Jason with his Hensley Grandparents
August 9, 1992

When Jason, our son, came home from his first year of college he was planning to leave on a two year proselyting mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).  Roger was in a nursing home by this time.  We had a very limited income.  Although the Elders' quorum in our ward was going to fund his mission we needed to come up with money to pay for his clothes, dental and physical check ups, and other requirements that I have since forgotten.   He planned to get a summer job but insisted he would not work on Sundays because he wanted to be able to attend church.  I, the one of little faith, said he would never find a job if he wasn't willing to work on Sundays.  Wrong!  First job interview - Long John Silvers - got the job - no Sundays.

Together we were able buy and pay for everything that he needed and we were sure he was ready to go.  Until the dental exam.  And of course that would not be a problem since he had been seeing the dentist since he was a child.  He hadn't needed braces and had very few cavities.  Imagine our surprise when it was discovered that he had some kind of bacteria issue under his gums or something (very technical).  We didn't understand the clinical part of it but we did understand the cost which was going to be about a $1000 cash.   He wasn't stressing - I , again the one of little faith, stressed enough for both of us.  No extra money . . . no idea how to come up with that kind of money . . . what to do, what to do, what to do (my mantra) all of the time praying that a miracle would occur and we would find a way to get the money.

Within the week we received a letter with no return address.  Upon opening it, there was a card with a the picture of a young man walking away down a road.  I began to cry.  It wasn't signed just said that it was from people that loved us.  Inside the card was a cashiers check for $1005 with a note saying the money was to help Jason prepare for his mission.  Who?  We don't know.  Which is sort of great because to this day I imagine who might have sent it and smile as I remember the many possibilities.  So many possible people...  Why?  Heavenly Father often meets our needs by inspiring others to take action on our behalf.  It was indeed a mission miracle. 

This is my second blog and the focus is going to be on the tender mercies the Lord has and continues to show me as I prepare to serve my own "senior mission" for our church.  It won't be a proselyting mission.  I don't know where I'll be or what I'll be doing yet.  But I do know as a result of a few mission miracles I have already experienced that this is what I need to be doing at this time in my life.