Mission Letter Week 4 - 12 August 2013

This is Elder Nine’s mom.  First, there is no letter for "Week 3" because Elder Nine was traveling that day to the Mission Field.

Next: Some short explanations, in order that you may better understand our crazy family:  This was typed out in several emails, as Elder Nine replied to our smaller emails that had questions and then finally our bigger email. ;)  So I’m just posting this as they came in with my own (parenthesis) to explain what it’s reference to if needed.  Please excuse the “texting grammar” used. I’m sure you young’uns will understand it with no problem. lol :P

Also - I realize some of these comments are tedious (like the one about letters vs emails).  But I share them because I know several are yet to go on missions, and these things might be good topics of discussion with your family prior to serving those missions. :)

Any reference to “Chicken” anything or “Braaak” anything are terms of endearment that our family uses in reference to Jonathan. It began the first 6 years of his life when his “chicken feathers” on the top center of his head would NOT comb down and always stuck up!  “Chicken head” was the first term of endearment, and it grew from there.  Now those terms are packed with 19 years worth of memories and special ‘meaning’. ;)

Also, you may wonder why there are so many emails. It's because we happened to be online when we received the first one - so he was able to answer the 2 or 3 we had previously sent, then also answered the ones we sent while he was online and he was able to respond immediately. That is not going to be a normal occurrence from what we understand. 

Enjoy reading. :)

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Email 1:  (Mom had asked him if he preferred emails or handwritten):   Hand written letters would be cool, but it's much harder to reply over email with them.... tell you what, do one of these two things... or both. Either write hand written letters, or write one email... or do both... but the big one is, try to keep the emails to one email.... simply because it's easier to read one and reply to it than a bunch. MAYBE you could just save a draft and anytime you want to write something, write it in there, and then like Sunday night or Monday morning send it. If you want to... I'll take any and all writing of any kind and be happy about it. :)

I have already felt so many blessings come from the tiny amount of work Ive done so far and I can't wait to dive deeper into it. :D I'm gonna keep this email short and write more on another one…

I love you very, very much.

Elder Nine

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Email 2:  Hey you two!!!.....sooooo I need a bike asap... I hope this doesn't come at a bad time but I really do need to know what to do........ Email back before 1030 and we can talk about it!!!!!!

- Elder Nine

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Email 3:  (In reference to the fact that he missed the huge “Welcome” that the 300+ members in the Bakersfield area threw for all the new missionaries arriving on 8/5):   Yes, I did miss it, but it was for a good cause. Our travel group got split and Elders L (in my MTC District) and L and myself made sure that the Sisters with us got there on time. :)

Click HERE to see a video of the airport welcome

(In reference to his Dad telling him how he’s now teaching the younger group of scouts, just as he had once taught Jonathan in Scouts):   You have taught me well and I am taking that great pool of knowledge and using it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Thank you for teaching me. I am glad that these other young men can partake of you knowledge, experience and love just as I did. It will make real men out of them. :)

(His dad told him he’s now being somewhat of “DJ” sometimes at church activities where he would normally be attending anyway):   hahaha DJ Growly Bear!  Brilliant name. Keep it.

(His dad told him he found one of his old scout books and will be using it next to teach the young scouts):  I am glad that my work here can help in another back home too. It's starting to hit me what kind of effect this work can have in my life and everyone and everything in it. :)

I love you Braaky, taker care, and be cool.

-Elder Chicken

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Email 4: (Mom had said sorry for writing long and numerous emails and I’d try to keep them shorter):  Not shorter just one big one if possible haha... Don't be afraid to write, its just easier to have it all on one screen, if possible. :)

And yes, more details to come.

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Email 5:
I’m adding daddy to this so you can both see...

I am in the P/L area-ish... RV 1st ward!!! :D It's AWESOME !!! Although it is a bit "hilly" here....by that I mean 'very'. hahaha. And the wind hates me. But it's good for me.

My comp is Elder N and he is so cool!! I'll try to attach a picture... I think it'll show up as DSCF0160.JPG...... I hope. 

Let me know how the pics turn out and if they are pics or if you have to open them and where they are on the email (bottom, where I placed them, etc.)

The area is awesome!!! I kinda already talked about it. And I'm short on time....again.....

