Viva La Mexico!

We have been anxiously waiting for Braden's mission call to arrive. He has had friends receive theirs, but his availability date to go was later. Finally, on Sunday February 28, the papers were sent to Salt Lake City. He began counting the approximately 10 days for them to arrive back in Provo with a mission assigment. During those 10 days, we signed up for Skype, a video conferencing channel on the internet so we could watch him open the papers. There will be many events take place in his life, especially over the next two years. I just couldn't watch this awesome moment happen on my laptop! So Brett and I secretly went down to Utah to watch him open it on Wednesday night. Tuesday night as we were traveling through Salt Lake, Braden called and said he was probably going to take a test Wednesday afternoon. I told him that might mess up his dinner plans with us...he was a little confused and then I said we were in Sandy and would be in Provo that night. "That's so cool!" He was surprised and happy to share it with us in person. Unfortunately, the mail from SLC didn't come all day Wednesday. Braden kept checking, but no calls came, and about 30 were expected. We had planned on going back home on Thursday, but since we had come 10 hours, we decided to stay for another day, hoping the envelope would come. Thursday morning it came and the Cannon center called Braden. He picked it up and kept it with him all day, not opening it until 9 p.m. He set up the computer so everyone at home could watch. "Elder Nelson, You are herby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Mexico Mexico City East Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 21, 2010. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."

Braden's hand was shaking a little as he read the letter. A huge cheer went up from the 45-50 kids gathered around, and Darci and Joe started cheering in Spanish. So exciting and so happy for him! There were 3 other calls opened in Stover hall that night, and many others throughout BYU.
As soon as we were in WiFi range, we started researching and reading about Mexico City and the eastern part of the city and beyond. The more I read, the more I worry, but the more excited for Braden we get also. He wanted to learn a language, and Spanish is a very good one to know. He will make a wonderful missionary and we will enjoy learning and growing with him. The hardest part for me is that I won't get texts from him or hear his voice while he walks home from school. I have to remind myself that it is the Lord's turn to teach and watch over him. And he couldn't be in better hands!