122. Missionary calls! The latest, INDONESIA~ and brief history of family missions --
It has been 5 days since I have written in this blog, and a lot has happened! I entered the last blog at 9:07 a.m., on March 27, 2014. At that time our granddaughter Skye Nicholson was in the MTC, to prepare for her mission to Irvine, California. Her family, (Parents and 5 sisters--all but her brother Caleb) were visiting at our home from Friday night until yesterday, Monday morning. That is why I didn't write!
Skye had been on a "trial" mission of 12 weeks, from December 18, 2013, to March 11, 2014, and in the South Salt Lake Mission home we were there when she read her call to go to the California Irvine mission. Because of her 12 weeks, when she entered the MTC just a week later on March 19th, she was a Senior companion, and a Sister Trainer leader there. She is thrilled, and just this morning (April Fool's Day) she flew to Irvine. Her first picture there is:
We're not sure the names of these missionaries -- but OUR missionary, Sister Skye Nicholson, is the second sister from the left, in a purple skirt, and white top, next to the sign -- on the left. Taken today, Apr. 1, 2014
Sister Skye Nicholson, official missionary picture!
The afternoon of last Thursday, March 27, about 4:30 I got a call from our daughter, Anita, very excitedly saying, "We have a mission call! " Her son Jake (Jacob) had his final interview with the Stake President about 10 days before, on Sunday, March 16th, and it was then sent in. So they weren't expecting it so soon. We hurried up and planned some refreshments for a meeting at 7:00 p.m. to open his call. Jake is quite an easy going young man, (turned 18 last October and will graduate from high school this May). He is a happy and congenial guy, and doesn't take life too seriously, even though he gets good grades, sings in the Madrigals, and knows computers from inside out.
He seemed at ease when he began reading his call: -- Called to the ! -- Indonesia, Jakarta Mission, and will teach in the Indonesian language, and enter the MTC August 13th, 2014. He was thrilled! He had studied Mandarin Chinese for 3 years in Junior and High school, and within an hour was on the computer studying the alphabet, etc. of the Indonesian language! Just 5 days now, and he has read a lot about Indonesia.
This map shows where Jake will be, and where his next older brother, Ben is now, in Taiwan Taichung, the southern part of Taiwan.
Below is an article which was in our local paper, telling of Ben singing in a concert in our local Tabernacle before his mission to Taiwan. He entered the MTC on July 10, 2013, and got to Taiwan on Sept. 11, 2013. He is a talented tenor soloist.
The picture of Elder Ben Lieske (his tag in Mandarin Chinese!) the day he arrived.
Below shows a map of the Indonesian Islands -- 13,000 total. Jakarta is in the island of Java, as shown above.
Sam, the oldest of the Lieske brothers, ( our daughter Anita is their mother) went to the San Bernardino Mission, and became an Assistant to the President before the San Bernardino and Riverside Missions were made into 3 missions. He was a new Assistant to the President in the new Redlands Mission which was started last July, 2013, until he came home the end of October. Their youngest brother David is now 16.
This is Elder Sam Lieske, while on his mission.
This is a picture of the 4 Lieske brothers - Sam on left, Ben, Jake, and David in front. Taken around 5 years ago, Sam as tall as Ben, Jake the tallest, and David about as tall as other brothers now also!
Now some mission history, without as many details --
Wayne, my husband, went on a mission to Sweden in 1950 to 1953, a 2 and a half year mission, when they didn't have any language training before they landed in the country. Then he and I went back to Sweden on a couple mission in 1994-95, just 20 years ago this May. We then, in 1999-2000 went on a Portuguese speaking mission, called to Portugal, Porto, but our visas didn't come, so we were sent to a Portuguese speaking branch in Danbury, Connecticut (Hartford Connecticut Mission.) We spent about 5 months there, and then came home early to help take care of my sister, Mavis, who had colon cancer, and was in a severe chemo series and needed help.
We have had our sons Wayne Miles go on a mission to Ecuador, Allen go on a mission to Thailand, McKay go to Taiwan, Taipei, and Pamela go to Austria, German speaking. Our grandsons Joshua (Wayne's son,) went on a mission to South Korea, Emily, his sister, on a Spanish speaking mission to Seattle, Washington, and Allen's son Chris go to British Colombia. Then come the Lieske brothers, three of which are mentioned above, and Skye, our daughter Pamela's oldest daughter, today in Irvine, California.