Elder L was in my travel group to Bakersfield!!! That's super cool!!!! He's an awesome missionary. :D

The Elder I did that role-play with was a cool Spanish-speaking Hispanic Elder. :D He and I got along great and we really did work very well together.  Cool that she (the Mission Home secretary) complimented us about it though!! :)

President and Sister W are AMAZING AND SO NICE! :D I love them so much! And yes, we did get held up at SLC airport ALL DAY... Elder L and L were with me and we made sure that the Sisters that were with us got there on time. We are heroes. :) Haha!

I do get the pics very nicely. :)

Here's a pic from me.  It's DSCF0041.JPG.  I'm with Elder C.  (I'm giving you the file name because I don't know how the pics are coming through)

For mailing, send it to the mission but use USPS!!!!! The post office... If you do that, they forward it to my address, same day from the mission home... So use the post office, normal mailing, USPS....

I'm glad Emi will have a chance to be in a good organization with good music. That's the important part. :) It makes a huge difference in your life... I didn't realize how much of a difference until recently. I'm almost out of time so I will have to abbreviate the end of this email...

Emily, those are some awesome thoughts on those scriptures and I can't wait to hear what you think about verse 28!! There's no set answer so I'm glad that you are thinking about it yourself and trying to understand. It's very important that we learn the scriptures and try to live what they teach. :)

Boss is a very cute dog. :D And cool that you got to go swimming!! I've done pet-sitting before and it's fun. :)

I am having a good time here and my first companion is AWESOME! :D I have to go now so I'll talk to you guys next week!

Here are some pics before I go! (I had to split the email because of memory limit per email - lol!)

DSCF0036 is Elder V (from Canada) in his stud-puffin PJ's. Haha!

0044 is Elder A and me when we met up at the MTC.

0052 Is my District at the MTC!! :D

The email won't let me put on any more pics...more next week!!!

Mama, I have one last thing for you... I was at a members home last night eating dinner and sharing a message. During dinner Brother F asked Elder N and I to share the testimonies of our mothers. Just to get us thinking and as a reference to Helaman's Sons... which is very applicable to me. ;) And the scripture came to mind when the Sons of Helaman say: "We do not doubt, for our mothers knew it". I do not doubt. For you knew it. And you have taught me. I love you, Mama.

… To mail things just use USPS from the post office and mail it to the mission home/office... You must needs use USPS because they forward it same-day to my address... otherwise it'll take a few extra days... ILY. Braaaak. I'm getting booted off...write me a hand letter when  I can buy a bike. I need one asap.

Lots of love and more to come,

Talk to you guys next week :)

Love,
 
- Elder Nine

Mission Letter Week 2 - 02 August 2013

I. AM. SUCH. A. BABY. I'm not even playin' around now y'all. It's cray cray. I have had more spiritual experiences in the last 3 days than I have my entire LIFE. I'll use one example because the rest take more time and I'm pretty short on that.  :(

I was in class period with Brother C (one of the best "Inviters of the Spirit", not teacher, that I've ever known, along with Brothers C, G and S,) and the rest of my District (we have grown insanely close in the MTC. Our Branch President, Pres Mangum said that we are closer than any other District he's ever worked with! :D) We were discussing the difference between knowing the gospel and having a testimony of it, vs UNDERSTANDING the gospel, living it, and becoming fully converted unto Christ. We were role playing and I was talking with my companion, Elder B, as if he were an investigator, and as I was teaching him, I started getting REALLY frustrated...almost angry, to the point where I couldn't think of any more things to "say" or "teach" or "explain"... So I leaned back in my chair and just waited.......and waited........aannddd waited....for about 5-6 min. I waited until I could feel the Spirit....and then I started getting choked up.  Brother C  rolls over to me and says, what's up Elder? You OK? And before even 2 seconds go by he says "Oh...come here let's talk." So a Brother that was in there subbing for Brother C talks with Elder B  while Brother C and I talk on the other side of the room. We just had a short chat about what I just told you and he drew a small word-diagram describing how we can have a testimony and a knowledge of the gospel, and I could spend my whole mission like that and be just fine......or, I can gain an UNDERSTANDING of the gospel, be converted, and LIVE IT. I started to cry like a baby and told him, "I don't want to just know. I want to understand. I want to live it." The spirit FILLED THE ENTIRE FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. Elders C and P felt it slam them hard too. I talked a little more with Bro C then stepped out to the hall to get a drink of water...and I cried more....and I saw Sisters B and B out there too (they are in our Zone) and they had just come out for the same reasons, so the three of us talked about what we'd learned, cried together, then got water, cowboyed-up and walked back into class.......so there it is. And I've had about a hundred of those a DAY here.

