It's a miracle!

It took some doing but we were able to load nearly everything on Jon's list of things to bring on his mission into his bags.It's a good things Jon is very slim and fit.  Only thing we could not get in his bags were his pillow and comforter. He will just have to get those in the field.

Here is a picture of Travis saying good-bye with Jon's luggage.  The carry bag just about floored him when I pit it on his shoulder. haha

The Eagle has landed!

Whoops!


Time flew by so quickly for Jonathan and due to work schedules and life in general we never had an Eagle Court of Honor for him... Bad parents!!!

Many in the Shasta Lake Ward wanted Jon to have one so with great help we finally made it happen just before he left on his mission. Special thanks to Shar'on McCulloch and Gary Johnson for really stepping up to put things together. Jonathan had a great time and there was a very good showing and it sets a great example for the other youth in Scouting to strive to receive their Eagle.

WTG Jonathan! 

 Jonathan received a certificate from Mayor Pam Morgan of the City of Shasta Lake recognizing his accomplishment.

In order to receive these awards, Jonathan had to give his mother a kiss. Awe!

The Temple is Simple

Be worthy, get your recommend, make an appointment to go to the temple, and drive there. What could possibly go wrong?

First appointment for Jonathan was a Saturday and Heidi has a gall bladder attack and we need to take care of her so we do not make it. Poor Heidi it was seriously painful

Second appointment the weather has been in the 80's and that Tuesday evening we set our appointment and of all the luck, it snows on the road North making it impossible for us to get there in time.

Tried to schedule for the next Saturday but the Temple was closed for April General Conference.  We are seriously running out of time here.

Third appointment, my boss shows up who I have not seen in months and I can not get away that afternoon.

I finally called the Temple and said sorry we missed our 3:30pm appointment but we are for sure going to be there at 5:30pm  No matter what!  I got out of work early by saying I will deliver a part to the Medford office which they badly needed.    I speed home and change and grab Jonathan and we haul our rear ends up there. I drop the part off for work and we arrive at the Temple doors right at 5:30pm!

I really think someone does not want Jonathan to go to the Temple.  If there is a will there is a way!

Jonathan and I had a great time and it was such a great experience as father and son going through the Temple together. It will be a moment I will never forget. He had such a wonderful spiritual experience too.

Although there were few people there, maybe 15, Jon did meet someone who served in the South Dakota mission and they had a great conversation.

Even though we had to blaze up there, 2 1/2 hour drive,  and came back at 1am. and go to work at 6am. It was a great joy to be with you Jonathan for this wonderful experience.. Thank you Jonathan for allowing me to tag along and go through the Temple with you.

OH! And I'd like to thank the Temple President for his kind words to Jonathan and also for later helping us search for Jon's cell phone he lost in the temple. We never found it. Not even sure if that is where it was lost but Jon insists it's in there. No big deal, Jon leaves in a week anyway.  Great memories... haha!

UPDATE: After we got back from dropping Jon off at the MTC the Temple called and said they found the phone in the locker area! Mystery solved! Yea!

Our Missionary Checklist

There are so many things to prepare for Jonathan's mission I decided it might help if I went through the booklet we received from Salt Lake for this Mission and write those things down. It turned out to be a much larger list than I realized. Below is that list.

This list is for the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. Other missions may have some different requirements but for the most part I think this list will be generally close for most missions.   If you are curious what is needed, here you go.

Immediate things
Read any packets you receive completely
Complete the acceptance letter!!! This can be done online.
Complete any medications and medical procedures.
All medical things must be resolved.
Record immunizations online.
Fill out flight ticket if flying to MTC.
Setup Shuttle - Salt Lake airport to Provo
Setup and check email regularly at myldsmail.net

Before entering the MTC

Do online missionary assignments that are waiting for you. 

Get your Temple Recommend and stay worthy to enter the Temple. 

Read the Book of Mormon daily.

Be familiar with Preach My Gospel chapter 3.  

Watch the videos "The District 2"

Create a Mormon.Org profile

Learn about your Family History

Make a copy of your Patriarchal Blessing

Resolve ALL worthiness issues.

Settle ALL Debts.

Put name on ALL luggage, clothes, and belongings

Have hair cut according to missionary grooming standards.

Continue private health care and bring medical card with you.

Be set-apart as a fulltime missionary by Stake President.

Realize your assignment could be modified.

Receive a father's blessing.

Reporting to the Missionary Training Center

Dress as a missionary.

Report time will be given 4 weeks before report date.

Farewells should be at home.

Bring completed Immunization card.

Bring a gov't issued ID

Bring Temple Recommend

Bring Scriptures

Bring a four generation pedigree sheet

Bring stories about your ancestors.

Bring a journal

suggest bringing pens, pencils, notebook, highlighters.

A non-logo shoulder bag, conservative style. 

Optional MTC approved books.

