Matthew is going on his mission to....

It used to be that mission calls came mailed in an envelope to your home. That is how we received the calls for the other kids.  We would check the mailbox every day in anticipation.  Then when they finally came, we would gather family and friends, some time that week, open the envelope and share the news together.

But the Church has changed that process now by sending them digitally through email.  It's much quicker, which is great!  We used to have to wait a month or so to get it.  But from the time Matthew finished his digital application to getting the email was two weeks.  And the stake president even told us, by his estimation, what day it would come.

 That day was today!  Everyone's predictions were pinned to the map.  We knew Matthew had to work tonight so we planned that we would read it after Youth on Wednesday.
 That was the plan...
But this morning, Joseph woke Matthew up asking him to look if the email came.  Sure enough!  There it was!

In Mandarin!!

Is this a sign?  We just looked at each other.  All he had to do was click on the blue missionary.lds.org.  I could tell Matthew wanted to open it right then (who wouldn't?!).  He tempted us with a three-person sneak preview so that we would be the only ones who knew before the family reading.  I must say, we were so close to doing that but then I thought about how this has always been a family event.  It means a lot that we support our missionaries as a team, even in reading the letter.  

So Dad told work that he would be late, and we called everyone to gather on FaceTime in 15 minutes.  We managed to get all the kids (minus Abby who doesn't have a phone), grandparents, extended family, and some friends somehow digitally in the room.

Then as Matthew started to read in silence to himself.

His eyebrows raised and his face looked surprised.

I just kept thinking "Where is he going to speak Mandarin?"

So totally not!!

He will enter the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo

May 29

to prepare for serving in Madrid Spain!! 

 Spanish speaking!!

So cool!  

But what's up with the Mandarin?

I think someone must have pushed the wrong translator.

We do live in a highly Mandarin populated area here... Hmmm.

For those who were wondering, only one person chose perfectly.    

It was Matthew's cousin Adam.  Matthew asked what the prize would be.  I think

it will be the bragging rights of being the only person I know who guessed exactly. ;) 

Great guess Adam!

We are so excited for Matthew's new adventure but more  thrilled that he is willing to put his own desires aside to serve God's children and bring them to Christ. Because it is through Christ we become new, strengthened and full of hope.  

It will be a great learning experience for him but Spain will benefit.  The people will love him for his sense of humor and compassion on their behalf because he has such a big heart.

Great things ahead!!