OK so time for not so spiritual details. In our District we have Elders P (DL) and C (my previous comp in our trio), B and me, A and L, R and R . 8. It's supposed to be 10 but one never showed and just a few days ago Elder K had to go home because his Grandpa is passing. We all really miss him. Especially Elder P, his original comp. Companions are family here. And districts too. Zones are like close extended family. So Elder C is with Elder P now and it's me and B.  As afore mentioned, our District is very close. Most Districts don't do a whole lot together for various reasons…. We do EVERYTHING TOGETHER. EVERYTHING. Like two days ago during gym time we went to the outdoor field and played sand volleyball.....we sucked. OH and afterwards, Elder C runs down the hill barefoot into the soccer field where there is a pretty serious game going on, runs CLEAR ACROSS the ENTIRE field, steals the soccer ball, dribbles 40 ft, breaks the goalie's ankles and scores!!! And he's never played before!!!!!  It was soooo funny!!! And our whole district ran down the hill, screaming like 'fan' girls, hands in the air, met him in the middle of the field and picked him and carried him off!  That will forever be our "carnal highlight" of the MTC hahaha!

Oh and also, the Elders in my District that are coming with me to Bakersfield are A, L, and C...so half our District. The other half is going to Philly. So, have the Philly boys and Cali boys.

I'm going to run back to my res hall and grab my cable for my camera then I'll send pics and answer questions. :D

Love, Elder NINE :)

Remember who you are. Open your mouth. LIVE IT.
(Yes, I added to it.)

(Then Daddy replied immediately (tongue in cheek) expressing how he had "bad news" - that now Elder Nine will be responsible for the new knowledge he has just gained and yet how we have confidence in him, for he is a warrior of the truth and he is being armed for the battle against the forces of darkness.  Then he sent him a "non-spiritual" picture which you can see below.   So Elder Nine was able to reply back with):

Braaaacckkkk! It isn't bad news to know and understand the gospel. It is glorious news because I am that much closer. :D But, you are right, this fight is about to get rough… I will simply stand by my Savior and our team will win. "Simple" as that. And yes, I am responsible for the understanding I have come to, and held on a higher playing field… but that just means I also have the upper ground on the enemy, and the one holding the upper ground will come out conqueror…Which reminds me of the scripture (D&C 10:5) "Pray always, that you may come off conqueror…" Read that tonight. Inspiring scripture. :) Cute pic…..??  hahaha Elders C, B and P love it too.

Hi Emi!! Yes, you can have my fedora hats.

BRAK one other thing, can you also send me my blue water bladder, the Camelback one? :D

Love, Elder Nine

(Then after getting his camera cable and figuring out it didn't work, this):

I can't send pics from the MTC computers because they restrict them so much :( So I guess you'll be getting a TON of them on my next P-day......which will most likely be a week from this Monday.

OK! Answers time.

Check in was FAST. They yanked me out of the car and pulled my bags out and ran us in.....it was very abrupt. haha. As for my Patriarchal Blessing, if you just send it to Cali that'll be fine :P Thanks!

All the shoes I want to keep are already packed up...unless the Red Wings are not packed up…I want those... haha Daddy, no touchy! ;) And I totally did yell "Goo Goo"in the cafeteria!!!........ And she was standing right behind me! It was terrifying! haha! We talked while in the lunch line but we don't see each other much.  (This is Elder Nine's 3rd cousin he's referring to, she goes by "Goo Goo", so her Mom told me to tell Elder Nine to yell it out so he could find her ... and he did.) :)

She (Emi) can have the rackets and the hats and pretty much anything else. Like I said, I've packed every thing I want to keep. That includes my camping stuff in the garage... I counted that as already packed.

ZL (Zone Leader) is soooo much fun and so cool!! On Wed I got to bring in the new District (new in-coming missionaries) with Elder B, and I felt very much in charge. :D But at the same time it is also very humbling... I get to work with the Branch Presidency a lot too. Speaking of which, BROTHER O is one of the counselors, not the 'President', and yes, he and his wife know the B's in Plano! Sis. O was the first to figure it out. :)

I found my contacts book, I had just left it in my resident hall, is all I meant. But thank you for putting all my contacts in here!! It's way easier.

I have not met Elder E but that could still be a real deal... IDK (I Don't Know), there were a billion missionaries when I came in.

