Bill “Papa” Lee Posted September 15, 2011 Posted September 15, 2011 The Mission President has offered to let us talk with Caleb…but! He says that when a missionary is very sick it can exacerbate the situation, by making him want to come home, or be very homesick. We get daily updates from the Mission Nurse and a member who lives across the street. God bless them both!!!!I am trying to weigh my impulse to talk to my baby boy, and what might be best.I am not sure I want to do this for his sake or mine and mama’s…my heart is very tender towards my babies.What do you think? This on top of my oldest son have serious problems beyond his control…not health. It is so hard when your children are grown and a simple kiss cannot fix their Bo Bo’s.
MorningStar Posted September 15, 2011 Posted September 15, 2011 Go for it. My friend's son ended up in the hospital with diabetes on his mission and he's still there even though they talked on the phone. He had no symptoms before his mission.
emeliza Posted September 15, 2011 Posted September 15, 2011 As long as you don't try to influence him to come home, I don't think it is a problem. It might even be a big help if you are encouraging and supportive.However, if emotionally you will lose it, then I probably would just send letters of encouragement and a care package. Your son needs you to be strong right now because he isn't physically.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted September 15, 2011 Author Posted September 15, 2011 As long as you don't try to influence him to come home, I don't think it is a problem. It might even be a big help if you are encouraging and supportive.However, if emotionally you will lose it, then I probably would just send letters of encouragement and a care package. Your son needs you to be strong right now because he isn't physically.Never would do that...never.
katherine the great Posted September 15, 2011 Posted September 15, 2011 The Mission President has offered to let us talk with Caleb…but! He says that when a missionary is very sick it can exacerbate the situation, by making him want to come home, or be very homesick. We get daily updates from the Mission Nurse and a member who lives across the street. God bless them both!!!!I am trying to weigh my impulse to talk to my baby boy, and what might be best.I am not sure I want to do this for his sake or mine and mama’s…my heart is very tender towards my babies.What do you think? Sheesh Pa Pa! Get on the phone and CALL HIM RIGHT NOW! You know you want to, and it will only do him good. Really, how many missionaries has his mission president had that are "very sick"? Likely not very many. Call your son!!!!!
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted September 15, 2011 Author Posted September 15, 2011 Sheesh Pa Pa! Get on the phone and CALL HIM RIGHT NOW! You know you want to, and it will only do him good. Really, how many missionaries has his mission president had that are "very sick"? Likely not very many. Call your son!!!!!Thank You...I will.
One Clear Voice Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 When in doubt follow your Priesthood council. You have been counselled. Leave it in the Lords hands!
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted September 16, 2011 Author Posted September 16, 2011 When in doubt follow your Priesthood council. You have been counselled. Leave it in the Lords hands!I have been given the option of both (calling and not calling) by his Mission President. Not sure why the exclamation point. Do you see any cause to ever call a missionary; especially one as sick as my son? I am a little confused at the tone of your comments.
emeliza Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 So did you call him? How did it go? How is he? Do you feel better now?
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted September 16, 2011 Author Posted September 16, 2011 So did you call him? How did it go? How is he? Do you feel better now?Calling on Saturday, while the wife and I can carve out some uninterrupted time.
Libs Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 Hope you got a chance to talk to your son, Papa, and hope and pray he is doing well..
One Clear Voice Posted September 18, 2011 Posted September 18, 2011 See post #1 sentence # 2. Best Wishes, hope all is well!
katherine the great Posted September 18, 2011 Posted September 18, 2011 See post #1 sentence #1. Pres said it is okay.
