Missionary Mothers

I already told you about Sister Prete organizing a b-day party for her AP son.  It was approved by the President and totally okay and really fun. 

Then there is Sister Perez.  She called the office on a regular basis throughout the entire two years her son was here (I am told).  NOT okay.  One Monday (which is P-day for the young missionaries) Sister Perez called around one o'clock and wanted to know why she hadn't received an email from her son yet.  She always heard from him on Monday morning, so why hadn't she that day? It was the Monday after transfer week, so I explained that perhaps they couldn't get to a computer in the morning to do their emails.  I told her I was sure she would yet hear from him. She was persistent and wanted us at the office to call Elder Perez and ask why he hadn't emailed yet.  We didn't do it.  Then she called again about 3:30 and was so upset because she hadn't yet heard from him.  Had we called him, she wanted to know?  Elder Blue relented and called Elder Perez.  While he was talking to him, Sister Perez called again, this time to say she had finally received an email from her son. Wow. If every mother were like that, we would get nothing done in the office.

Prior to our arrival here in California, Sister Perez called Elder Curtis (he did what Elder Mecham does now) and wanted to know if her son, when he left, would be able to board his plane because by then his driver's license would be expired.  Elder Curtis assured her it would not be a problem.  I cannot tell you how many subsequent phone calls we got from her regarding this same thing.  Finally, Sister Blue called the airline and got clear confirmation that he would not have any trouble boarding his plane. 

Well, Elder Perez departed his mission last Wednesday.  About 2 p.m., I got a call from guess who?  Yup!  Sister Perez.  She was in the airport in SLC.  She said her son's plane was supposed to be in at 2:30, but now they were hearing it wouldn't be in until 4 p.m.  Did we at the Mission Office know what was going on?  Seriously???  So I nicely told her that her son had been dropped off at the airport and was on the plane with four other missionaries, and they would surely arrive safely together.  "And he was able to get on without any trouble?" she asked.  "Yes, he was!"  Unbelievable! 

When Elder Blue told President Castro that we had received a call from Sister Perez that afternoon, President Castro said, "So did I!"  When Elder Blue remarked that we got several calls from her regarding the expired driver's license issue, President said, "So did I!"  Oh my!  Thank heavens not all parents are like Sister Perez!  Actually, I feel sorry for Elder Perez.  He is an only child.  They lived back East somewhere when he departed for his mission.  Because he is planning to go to college in Utah, his parents moved to Utah, so they could take good care of him.  Poor kid.  I have to say, he bore a great testimony at the meeting for departing missionaries.  I hope he does okay back with his very over-protective mommy.