I only see Elder Y once in a while and we haven't been able to talk much…He seems to be struggling with the general MTC life style, but as long as he turns to his Heavenly Father I know he'll pull through and be a great missionary. In the field I know he'll feel better... I can admit to feeling a little out of sorts now and then too. In fact I've woken up twice this last week and thought, two years? Psshhh... no way. I'm out..... and then I kneel and pray by myself, with my comp, and then with the District, and we all ask for strength, for ourselves and for each other and I stand up and I'm rarin' to go!! That is honestly how our District has bonded the most, is by supporting each other like that. :)

I have a cable for the camera...like I mentioned, too many recent restrictions to email photos here.  :(

My schedule is INSANE. Wake up at 530, exercise for an hour, shower, eat at 7, class or Zone teaching at 720, class at 9, lunch at 1140, more class, at 4 we have personal study, more class, dinner, more class, study, back to the res hall by 930, prep for the next day and plan, 1015 quiet time, journal time, 1030 SLEEP AT LAST..... and then we wake up at stupid-o'clock AM again. (-____-) hahaha

Favorite thing each day?? Class, when Brother C teaches.... unless there's gym time. Then it's gym time.

The Provo Temple is closed though, so no temple time. :'(

I AM getting up on time Daddy, so HA! Actually I'm the first one up and running........ so ha HA!

As for the towels........ I almost cried the first time I showered and realized I had forgotten to bring them. Ha! But the bookstore has .47 cent towels! 

The food is awesome in taste...but if you ever have that feeling where you ALWAYS have to take the BIGGEST dump of your life every hour and yet you're also stopped up, that's what it does to everyone.

And actually the beds are FANTASTIC!!! The sheets are very, very humble but they are comfy. And Mama, no need to feel bad about the mattress back home.  It worked for its purpose and I knew I was leaving soon, so no biggy.

I don't get DearElder (an online mail service) letters on Sundays but I do on Saturdays and every day of the week...just not Sunday. I have the MOST mail out of anyone...almost more than the whole District combined....they hate me for that! :) Hahaha! I love DearElder!....but in the field it really makes it more hassle because then I think I'll have to go to the mission home every day.... So once I leave for Cali, just send normal emails.

That is all, I must needs leave now :) Love you guys!!!! BYE.

Love,

Elder Nine

(I asked him to please try to use someone's USB to upload photos…):

I'll try to, but I'm really almost out of time and this is the last P-day in the MTC. But I'll see what I can do.... As for my Grammar BTW (By The Way), it only gets sloppy if I'm really short on time. haha. Love you, bye!!

Elder Nine

(Mom's note:  there will be no "Mission Letter Week 3, because Elder Nine will be traveling that day to the mission field., but in order to keep track of the correct week number, I just mark the next letter as Week 4.)

Mission Letter Week 1 - 26 July 2013

ELDER A IS IN MY DISTRICT!!!!!! I totally forgot about him! hahaha. How do I know him again??  Reply to this one on DearElder so I can get it asap. :D I haven't met anyone else on there yet though...my companions are totally awesome though!!! :D Elders B and C. Elder B got here late from Canada due to flight delays and Elder C  is from Tucson, Arizona. Also one of our ZL's (Zone Leaders) is from Houston so we bonded pretty fast. hahaha.

HOLY COW! so I've learned more in the last two days about the gospel and how to invite others to Christ than I have in my entire life! It's SO awesome here and I'm having a SWELLTASTIC time. The Elders in our District and Zone are amazing and the Sisters in our Zone are too! Sadly we have no Sisters in our District but oh well haha...Tell Daddy to stop laughing at that! ;) OH B T DUBS (Be The Way). I got called as a ZL with my companions starting on Sunday!! (And in case it wasn't clear yet, we are a trio companionship haha) All in all it's been amazing and VERY busy. I've started in Grandpa's journal and plan to write in it everyday. Getting my thoughts onto paper after the day is done is really nice, very calming.

We have also started to teach "mock investigators", so that's fun. :D It is actually more difficult than I thought to teach someone by inviting instead of appearing to shove it down their throats... Gotta watch out for that, my Wagner blood takes over! There is sooo much I want to talk about but I just don't have the time!! (Fridays are my P-day while at the MTC BTW) I know everything is kinda randomly ordered right now - haha. They really just threw us into the fray so it's a little high tension right now. Next Friday I'll have more time because today was only a half P-day... Next Friday is all day. :) Oh, a fun fact for this email, a Sister here has been here 9 weeks and will be here 3-4 more to learn Croatian... or however you spell that language. And something else....that's a long time O.O. Haha!  Alright well I gotta run now so I'll email next Friday! I love you guys a ton and hope I do well for you, the Lord, myself, and most importantly the investigators out there waiting to hear the Word.

