Bucket list item: serving a mission
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Throughout my life, I always thought I would be serving a mission with my husband when we got older. I thought it would be fun to do a service mission like bringing wheelchairs to people who needed them, perhaps in other countries, or even here in the states. I have professional experience fitting wheelchairs for adults and children. It seemed like a good fit. I was also willing to serve a 3 year mission with Curt if he were called to be a mission president for the young missionaries probably somewhere in the states. It was on my bucket list. Now it looks like this kind of a mission is not in the cards for me. I am making some changes to my bucket list.
I applied and was accepted to serve in a special service mission that I can do right from my recliner! On the application I had to indicate whether my health was: poor, fair, good, or excellent…. Of course, I had to put poor. Even after describing my very poor health and my disability, they still wanted me. I am serving a mission! Here’s a picture of my mission name badge!
In our church building, there is a plaque of every missionary hanging in a glass case on the wall. Each plaque has a picture of the missionary with the missionary’s favorite scripture. I chose this scripture from the Book of Mormon for my plaque.
Indexing genealogy records
My mission involves indexing digital records from digital pictures of the records so that they will be available for anyone in the world to search the internet and find them for their genealogy. For example, we extract the information from the forms and type them in an indexing form. Types of records include but are not limited to: birth certificates, marriage certificates, census records, military rosters, death certificates, and many more. I have been doing it for about a week and am really enjoying it.
A few days ago I was looking at records of people who were born in the 1890’s. Everything was handwritten in beautiful fancy handwriting. Yesterday I worked on marriage records from the Philippines. The typed certificates were smudged and blurry. Like someone should have cleaned their typewriter! Sometimes it is hard to decipher some of the letters, but we are trained to figure them out by looking at other reference information, and by looking for clues in other places on the form.
In addition to indexing myself, I review the indexing work that has been done by others to check and see if there are any errors that need to be corrected. Eventually, I may also be involved in preparing batches (or sets) of records for others to index. I think serving a mission like this is really suited to people my age and older because we learned and use cursive handwriting. I think it might be harder for younger millennial age people who in this digital age rarely if ever use cursive handwriting.
Serving a mission: I am not alone
I feel like my contribution matters and it brings me joy as I do the work. I feel like perhaps the people I am gathering information about are watching and helping me from Heaven. It may sound odd, but I really feel their presence at times and it is comforting. Alone at home in my recliner I caught myself saying, “OK Sarah, does your last name start with an M or an H?” Sometimes if I am trying to figure out a letter, I say a little prayer and then look a little closer. I am usually able to figure it out without any doubt. On the rare occasion that a record is just unreadable we mark it as such. I hope somehow, the posterity of the people I am indexing will find their family tree and perhaps fill in blanks that were a mystery to them.
In the Old Testament, Malachi 4:6, it says that the heart of the fathers shall turn to the children, and the heart of the children shall turn to their fathers. We believe this is happening today. People are very interested in their genealogy and are learning about their ancestors. It is exciting to see people all over the world in different religions participate in genealogy. When we know our family, we are stronger. When we learn of the challenges and struggles of our ancestors, and see what they overcame, we are strengthened to overcome our own.
Living my dreams
I am filled with joy as I realize that the grief and despair I felt shortly after my cancer diagnosis because I would miss out living my dreams, was premature. My Heavenly Father is allowing me to experience so many things on my bucket list that I did not think I would. Attend my son’s marriage, check! Become a grandma, check! Finish my PhD, check! and now, I am serving a mission, check!
Before a member of the church begins serving a mission, they are “set apart”. A special blessing or prayer is given to the person accepting the call, from the Bishop of the congregation. In the blessing I received from the Bishop, I was blessed with health so that I would be able to do the work of the mission, and finish the things I wanted to do. My daughter told me later that I needed to think of more things!
There are more things on my revised bucket list. I want to attend my daughter’s graduation for her Master’s degree. I want to attend her marriage. Finishing my memoir is another goal. In addition to my mission, I am working on my memoir. It appears to be doable! Time will tell, and I continue to live one day at a time. I used to feel like cancer robbed me. But I am not missing out! My time on earth may be limited, but it’s not stopping me from living my dreams.
Helena says
Love this, Julie.
I always wanted to be a missionary. My plan was to become a paediatrician and work abroad. But God had other plans for me.
Hugs and prayers ❤️🙏😇
Debi says
Welcome to VROC10 team C Sister Shill. I am beginning my third year, I just extended my one year mission. It is amazing to be a part of the same team with you. I will caution you though this work is addicting. As I start my day every day the first thought on my mind is how fast can I get my house chores accomplished so I can get on my computer…not to get on social media but to begin indexing records. Someone told me a couple of years ago that when I go to the Celestial Kingdom not only will my family be there to greet and welcome me, but the thousands of people I indexed records for will be there to thank me. They are with their families because of the work we did while here on earth. Just imagine that… See you tomorrow at devotionals…..welcome to the gang!!
Julie Shill says
Thanks Debi!I am actually on team H. I am happy we are both in VROC 10! I am enjoying indexing, indexing review, and batching. I am happy to have something I can do at home.