One Clear Voice Posted September 18, 2011 Posted September 18, 2011 Katherine, of course it is going to be okay! Do you really think the Church or Mission President is going to deny him this call? Really? I'm merely suggesting that in a Spiritual way, the judgement of the Mission President is that everything is in good hands, that of the Lord and that contact may (in the Mission Presidents experence) may make things worse by the contact! The Mission President is relying on PaPa maturity and good judgement to let the Lord handle the situation. If things were that bad they would insist papa call! Recently in our Stake, a family got a call from the Mission President informing the family (as we heard it told) that they were sending their son home due to a Near Nervous break down and inability to cope with his Mission and being away from home, (with the option of getting counciling and return to his mission.) This Elder was home two days and on Facebook full bore, after four days you would have never been able to tell this kid ever went out on a mission. He has placed everything on facebook, dances, activities as if he never left. So do we question the judgement of the Mission President on this one? There was nothing, in my opinion with this kid other than he just didn't want to be on his mission anymore. He has made no effort to obtain counseling and already has a job. Sometimes we need to read between the lines and let the spirit and the Priesthood take over. I am a little dismayed at papa's comments about peoples tones of their comments! Especially when I was simply trying to comfort him!
katherine the great Posted September 19, 2011 Posted September 19, 2011 Katherine, of course it is going to be okay! Do you really think the Church or Mission President is going to deny him this call?The mission president extended the offer so it is okay if Pa Pa calls him. No "reading between the lines" or making any kind of judgement on the mission president is necessary. Pres said it is okay so it is okay. No one's faith is going to be any stronger if he lets the boy tough it out himself. Pa Pa's son has absolutely nothing to do with your friend's son.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted September 20, 2011 Author Posted September 20, 2011 The mission president extended the offer so it is okay if Pa Pa calls him. No "reading between the lines" or making any kind of judgement on the mission president is necessary. Pres said it is okay so it is okay. No one's faith is going to be any stronger if he lets the boy tough it out himself. Pa Pa's son has absolutely nothing to do with your friend's son.Amen! (Note use of exclamation point) Though all of this he has never requested to come home. The mission Nurse said that she has dealt with sick missionaries for a long time...many have cried wanting to go home...she said Caleb has never asked to come home. Also "One Clear Voice", there is a reason exclamation points are used; usually to shout, via print. BTW he is doing much better, he did not ask us if he could come home.
Saints Alive Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 Its Just a phone call what harm could it really do? Besides if he is sick it might make him feel better.
azisbest Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 The Mission President has offered to let us talk with Caleb…but! He says that when a missionary is very sick it can exacerbate the situation, by making him want to come home, or be very homesick. We get daily updates from the Mission Nurse and a member who lives across the street. God bless them both!!!!I am trying to weigh my impulse to talk to my baby boy, and what might be best.I am not sure I want to do this for his sake or mine and mama’s…my heart is very tender towards my babies.What do you think?This on top of my oldest son have serious problems beyond his control…not health. It is so hard when your children are grown and a simple kiss cannot fix their Bo Bo’s. It would be a cold day in Pacoima before I would let ANY human tell me when I could talk to my child, let alone my sick child. Such blind obedience to another human continues to astound me. I guess the parental instinct is not as strong in some as in others. 1
Tacenda Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 It would be a cold day in Pacoima before I would let ANY human tell me when I could talk to my child, let alone my sick child. Such blind obedience to another human continues to astound me. I guess the parental instinct is not as strong in some as in others.This is the faithful mindset of LDS parents who have missionaries out. It's probably not understandable to an outsider, it may even appear wrong or crazy because why couldn't they call or visit? Isn't it a choice to be there? If they aren't allowed to call home when they need to, it almost sounds like they're in a cult or in rehab.
Judd Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 It would be a cold day in Pacoima before I would let ANY human tell me when I could talk to my child, let alone my sick child. Such blind obedience to another human continues to astound me. I guess the parental instinct is not as strong in some as in others.You're over a year late.
Calm Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 (edited) It would be a cold day in Pacoima before I would let ANY human tell me when I could talk to my child, let alone my sick child. Such blind obedience to another human continues to astound me. I guess the parental instinct is not as strong in some as in others.It was his son who chose to go on the mission and live by the rules of the mission. PaPa and other parents show their love for their children by respecting their choices and their wishes.Some parents' instincts are so strong they never let their children grow up, be adults and make decisions for themselves. Edited November 5, 2012 by calmoriah 4
Hestia Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 The question has been answered and this is very personal.
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