Be yourself. Open your mouth...That's my new signature line...tell Bro JB that. :) (I forgot to bring my contacts book with me soooo yeah.)

P.S. I did get the DearElder mail you sent but haven't had time to read it yet...so I'll reply to that asap. :)

Okay for reals- bye this time :) BYE!

Elder Nine

OH! And don't worry about emailing too much haha! Just remember I only have an hour total to do emails a week.  Love you! Bye again!

Entering the MTC - 24 July 2013

The long-awaited day!  Entering the MTC.  Wow. Is this real?  How did this day get here SO FAST?

Making a quick stop on the way to get a picture with BYU's Cougar in front of the stadium

Whisked off to the MTC - It's actually a VERY organized "Drive Thru" with other Missionaries escorting them, carrying their bags, and guiding them to where they need to go.

NO TIME TO WASTE!

These Missionaries hit the ground running. Literally.  They get started on classes and studying as soon as they get there. Unpacking is done later that evening.

The typical and Traditional picture standing by the world map in the MTC and pointing to where his mission is.

Showing the guys how to do push-ups the "motivational way" - put a Little Debbie Oatmeal & Cream Pie on the floor

Then, every time you go down, you take a bite...

Just try to not lose it and laugh in the middle of it....

And try to not squish it into the carpet!

THAT is how to motivate yourself to do push-ups!

My goofy son that I love so much! Who else would come up with such ideas? ;)

Overnighting in SLC - 23 July 2013

Elder Nine and Elder Yan flew to Salt Lake City and spent the night with my sister and her husband.  They enjoyed a stake cook-out on their back porch and the "catching up" with family that Elder Nine hadn't seen in several years. Even cousin Jasen was kind enough to drive up and be there so he could visit with Elder Nine and get to chat and know each other as adults.  How nice was that? :)

I am so thankful for my sister and brother-in-law for hosting these two missionaries, feeding them, giving them a place to sleep, and driving them to the MTC the following day to drop them off as they officially began their missions. So blessed for good family!

D-DAY!! 23 July 2013

Today is the day.

The day we say so long. Farewell. Good luck. We love you. We are proud of you. Remember to brush your teeth each night. Stay warm. Stay cool.  Follow your mission rules. Serve with Honor. Return with Honor. And so many other last minute things that go through a proud parent's mind, and heart, and oh so many that get lost in the mindless emotional day!

The night prior to Elder Nine leaving, he and I stayed up all night. There was, as expected, last minute laundry, packing, and other to-do's that claimed the hours of the night. But you know what? It was a blessed and cherished night for me. I spent it alone with my son. We listened to inspirational music, talked, laughed, and just spend the hours together. It still brings tears to my eyes. Oh how I love this boy of mine.

The next day, there were last minute errands. Had to run to Walmart and buy a disposable phone so that Elder Nine could call home when he left the MTC on his way to Bakersfield (the "mission field") and was stuck at the Salt Lake City airport for two hours waiting. It's the perfect time for these missionaries to call home to Mom and just chat for anywhere from 5-90 minuted (all depending on their flights and how much time they have).   Here we are on our way to Walmart:

Haha! Yeah, we were pretty exhausted. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. But in a good way!

On the way home, one last "eat out" stop at Cane's Chicken and then home to pack up the luggage and head to the airport. However, as our last "event" at home, Elder Nine asked his Daddy for a Father's Blessing.  A very special moment in these men's lives. So many years, tantrums, hugs, tears, lessons, hugs,  good and bad consequences, teachings, campouts, experiences, and LOVE having transpired between these two. Too many to put into words. Too many to capture in one single picture. But not too many for the heart to hold.

Taken just prior to giving him the Father's Blessing

And now... the Airport.  Bob being silly, "Oh look here.. we can fly to anywhere we want!"

Siblings.... She's really going to miss him!

Of the thousands taken in 19 years, the last Father-Son photo for 2 years...

Trying REALLY hard to hold it together.... Gonna miss him so very much!

Our boy! All grown up and serving a mission!

Last family photo

The two new Elders and their fathers

Good friends since they were 8!

But this what they normally look like! haha!

