The holidays are over...but here I sit reflecting on the happenings of the past couple of weeks. We made it to Utah without incident. The weather was a bit dicey in places but we made it through relatively well. Family, food, laughter, fun and above all love was enjoyed by all.
The highlight of the holiday was our phone calls to Portugal and Chile. Oh, how I loved hearing the voices of my two favorite missionaries. We were a bit taken aback when a phone call came two days earlier from Jared. He was calling to give us a time and phone number to call on Christmas Day. We talked just long enough to get the information and to be given the bombshell that we only would have 20 minutes to talk on Christmas...needless to say that took a bit to swallow. However, we quickly made the appropriate attitude adjustments and focused on what we had instead of what we did not have. We were able to conference Grandma and Grandpa Auer and Tara and Garrett in on the calls.
Jared is doing well and has a bit of an accent. He said that the only time he thinks in English is when he sends his weekly email to us. He spoke in Spanish to Uncle Mickey and informed him that he met a man who new Mick 48 years ago when he served in Chile. The man still has Mick's missionary card. I guess what they say about it being a "small world" is exactly right. Jared is serving as a District Leader right now and is having many opportunities to learn leadership. WE will find out this coming Monday if he has been transferred to a new area or not.
Josh likewise is doing great. We had 2 hours to talk with him and it was wonderful. He was able to explain some things in more detail to us and tell us many stories that he doesn't have time to share in the weekly email. We did however, receive an email from him a couple of days ago and he informed us that he has been released as the Branch President in Tomar and transferred to an island in the Azores, named Terceria. He will be a District Leader there. He sounds very excited for not only a change back to a regular missionary, but also for a chance to see some different countryside. I am anxious to hear more about the island.
I could not be more proud of each of them. Our family is truly blessed having two sons serving faithfully. I love them both and hold them each prayerfully within my heart.
