WHAT EXACLY

IS A

'CHURCH SERVICE MISSION'?

We have had this question posed to us on a number of occasions.  I thought I would take a minute and try to explain.  Hope this will help!

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A Church Service Mission is a senior missionary couple (like in our case) can live in their own home and yet still be able to serve.  There are as many 'Church Service Missions' as there are probably senior missionary couples.  In other words, the mission can be tailored to the specific requests of what the church is in need of and what talents and abilities the couple has.  These come together to form a great missionary opportunity!  And this 'marriage' of need and talent and ability comes together under the inspiration of those in the missionary department who are in charge or putting it all together.

Yes, you have seen this picture before.  Just wanted to remind you that we are indeed set apart as Church Service Missionaries and therefore wear the 'badge'....and proudly I might add!

In our particular case, LDS Family Services was looking for a senior missionary couple to serve in a non-LDS National Office in Alexandria, Virginia.......National Council For Adoption.  We were actually contacted by the Headquarters Office for LDSFS in Salt Lake City back last November and December of 2010.  There have been a number of 'conversations' about the needs for the NCFA office.  With Wayne's background as a Professional (physician) and my background with LDSFS (13 years as the birth parent coordinator for the Maryland Office) Steve Sunday (one of the Assistant Commissioners in the Headquarters Office) felt that we were the 'perfect' couple to be in that National Office.

As we have been working in the Alexandria office for several weeks now, we indeed feel it was and still is a divine calling for us to serve here at this particular time.  We have felt the hand of the Lord in what we have already been able to do.  And we feel we are, again, being blessed for what we are trying to do.  Not only are we working on adoption issues and concerns in our own country, we are also working on inter-country adoption issues and concerns.  

We love what we are learning and able to do.  It is going to be a very rewarding calling!  We love all of the people we are working with and they seem to enjoy working with us.

Hope this helps a little.....if not, please leave a comment or two and I will try to 'address' more questions that you might have!!  Kiitos..... :-)