Goodbyes were said... Here they go...  God Speed, Elders!

I held it together really well. I was proud of myself. The minute we walked outside, I could not hold the tears back and began just sobbing. I felt my heart had just been ripped out of my body. At the very same time, I felt the greatest joy and pride in my child that I have ever felt at any other time with any of my kids. This moment was so emotionally polarizing. I was unprepared for that part. I always dreamed of this day and figured it would be a day of great rejoicing.

It was!

But it was also a day of deep, heartfelt pain from having my boy leave my arms for two years during which time we would be unable to email, text, or call each other at will.  ONCE a week, for the next two years, is all we get.  Plus a phone call to Mom for Christmas and a phone call for Mother's Day. That's it. I think the fact that we CANNOT contact each other makes it more difficult. It's not the same as going off to College or work. During those events you can contact at will. On missions you cannot. Not allowed.  And it's OK. It serves a great purpose. Many actually. It keeps the missionary from getting "trunky" (meaning super duper homesick).  If they talked with family and friends at will, then there is no real "getting away" from the world, from their lives they are called to put on hold for two years. They also cannot focus on the work of being Representatives of the Lord and preach His work and serve His children as they should.  It would make it extra difficult to put out of their minds all the movies, music, video games, and drama going on back home. By being on their own for two years, it also provides them the wonderful opportunity to grow and learn on their own. They can't run home to Mommy and Daddy, even by phone, to fix their problems. They are forced to figure it out themselves. More importantly, they are forced to learn to rely on the Lord. Something that is crucial when you become a Fisher of Men - as Christ has called them to become.

I am more than happy to sacrifice this time away from my son. I am thankful and proud of him for being willing to sacrifice this time as well in his own life. I am convinced that he will never rise further in his stature in his future life, than he rises during his Mission. This mission will prove to be the biggest spiritual blessing in His life.

Am I willing to sacrifice my own heart and desires in order for my son to receive such a blessing?
YOU BET. 

And then, as soon as we got home, Emily ran in to get a drink from the fridge and came walking back into the family room with this:

We both began crying!  This was Elder Nine's drink and he had been "saving" it in the fridge, to drink before leaving. Evidently he forgot to drink it. To say he is a Dr Pepper FAN would be a huge understatement. So being the saps that we are, we just lost it. I guess his leaving was still too fresh on our hearts. We love that crazy nut!  And we surely miss all his noise and silliness and crazy things he would say and do around the home. He has definitely left a big hole in our lives.  But we wouldn't want him anywhere else at this time than on his mission, serving the Lord!

Elder Nine.  Just the sound of that makes my heart leap with joy and pride. Bob and I so very well pleased in our son.

In Preparation For "D-Day" (Departure Day)

When a young man turns 18 and after he has graduated from high school, if he is found worthy, he has hands laid upon him to give him the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, and to set him apart as an Elder in the House of Israel. This is a prerequisite prior to being set apart as a missionary.  For Jonathan this took place on 30 September 2012.

Next, and after a few more months of preparation, we held Elder Yan's and Elder Nine's Farewell in our Church service, which we call Sacrament Meeting.  This was on 21 July 2013.  They each gave wonderful sermons ("talks"), and in between them they performed a hymn together, I Need Thee Every Hour. It was a beautiful arrangement by Sally DeFord.

The next day, Jonathan and our family visited with our Stake President. That was the night prior to Elder Nine's departure for Utah where he would enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC).  This was a private and special meeting where not only did Jonathan receive the laying on of hands to be set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but we also had a wonderful time visiting and listening to Elder Nine being offered kind and loving instruction by our Stake President on serving his mission. As a mother, I really appreciate the part where he was counseled to FIRST write his mother each week, and never let a week go by without doing so. And not only write her, but give as many details as he can regarding his mission, so that his family can "live the mission alongside you as much as possible".  Clearly, there may be details he doesn't want or shouldn't share. That's ok. But where possible, share as many as he can. If he runs out of time to write others, that's fine. The "others" can read the news from Mom. But do not put mom off to the end, because then you may run out of time to write all the details and you'll end up telling Mom "Oh, I ran out of time, I'll write more later."  No. Mom comes first. All others will have to stand in line behind her. :)  And I have to say, Elder Nine has almost always held true to that counsel and promise. (He promised he would)  And that has made this mother's heart be able to handle this separation a bit easier. I also feel it is helping to build our relationship further, as his family is first in his mind, and he is constantly on our minds.