Mission:Impossible?

I've always wanted to serve a mission since I joined the Church. It wasnt possible, considering how my family reacted to my being baptised a Latter-day Saint. I didnt really know much about the doctrine, like any new convert, but began learning. I didnt understand how a ward works and was rather lost while attending the Manavu Ward in Provo. I was too shy and wasnt able to make friends to sustain me.
It wasnt till we moved to Lawrence, Kansas, that I began to bloom. I was needed. There were callings to fill, and I was called to be a counselor in the Young Women's program. The YW president encouraged me and had confidence in me that I could really conduct a meeting! She introduced the Golden Gleaner program to me. This was an award that women, ages 18 to 35 could work with to progress in various ways to become a more adept leader. I wanted that award so much, that I forced myself to do things that I was afraid to do. I forced myself to carry through with commitments, even though they were so difficult for me. It took me about two or three years to complete, as some of the requirements took that long. When I wrote the letter of application, I remember saying that I had learned so much and had developed so much confidence in myself that the award itself was no longer that important.
From that time to the present, I have developed more confidence, and have learned so much more about our Heavenly Father's plan for us, that I wanted more than ever to share my experience with others while preaching the Gospel.
Jay had a knee replacement in preparation for serving a mission three years ago. There were several complications related to his surgery, and this set us back with our plans. Finally we decided the time was right and we'd better not put it off any longer. We started the process of applying to Church Headquarters for a call to serve a mission.
This is a process that is rather involved with interviews with our local church leaders, medical and dental exams, x-rays, treatments, etc. to be ready for at the most, two years away from home.
Some of the immunizations take a year to complete, others are just a one-time poke.We were pronounced healthy and immunized by the doctors and dentists, and the Bishop and Stake President found us to be worthy to serve the Lord full time.
We submitted our applications via e-mail to the First Presidency in Salt Lake and began the wait for the "LETTER" which would arrive in the mail. Jay checked the mail every Wednesday as that is the day we thought it would come. Six weeks went by without a letter. We were beginning to wonder what was wrong. On Thursday, Jay left to go to Logan. The phone rang and it was an Elder Adams calling from Salt Lake. He introduced himself and asked if we has received our call yet. I told him that we had not. He said, "It will come very soon," and to call him as soon as we had it. I hung up the phone, glanced out the window to see the mail truck just leaving our box. I wasnt in a big hurry to go out since the day for the call was yesterday. After arguing with myself, I lost and went out to check the mail. I thought, probably junk and lots of catalogs, as usual. I opened the box, pulled out the mail and spied a large white envelope. I looked at the return address and saw that it was from the Office of the First Presidency of the Church. OMIGOSH!!!!!! it's here! Should I open it? No, I have to find Jay. Oh, I hope he took his cell phone! Oh, please answer! Hello? ITS HERE! You have to come home NOW! He was here in five minutes. In that short time, Lorna had come over. She went home, got her video camera, set it up in our living room and went into another room. Jay and I opened our letter and scanned the page for the place and length of time. I couldnt believe my eyes. I started to cry. We are being called to Chile Santiago West Mission for a period of 23 months! We just looked at each other because neither of us could speak. The began the phone calls, nine of them, to our children. The bishop was next to know, then friends and relatives.