Emily was among some of the first younger sister missionaries called to serve. When Pres. Monson announced in the Oct. 2012 General Conference that young women could now serve at age 19, Emily was ready and eager to go. In fact she had seen Pres. and Sr. Watts outside on the conference grounds just before the session started. They asked what her plans were. She said that she was going on a mission. That surprised herself, as she hadn't really decided on that. But when the announcement was made, she knew she was to go and. of course, she looked at me in the Conference Center with tears streaming down her face. It was truly an electrifying moment. The day before we were traveling with her in the car. She said "If I could go on a mission right now I would." The time was right and she started that night to fill out her mission papers. She received a text from Bishop Jensen during the conference that said "Emily, you'll make a great missionary."
Everything came together for her so quickly, within the week she had everything done for her mission application dental, doctor, everything was in place. We were all thrilled when she received her a call on October 31, 2012 to the Argentina Neuquen Mission. She left January 30, 2013 for the MTC in Provo to learn the Spanish language. From there she spent about three months in the Pocatello Idaho Mission waiting for her Visa. How excited she was when she finally landed in Argentina the early part of June.
It was not an easy mission, but she grew and learned so much from this experience. July 30th 2014 finally arrived for her to return. Dallin and Janelle's family were already here for our family reunion. They worked hard that morning preparing a delicious lunch for everyone. Her friend Julie Ionescu came to the airport with us too, and, of course, the Vance's and the Caudle's were there as well. Emily Jensen (our Bishop's wife) and her five children came to the airport to welcome her home.
It was quite the event in the airport. Lots of hugging, kissing and tears. It was a joyous reunion! Emily was so happy to be home and when she entered our house she couldn't help but kneel down and kiss the carpet. She said she hadn't seen carpet in a house in the18-months on her mission except at the Mission home.
She has come home a more grateful, loving, appreciative, and helpful daughter. She was wonderful before her mission, but her good qualities are now enhanced.
After everyone had left that day, she cleaned up and we went to the stake center for her Dad to release her as a full-time missionary. He spent over an hour interviewing her, and it was a choice experience for him. She shed many tears when she had to take off her missionary badge and hand it to her Dad.
The next day we left for YW's Girls Camp where Crismon was to speak to the Young Women, and he asked Emily and myself to speak as well. It was so fun to see her back at Girls Camp where she had served as girls camp president several years before. She was loved by the leaders and the Young Women. They even continue to sing a song each year that she introduced to the camp.
From there we drove on to Rockaway Beach to spend a couple of quiet days together to hear about her mission experiences. We were so grateful to the Johnson family for the use of their family cabin. It was very nice, comfortable, and just about a block away from the beach. It was a choice weekend together. We are so grateful that we had this one-on-one time with Emily before all the family arrived for the reunion.
We are grateful for this beautiful, wonderful, faithful daughter and her great attitude in service to others. She brings us great joy.
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