Willing to Walk

I took this picture yesterday as I was loading envelopes to be mailed to the Dominican Republic.  This envelope was full of the letters "The Champions" had sent home to their families.

The past few months have been an emotional time.  

My parents raised our family in this beautiful home and just last week they sold it.

The decision to sale came after a humble spiritual experience my parents had.  They were filled with the knowledge of our Heavenly Father's plan for them at this time in their lives.  That knowledge left them to answer the question as to if they would be ... 

They answered

YES!

Two months from tomorrow, they will WALK into a new life, starting in Provo and ending in California.

Two months from tomorrow, they will become full time missionaries for our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

They are willing to WALK wherever the Lord needs them to.  

They will be gone for 18 months.

Where will they live when they come home?

They don't know.

But they do know it will all work out.

My parents have been amazing as I have watched them pack up that big house, full of beautiful things.  They have offered almost everything to their children and grand-children.  It's been like Christmas morning at times.  They have blessed our lives as they've freely shared their worldly treasures, in exchange for spiritual ones.

Last Saturday night was one of those that felt like Christmas morning, as we were all invited to come and take.

Sunday morning had me sitting next to my mom in church. As I hurried in and sat in the seat she had saved for me, she looked at me with tear-filled eyes.  I suddenly had a new realization of the FAITH it was taking for her to WALK. 

Her shoulders quivered a bit and my dad lovingly put his arm around her.  He is really the only one who truly "gets it", as he is also making huge changes by retiring from his job.   

It is quite miraculous and humbling to watch them be...

I was able to watch something else miraculous in May of 2014. 

A group of boys entered a state tournament and walked away Champions.

It was a moment our little village will never forget.

It's been remembered and celebrated over and over since the day it happened and yet, many of the boys on that team haven't participated in the reminiscing ... they haven't even had their picture taken in front of the giant banner that hangs in the outfield.

WHY?

Well like my parents, they were also...

While our little village celebrates the Champions ...

the Champions themselves, have WALKED ...

They walk the streets of the Dominican Republic...

the streets of West Virginia, Maryland, Texas, Tennessee and Mexico.

They are joined by other friends who walk other streets, all over the world.

They've traded in these uniforms ...

for these ...

as they WALK and talk of Jesus Christ every day.

Monday is the day all the "Champions" get to write home.  I suppose the letter from "our champion", Elder Hutchins, is what started the emotions of this day.

I love being a missionary! It is the greatest thing I could be doing with my life RIGHT NOW!!! Sure there are other things that are great but every thing fails in comparison to what I am doing right here, right now!   I am so thankful for this opportunity!  I mean, I get to be the FIRST person to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with these people!  The first!  How cool is that?!  God just places us where he wants to!  We talk to as many people as we can and we are trying to spread this message around the world like a big peanut butter and banana sandwich! haha! Nahh, Nutella and banana sandwiches are better! ;) But I am so honored to get to do that!  I am here sharing the gospel like Alma and the sons of Mosiah did back in the day! Abinadi! Nephi and Lehi!  The same team as Dallin Williams! Ky Fisher! Dirty Dan Nelson! Wyatt the Birdman Barrus! How cool is that, to be a part of that TEAM for two whole years!! I am so lucky! I love you all!

Elder Hutchins

WOW!!!

HOW COOL IS THAT

They inspire me and make me want to become the kind of person who is...

I'm not talking about walking in the Dominican Republic with Dillon ... or in California with my parents.  

I just want to be willing to walk into my bedroom, kneel beside my bed and let the Lord know I am WILLING to walk where He needs me to that day.

 That's not as easy as it sounds!  

What if He tells me to do something I'm uncomfortable with?  What if what HE wants me to do, leaves no time for what I want to do?!  It's a gamble that's for sure!

But I know the days I am WILLING to listen to the promptings of the spirit, are the days I am usually the most

Interesting how that works!

Each day we get to choose if we are ...

I think today I am willing

and it makes me feel like a 

CHAMPION!!

What do you say?

Wanna be a CHAMPION with me?!

To learn more about what my parents and our son is doing,

CLICK HERE