ELI'S MISSION CALL OPENING!

  It was a long night! Eli was begging Jared to look at his call just to let him know if he was going out of the country or not. Jared never looked. Then first thing morning at school Eli is texting me to just asked Amber Varvel if he is going out of the country or not...it's all he needed to know. I kept telling him no because I didn't want to ruin the surprise, but then I started wondering if maybe we should prep him. So I texted Amber this: 

"Ok Eli is DYING to know if it's in the country or out of the country - he' asking if he can text you. I told him to think about it at school and let me know after school if he still wants to know. I told him I didn't want it to ruin the surprise. I'm no sure what I'm asking you here....As a mom who has heard Hershal's thumbs down story, as a mom who has sent 3 missionaries out...Should i prep him so he's not disappointed in front of everyone? Should I love it be? Should you answer this question after school if he still wants to know? Thought without disclosing to much..."

Her reply was the most beautiful response. It gave me such peace. That was the moment I knew he was going to be ok and we needed to let it go. So I sent her response to him:

"I am not Eli's mom but I know that all of you have prepared well for this! I know what you are hoping for tonight and I think you will all be so happy tonight no matter where he serves! I believe he has been called where he is meant to go! Tonight will be exciting because you will will capture all those moments of surprise on everyone's faces if I don't say anything!"

Eli was still so stressed and just read that as he is going stateside. I told him I did not read it that way. We went back and forth in texts and then Jared and I told him to read his Patriarchal Blessing. So Jared sent it to him at school. He read it. After that he never asked again. 

It was a long day. After the twins basketball games Jared and I hurried home to finish prepping the house and getting ready for everyone to come over! Eli kept taking deep breaths and telling us how nervous he was. He even confessed later he almost puked before he read his letter! 

Eli has dreamed his whole life of opening his call in front of a room full people. That's all he wanted. I texted lots of people and the people came. All the local family came, Sister Taylor his old primary teacher came, Brother Zollinger his old 11 year old scout leader came, Mr Rogers his AP Gov teacher came, The Brooks his mission prep teachers, the twins friends, his baseball coaches, his baseball team, The bishopric, my Laurels, high school buddies I've never met before, Worthens, Cardons, Jolleys, Bells, Halls, Varvels, Jac Bishop and her boys, Hays, Emily Germaine, Aubrey Fullmer, people tuned in live to watch it....He was standing room only in a room full of people who love him deeply. 

There were so many little stories that made my heart so happy:

- A non-member baseball player cried while Eli was reading his call

- A non-member friend asked if the church sends you flags when you get your call

- There were about 5 other mission calls that night and my friend had to leave right after Eli finished reading his letter and as she walking out to her car she said teenagers were still parking and RUNNING to our house to try and make it on time

- I texted our 3 neighbors ahead of time to apologize for any parking issues that might be happening during this and our non-member neighbor who lives in front of us watched it live and commented on the group chat "PERU! Congratulations!" then all the neighbors chimed in

- Eli said after he read it he was so glad Uncle Nate came over and gave him a hug to break the ice with everyone

- Being able to facetime his friend Elder Kai Crookston while he was opening his call 

- Emma said that during the prayer Eli looked so stressed and nervous and as soon as I walked over to him and put my arm around him he smiled and relaxed

- The twins each went up to him on their own and gave him a hug

- The call came in just in time because Eli really wanted Jackson to be there for it and Jackson was leaving for the Provo MTC the next day

- When we texted out the family to let them know he was opening his call and everyone was invited to our house, Bryant texted and asked if we would be livestreaming it because he was in Lima, Peru! How amazing is that that Bryant was in Eli's exact mission! He sent several videos that night and the next day showing Eli Peru. Eli said how "lit" it was and couldn't wait! 

- Eli told Jared later in the week he is having a hard time focusing on baseball because he is so excited for his mission

 Jake and Jackson were racing to get here from another call and as soon as Jared got up there to start Sara asked us to wait because they were almost there. We stared at the door and about a minute later they came in! You can see the happiness on my face as they walked in and Eli's cute smile knowing his buddies made it! Jared welcomed everyone and told them how he was so nervous he was going to puke! He then gave a prayer to invite the spirit in and then Eli thanked everyone for coming and started to read his call. As soon as he read his mission he got the biggest smile on his face and it never left the whole night! He was called exactly where he needs to go, we have no doubt about it. (Even though it wasn't to Samoa to serve "his people"). We stayed up late that night skimming his packet, looking at his mission, he facetimed Emma and Hunter for a while! I didn't get as emotional as I thought I would, I think it's a weird state of shock you are in. But the next day when Annie Randall sent us our pictures (she is amazing for coming and taking those for us) I cried a lot. Overwhelmed with the love our family and Eli were shown. We are truly blessed and so excited for this opportunity Eli has!