Hi friends and fam,
It's been awhile! Also, if this is the first email you've gotten from me, it's likely because I got home in March and found your name on a list in my phone of "People wanting to be on email list" ..... sorry about that! The blog's got all the old ones, and in case you don't want these (we all know how spammy Mondays can sometimes get), the google group will not notify me in any way if you hit that Unsubscribe button. ;)
That aside, here are the updates on the Elder Child saga:
The last week of March, I was presented with the same two options as all other suddenly-imported missionaries: Be released briefly and end the mission on the original timeline; or be released, wait 12-18 months, and finish the mission at a newly determined date. My immediate reaction: I wanted to wait the year to return to Peru and not serve during COVID-19. That weekend was April General Conference, and I took my question to the Lord. I received a very clear answer: It was to be my decision, but my motives at that time were the wrong ones. After several weeks of prayer, fasting, and careful consideration, I decided to wait the year, but my motives had changed. What I picked wasn't right for everyone, but it was right for me. Because of waiting, I'll get to spend 24 total months as an elder. The decision was not made to return to Peru, since missionary service is of equal value anywhere. In the ensuing months I've also repented of my desire not to serve during the pandemic, since missionary service is of equal value anytime. After making the decision, I began studying and enrolled in a number of BYU religion courses to prepare for an April 2021 return to missionary work.
Fast forward four months to the evening of Sunday, August 23. I receive an email from my stake exec. secretary informing me that the Church is not dictating the timeline for our return to the mission, that all I'd need was to let him know about three months before my desired date of availability. I was very suddenly presented with a second huge decision: stay with my original timeline, leaving after Winter semester 2021 and arriving for Fall 2022; or advance everything by four months, leaving after Fall 2020 and returning for Spring 2022. My immediate reaction was that it was an entertaining but unrealistic idea to suddenly bump up departure (since BYU's Spring/Summer course offerings are much skimpier than those during the two major semesters). However, on the advice of someone very close to me, I set about praying and pondering. The morning after receiving the email, I started toying with my 4-year graduation plan, making an alternate version for a hypothetical earlier departure. As I worked, miracles began to unfold. Class after class was available, pre-requisites were able to be satisfied, and several extremely last-minute adjustments to my current course load still had empty seats. I was stunned. I started to seriously consider leaving sooner. That very night, before I had even finished writing the question in my study journal, its answer was unequivocally impressed upon my mind by the Holy Ghost. I was to leave after just one more semester.
Fast forward another couple weeks to Friday, September 11, when my stake president called. The Church mission department had approved my departure request! One of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord had seen my face on a screen and been inspired to temporarily reassign me to the Texas Houston Mission, leaving January 13 and speaking Spanish. I know that this assignment is from God and cannot doubt having seen the hand of the Lord throughout the entire process. Indeed, I feel I could write a whole slew of emails on the abundance of miracles that have led me here. I feel so incredibly, miraculously blessed. I can't wait to resume full-time missionary work in Houston. This is the Lord's labor.
I know that this Church is led by living prophets and invite everyone to watch General Conference this weekend and to invite those that might need a little more peace and comfort in their lives to do the same.
You'll hear from me again in January, then as a set-apart servant of the Lord. Getting released was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it magnified my testimony of the power and importance of missionary work. I could not be more excited.
All my love,
(soon-to-be-Elder) Eli Child
