Called to serve, another “Open the Call” adventure

We were not “quite” ready to submit mission papers in April of this year—having only returned from our New York Manhattan Temple Mission on Jan 9, 2018. But the Brethren announced the Open House dates of the Rome, Italy Temple (to be the end of January 2019–to March 2019 ) on the first week in April 2018— we knew if we were going to have any chance at being called to serve there as Temple Workers, we would need to be ready to submit our mission papers SOON. So we filled them out and though we put Italy Rome Temple as our first choice, we also listed Utah Salt Lake Headquarters Mission as a choice as there was a “critical need” for Senior Couple Missionaries as Coordinators in that mission. Well our call went in about mid-April and our wait began. We had planned a Cruise to Alaska with our good friends, Scott and Deanne Jefferies leaving on May 22, 2018. We had hoped our call would have come before we left—but it did not. So—we truly thought we’d just get it when we returned about June 3 or so. Well—we left town, the White Call envelope arrived from Salt Lake that Friday and our kids were all gathering in Clifton for Memorial Day (without US)— and were so anxious to “Open the Call”. They made contact with us while we were “in Port” at Juneau, Alaska (May 27, 2018) and though we tried FaceTime, our reception was so spotty that we ended up huddled around Ron’s phone on a “semi-quiet”  sidewalk in Juneau—Missy was our “designated opener” and she read” Dear Elder Ron and Sister Carol Mumford, you are hereby called to the Church  and Family History Mission in Salt Lake City, Utah to labor for a period of 18 months. You will report on Jan 29, 2019”. Oh Wow—another very long WAIT TIME!! But we were thrilled and accepted our call. Then when we got home—we called the Housing Coordinator for the Mission, Sister Wanda Silvers, just to find out our housing options. In the course of that conversation, we learned our Mission boundaries were huge and that we got 4 days at Thanksgiving and this year we’d also have 4 days at Christmas—that we could be home for even if we were serving our mission. The light went on in this Sister Mumford’s head as she realized that if there was a chance to start this mission earlier than 2019–we could be “back home” sooner! So the question was asked and she gave us Elder Ted Hodges’ number to call and inquire about that very possibility. Ron called him on Friday—he was not in—but he left a message asking about that very possibility of coming “earlier” to our Mission assignment- Well—Minday mirning next-/we got a call from Elder Hodges and he told us our Call was in process of being “reissued” and could we be ready by Oct 1st 2018 to enter the MTC in Provo??
Absolutely!! Then in less than a week—another White Call envelope arrived—with a letter from President Jerry Fenn, Mission President if the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission and IT WAS OFFICIAL!! A flurry of activity started happening and projects started that we thought we had months to finish—but now we had only weeks. But—we DID IT!! And we are Ready to Go!!

On a “semi-quiet”sidewalk in Juneau, Alaska we listen as Missy with family “gathered” in our front room and on Conference calls from various places, reads our Call Letter

Family gathered in our Clifton, Idaho living room to “Open our Call”

Since Missy is the “oldest” (she’ll NOT LIKE that terminology) her Dad designated her as the “Reader of the Letter”

Others in our wonderful family who had also come to Clifton for Memorial Day— and got “in” 

On the OPENING!! It really was so sweet that so many were interested in where the Lord would have us serve!!  We appreciated them all so much!! 

Ready to Serve in the UTAH SALT LAKE CITY HEADQUARTERS MISSION