Personal items

Clothes hangers

Simple camera

2 bath Towels

2 hand towels

2 wash clothes

Set of twin sheets - zipper type for bed bugs.

Pillowcase

Pillow

Blanket

Shaving kit bag

Blister Moleskin

Razors

Shaving cream

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Dental floss

Mouthwash

Shampoo

Deodorant

Hand Lotion

Hand sanitizer

Comb

Shoe polish and supplies

First Aid kit with meds

Sunscreen

Lip balm

Small sewing Kit

Wind-up alarm

Laundry Bag

Small Flashlight

Batteries

Cheap Watch

1 lrg suitcase. 

1 med suitcase

1 Carry-on / Messenger type bag.

Learn these things

How to cook basic meals

How to sew buttons, mend

Good hygiene

Get in a habit of waking up at 6:30AM and going to bed at 10:30PM

Learn good manners, especially at dinner. 

Learn to set daily goals. 

Money

Setup bank account with debit card. 

Make sure bank account has at least $200 + money for a bike.

Make a $400 Payment to Missionary account one month before you leave. 

Carry a little cash for snacks and such around $50

Healthcare

Medical ID card

Leave written authorization w/ parents

If bringing meds, leave them in their original containers

Bring insect repellent

Clothing

Two Suits

10 White Shirts

6 Ties

4 Slacks

2 Belts

10 Pair Garments

2 Thermal Garments

2 Pair of shoes. 

1 Winter Boots

Exercise Clothing

Service Project Attire

Cold Weather coat jacket with liner

Winter coat

Winter gloves

Scarf

Winter Bennie

Cold weather ear protection

Umbrella

2 Sweaters

1 Pajamas

1 Robe

1 Shower slippers

White Pants

White socks

White Tie

White Belt

So there you have it! I'm sure there are other things that could be included.  And some of these things will be different for other missions but most will apply. Obviously, this is a list for an Elder, not a sister.  

One tip, if possible check with those who have served in the same mission or are serving in the mission now to see what things could be bought there. That will save room in traveling to your Mission.  

Now to get all these things ready and figure out how to pack it in the suitcases.  All fun!

The Public Announcement!

Two days ago we opened Jon's Mission call letter from Salt Lake. The only people who knew at this point were family in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming and a very small select few.

We , Heidi and I, really wanted to have a special get together for Jonathan so he could make his announcement in front of a lot of people and have some fun with this.

We had 30 or more people show up to hear Jonathan read his call. Even my close friend Pat and his family showed up. It was great to see him and their new baby PJ!

Before Jon read his call, we had everyone guess where he might be going. I heard Brazil, Rome, San Diego, Europe, Germany, and a few others. Gary Johnson (Jon's Scoutmaster) changed his guess after betting Jonathan that it was outside the US and Jonathan said, I'll take that bet! lol  Gary then thought for a moment and said South Dakota! lol   Jon not acknowledging he was right then read his call. Just watch the video hahaha!

That was some look Jonathan gave Bro. Johnson.  lol

Thank you to all those who came and supported Jonathan on his call. We so appreciate the YM and YW organizations and our ward family and how much everyone supports each other. And thankyou Pat, babylyn, and PJ for coming to support Jonathan as well!

Congratulations again to Jonathan on his mission call to South Dakota and surrounding areas.  April 16th is right around the corner.

Jon's call has arrived!!!

The big fat white envelope from Salt Lake has arrived in the mail today.  We are all very excited!

Mom yells JONATHAN!!!! as he was in his room.  haha

So we all gather around the living room and we start debating about what we should do. Open it now or wait for others to show up? Mom was saying let Jonathan decide!  I being the father who goes overboard on things like this, was trying to make it as complicated as possible because this simple act of opening your mission papers must be done with great precision!! Clothes need to be changed to have the right look. People needed to be called. Cameras needed to be rolling!  haha!

On the other hand,  Jonathan was pretty adamant he wanted to open it right now. And so he did!

"Dear Elder Schneringer:

Your are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.
You are assigned to labor in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. It is anticipated that you will
serve for a period of 24 months. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Wednesday, April 16th, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language..."

 And the crowd of 4 erupts YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The call wasn't to Fiji or Rome or the Caribbean but it was a call to the Dakotas where Jonathan was most needed and you couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He was so happy to finally get his call and he felt like it was finally past the stage of talking about it and things just got real!

Me - well I was jumping on the computer trying to find information about the mission and trying to find out how cold it was there. We are going to have to gear this warm weather young man up for -30F! haha And five weeks is not a lot of time! Yikes!

Way To Go Jonathan! We are all so happy and excited for you!

Papers Submitted to Salt Lake

As we were driving back from Sacramento today, Stake President Bickmore of the Redding, CA Stake let us know via TXT that Jonathan's mission papers have been submitted to Salt Lake. It will only be a matter of a few weeks before we know where Jonathan is serving and when he reports to the MTC (Missionary Training Center).

Yea!!!