Hey, so my mama heart is FULL of anticipation again.

Not for a grandchild this time, but for my son Taft who this very week is likely to receive his mission call—or the assigned location where he will be serving his 2-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I’m posting here to gather guesses of where he might serve.

This guessing game has been a FUN exercise—tradition really—in our family and extended family just before each our sons has received a call to serve.

Clark served in the Salt Lake City South mission in Utah, speaking Spanish (June 2012 to June 2014)
Chase served in the St. Louis, MO mission (August 2013 to August 2015)
Trey is currently serving in the México, Hermosillo mission—he returns home at the end of August.

Geoff served in the Boise, ID mission and I served in Frankfurt, Germany

Here are some “Did You Know” facts about LDS missions and missionaries …

• As of July, 2019 there are 399 missions across the world. A mission is simply a geographical area, usually named for a city located in that area.

• Missionaries do not get paid to serve. They are volunteers and as such receive a monthly stipend that they and/or their family has saved to provide for their living expenses, while they are away.

• Missionaries have a P-day (for preparation) once a week, when they shop for food, do laundry and make other preparations for the coming week. They are also allowed to recreate with each other and local residents, or do some site-seeing if they wish.

• Missionaries are encouraged to call and/or write home once a week—on P-day. We generally talk to Trey on Monday mornings—we LOVE this chance to touch base with him.

Here’s a couple things to know about Taft …

1. He is very intelligent. When he doesn’t know or understand something, he simply digs in. He researches and prepares like nobody I’ve seen.

2. He took 4 years of Spanish in high school and is now continuing this effort at BYU. He really LOVES the Spanish language.

3. Taft is introverted, so the very idea of talking to strangers or speaking/teaching extemporaneously is an UNCOMFORTABLE proposition.

4. Taft has a strong inner compass. He has taken seriously the opportunity to explore our faith and to develop a personal conviction. In spite of his reservations he is willing and excited to go.

My mission to Germany was tough, but it helped me develop resiliency and confidence and provided me with so many memorable experiences to meeting and serving people. For this reason I have always encouraged my boys to serve, telling them the choice is absolutely theirs to make—I’ve loved watching each of them reach their decision in their own unique way.

When Geoff, I, Clark, Chase and Trey received our mission calls, we received an envelope in the mail. Calls are now delivered via email—the prospective missionary is notified that his or her call has been posted in the same online space where they submitted their application. Taft will probably be more comfortable opening his call by himself—so he has time and space to process. I of course am trying to convince him that at least mom and dad could be on the phone with him when he reads it. I’m trying to be supportive either way!

I’ll let you know what he decides.

🌎🌏🌍 IF you want to play along with the guessing, just leave me a comment below. AND, if you want your guess to be very accurate. You can visit this Wikipedia page to see a list of all of the world’s missions.