David Gets His Call! Texas Dallas Spanish Speaking Mission!

Wow!  Were we ever surprised that David's call came on a Wednesday!  With the holiday, and the volume of mission calls being processed, we were sure it wouldn't come until Thursday or Friday, but we were wrong!  Joan checked our mailbox for us while we were at work and it was there.  I called David and he was a little surprised, too, I think!  We let everyone know that he would open his call at 7:30pm.  David came up with his roommate, Zack and we went to dinner at Dask's for Greek food.  

We had a big crowd over to hear David open the call.  The Watkins, Nielsens, Browers, Fosters, Jon Farrington, Grandma and Grandpa Pratt, Grandma Williams on the phone, David's friends Zack, Andrew, Jake, Cory and Sierra. Mike and Lisa Foster came even though they had just dropped off their son, Nick, at the MTC earlier in the day!  David was nervous and excited - like he had been telling us for a while - it's just about one of the biggest surprises you'll ever have in your life!  He had been hoping for a foreign mission, but was well aware of the possibility he would get called to a mission in the states.  We had talked about it a few times and I kept reminding him that it's not about a geographic location and will end up being about the people and the experiences.  Dallas is a lot different than Salt Lake and he'll experience a different culture than he is used to. Also, learning Spanish will be a skill that will help him the rest of his life.  

So, at seven thirty, he opened the envelope and nervously read the letter.  "Dear Elder Williams, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Texas Dallas 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, May 15, 2013.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."

The anticipated envelope!

The crowd!

Grandma, David, Jake and Jon.

David, Cory, Jake, Rachel, Joan and Cindy.

David texting someone.

Rachel, Lisa, Cindy, Kris, John, Landon and Mike.

Dave, Sierra, Cory and Grandpa.

Opening the envelope!

Reading the call!

David's friends.

The letter and the map of the Texas Dallas mission!

Surprise!  Texas!  Nobody guessed Texas!  Andy served in Houston, Texas and loved it.  David's cousin, Michael, served in McAllen, Texas and loved it.  I am sure that David will come to love the people of Texas and the state of Texas after serving his mission there for two years.  He will learn to speak Spanish and will come to know and love a new culture of people.  I am sure these experiences will become invaluable for David as he grows and matures.  We are so excited for him to start this new chapter of his life that he has, for so long, anticipated.  David has watched and envied Tom while he has been in Brazil and just can't wait to experience it all for himself.  I am so proud of David and of the fine young man he has grown into.  He is one of the most intelligent, considerate and thoughtful people I know and I know the mission experience will just add to his already amazing personality!  We can't wait to share this journey with you, buddy!!