We believe each of them have received the call that Heavenly Father wanted them to have. Any place in the world can be the exact place each person called on a mission is meant to go. As they faithfully serve their missions, they will know why! They will meet people they were prepared to meet and teach the Gospel! Each mission truly suits the person called, and fulfills their particular Patriarchal Blessings.
We know that any of you who have missionaries out are thrilled with the wonderful testimonies they develop, and the grand soul expanding experiences they have. We'll tell some of their experiences now and then.
Skye had been on a "trial" mission of 12 weeks, from December 18, 2013, to March 11, 2014, and in the South Salt Lake Mission home we were there when she read her call to go to the California Irvine mission. Because of her 12 weeks, when she entered the MTC just a week later on March 19th, she was a Senior companion, and a Sister Trainer leader there. She is thrilled, and just this morning (April Fool's Day) she flew to Irvine. Her first picture there is:
The afternoon of last Thursday, March 27, about 4:30 I got a call from our daughter, Anita, very excitedly saying, "We have a mission call! " Her son Jake (Jacob) had his final interview with the Stake President about 10 days before, on Sunday, March 16th, and it was then sent in. So they weren't expecting it so soon. We hurried up and planned some refreshments for a meeting at 7:00 p.m. to open his call. Jake is quite an easy going young man, (turned 18 last October and will graduate from high school this May). He is a happy and congenial guy, and doesn't take life too seriously, even though he gets good grades, sings in the Madrigals, and knows computers from inside out.
He seemed at ease when he began reading his call: -- Called to the ! -- Indonesia, Jakarta Mission, and will teach in the Indonesian language, and enter the MTC August 13th, 2014. He was thrilled! He had studied Mandarin Chinese for 3 years in Junior and High school, and within an hour was on the computer studying the alphabet, etc. of the Indonesian language! Just 5 days now, and he has read a lot about Indonesia.
A picture of Jake -- More when he gets official missionary pictures.
Below shows a map of the Indonesian Islands -- 13,000 total. Jakarta is in the island of Java, as shown above.
Sam, the oldest of the Lieske brothers, ( our daughter Anita is their mother) went to the San Bernardino Mission, and became an Assistant to the President before the San Bernardino and Riverside Missions were made into 3 missions. He was a new Assistant to the President in the new Redlands Mission which was started last July, 2013, until he came home the end of October. Their youngest brother David is now 16.
Now some mission history, without as many details --
Wayne, my husband, went on a mission to Sweden in 1950 to 1953, a 2 and a half year mission, when they didn't have any language training before they landed in the country. Then he and I went back to Sweden on a couple mission in 1994-95, just 20 years ago this May. We then, in 1999-2000 went on a Portuguese speaking mission, called to Portugal, Porto, but our visas didn't come, so we were sent to a Portuguese speaking branch in Danbury, Connecticut (Hartford Connecticut Mission.) We spent about 5 months there, and then came home early to help take care of my sister, Mavis, who had colon cancer, and was in a severe chemo series and needed help.
We have had our sons Wayne Miles go on a mission to Ecuador, Allen go on a mission to Thailand, McKay go to Taiwan, Taipei, and Pamela go to Austria, German speaking. Our grandsons Joshua (Wayne's son,) went on a mission to South Korea, Emily, his sister, on a Spanish speaking mission to Seattle, Washington, and Allen's son Chris go to British Colombia. Then come the Lieske brothers, three of which are mentioned above, and Skye, our daughter Pamela's oldest daughter, today in Irvine, California.
We believe each of them have received the call that Heavenly Father wanted them to have. Any place in the world can be the exact place each person called on a mission is meant to go. As they faithfully serve their missions, they will know why! They will meet people they were prepared to meet and teach the Gospel! Each mission truly suits the person called, and fulfills their particular Patriarchal Blessings.
We know that any of you who have missionaries out are thrilled with the wonderful testimonies they develop, and the grand soul expanding experiences they have. We'll tell some of their experiences now and then.
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