The Mission Call and Beyond

This is Elder Lusk's mom and I'll be updating his mission blog over the next 24 months. Just to back up, though, Elder Lusk is a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (other nicknames for the church are Mormon or LDS). Elder Lusk  chose to serve a full-time mission upon high school graduation so back in January of this year, Elder Lusk began the process of not just completing forms electronically and getting physicals, dental exams and the like but also going through a series of interviews with his Bishop and Stake President (his local leaders) to make sure that his testimony of the Savior and of the restored Gospel was solid and that he was living as close to to the Lord as possible and seeking to do the best he can in keeping the commandments and, in essence, that he was spiritually ready to serve, but not only spiritually ready but emotionally and physically as well. You see, it's not just a matter of saying, "well I'm 18 now, let's sign up for a mission". It's been a process. But when that application was formally submitted to Church headquarters in Salt Lake City he beginning of March, we all knew he was ready. And then the waiting began. We waited for that assignment to come in the mail. Some people get theirs a quicker than others. And the wondering out loud in our family about drove us crazy. It was a daily conversation and it went something like this, "I wonder when your mission assignment will be here?", "will it take a week to get here or three weeks?", "maybe you'll serve in Montana or Montreal or Idaho or Ireland or perhaps Brazil or Boston". The following night was similar: "maybe it will be California but, if so, will it be English speaking or Spanish speaking? Australia would be nice but so would Arizona or Texas or Taiwan". And on and on it went! Zambia was never mentioned....or even thought of. In terms of his assignment, it is done by inspiration from the Holy Ghost. On certain days of the week, the church leaders assigned to make the missionary assignments will electronically  pull up the mission application of each applicant. They briefly review each applicant and consider the current needs worldwide and with a prayer in their hearts, they make the assignment. I know that each mission assignment is inspired of God and is not random or incidental. I know the assignments are not made until those making the assignment are confident that it is God's will. I know that to be true! I knew that Elder Lusk would be called of God to labor in his vineyard wherever that vineyard happened to be. It's a good thing everybody in our family knew that because when the assignment came in the mail and he read that he would be serving in the Zambia Lusaka mission, it was unbelieveable but we knew it was right.
Please join us for the next 24 months as we follow Elder Lusk's journey!! We're happy to have you along for what is sure to be an amazing adventure!