Emma was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Sept 7th by our new stake president in Weiser, Idaho. Roarke and Grandpa Miller joined in the circle. Two days later, Emma began her MTC experience at our home. We designated the deer suite as the MTC and Roarke dedicated that room for its purpose. Even though the home MTC is not what she’d imagined, I’ve watched her embrace it and really be committed to being an obedient missionary from the start. It’s been a whirlwind of Italian flashcards and long study days, but she’s enjoyed her online companion and district and her teachers, Fratello Ross and Sorella Ellison. Her Italian is really coming along. Right now she is half way through her MTC experience and is a little overwhelmed and intimidated by the 18 short days until she’s done with her MTC time, but it’s exciting to see her come up from class each time, all lit up, with so much to say (very uncharacteristic for Emma to be such a chatterbox- but I LOVE it).
When I think about her going, not just because she’s the second one, but just the tenderness in my heart for Emma, it aches. Oh I love her. Her sweetness and calmness- she has, from the minute she was born, been like a balm to my soul. Just exactly what I needed, what our Miller family needed and I love her so. It is such a miserable joy to send a missionary. I am so beyond grateful to make this offering to my Father in Heaven. It feels BIG to me. She is starting to get a little nervous- she’s never really left home before and so it’s a leap in a lot of ways, but launches are always a bit scary. And as I’ve watched her prepare with faith and willingness, I see that she is so much more prepared than she gives herself credit for. She will be qualified in every way for this work that she is called to. The fact that she’s launching on heaven’s errand brings so peace. I trust her to HIM. I am aware that HE has really trusted her to me for these 19 years- so it really feels like I’m giving her back (for a time) and in that, I have only faith. She was thrilled to receive her reassignment email with a call to the Honolulu, Hawaii mission. No one could believe it—it’s like the mission call jackpot x2 after her first call to Milan. Sadie was probably a bit jealous. Miles thought she was spoiled. Emma was elated. She leaves the same date, as intended for Italy, Oct. 20th.
We also got word that she would be able to attend the temple on October 7th to take out her endowments. This is an especially wonderful privilege with the temples closed right now except for selective ordinances under specific circumstances (prospective missionaries ready to enter the mission field being one of them). I am anxious and excited for her to receive those sacred temple blessings. She is looking forward to it, with a bit of hesitation, unsure of what it will mean. I remember feeling like that too before my initial temple experience. I remember sitting in the ordinance room with Sadie for the first time and feeling so much peace- like some sort of parent milestone that was in and of itself a peace giver- like she was going to be okay- she’d gotten to that place- worthy of that endowment and having had the initiatory experience, literally clothed with power and protection. I could let go- (a little- not to say it was me that got her there- it was so many hands, relatives, parents, angels, teachers, on and on- but I felt so grateful and so relieved and so joyous. It was like a coparenting feeling with God- kind of like when you deliver a baby, that minute you hold your baby and you feel how fresh they are from heaven, it’s like this divine bridge between the veil, the handoff, trailing bits of glory, entrusted to you- that’s what it feels like – an extension of that experience, to take your child to the temple- How powerful is that? So I am really feeling so grateful to be near that experience again, this time with Emma. My counsel to her was that she would approach it with an attitude that is humble and submissive- to just be listening to the promises, which are unbelievable powerful through our covenants with our Heavenly Father- and not to focus so much or be worried about remembering everything, but just prepared to learn about the Savior at a holier level. To feel her divine potential in His eyes as she makes covenants and claims their promises. I know it will be a special day.
- Mama , Oct 2, 2020
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