she no longer attends our church, so for me, this took my breath away. I can't deny that the financial side of serving a mission is going to be a challenge but I am so incredibly grateful to our wonderful family who have committed to help in some way - every little helps. As I shared the news with Ryan, I started to cry again! He gave me a hug and we talked for a while about the prospect of him going. I'm going to miss him terribly but am so proud of him!

It's becoming a reality

IT has been something we have talked about often throughout our married life but it is getting closer to being a reality..... The reality of one of our children serving a mission for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We recently had a new Bishop called in our ward (31st January 2016). For those of you not of our faith, this is the title we give to the ecclesiastical leader of our local church congregation. Adam Forsyth (and his family) only moved into Redditch at the end of last year. Since joining the ward he was quickly called to serve as the Young Men's President and had started to develop a relationship with Ryan (& Ethan). Last Sunday he met with Ryan to discuss his desire to serve a mission and start the application process.