2Lovellscalled2serve: Simeon's Farewell

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Simeon's Farewell

The church no longer encourages farewells for missionaries but after the amazing talk Simeon gave in Sacrament meeting on Sunday, March 9 (on the topic of obedience) we invited ward members, neighbors and friends over for "cookies and punch." Selwin stayed in the background because he kept insisting it was "Simeon's day" (though our new bishop's wife brought him into the party with her comment about wanting grandchildren in a couple of years). Several guests slipped Simeon money and all gave him a big hug. Good family, good ward, good neighborhood, good missionary.

On Monday, we headed north where we had breakfast with Bob and Katie Beecher, with whom we served in Guyana; toured Temple Square - including the conference center - and stopped at the Missionary Mall in Provo to buy him a coat. When we walked in, we were almost run over by former-Elder Porter, with whom we also served in Guyana. He loudly exclaimed - when he saw his three customers come through the door - "NO WAY!!!!"

The MTC - an important part of this amazing Church - had every detail of the drop off process in place and it worked like a "well oiled machine!" The twins debated whether I would cry when it came time to say goodbye to Simeon. The answer is "yes!" He's not mine - technically - but I love these boys and have been so pleased with how our family and the ward have embraced them. Tears!!!

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Funny, interesting or amazing things they say

May 15 - Selwin spoke twice today - once in the Southgate 3rd Ward and then at Brookdale's Sacrament meeting. After the meeting one sister approached him and whispered in his ear saying, "my sister always told me to 'never forget how important you are'."

The second sister told him, "you should always smile because your dimples are so adorable!"

April 3, 2016 - The Cannon's, who had returned home on Friday after 18-months managing missionary apartments in the Mississippi Jackson Mission, stopped by the house to deliver a package from Elder Selwin who they described as "an exceptional missionary and an outstanding young man."

March 16, 2015 - Hi, my name is Deborah Albert, and your son (Elder Selwin) is here serving in my town (Gulfport) right now. I just wanted to tell you that he is a pretty awesome missionary !! We like him a lot !!

May 7 - Almost every day someone asks about our missionary twins. Today it was my doctor. We chatted briefly about how they're doing and how well Simeon and Selwin were integrated into our ward / neighborhood. "It doesn't surprise me," he said, "because they are fine young men and so easy to like!"

May 5 – We were at a funeral and in the middle of the service my caller ID showed an incoming call from "Jackson, MS." Since I only know ONE person in Jackson, MS, I jumped up to take the call, my heart pounding fearing something might have happened to Elder Selwin since missionaries are only allowed to call home on Mothers' Day and Christmas. I answered to hear a familiar voice asking, "Hi, do you know who this is?” It seems they can still make me smile - even from a thousand miles away!

April 1 - Kenrick Benn writes: The time is just around the corner when “our” two sons will be out in the mission field. I believe those two can convert even the hardest heart. Sister Benn and I would like to thank you two wonderful people for all you have done for us and for the two young men I love as a father loves his sons.

March 24, 2014 - Upon our return from SoCal, Selwin sheepishly said, "if you left the car in the driveway and the keys on the hook as a test, you should know, I failed!"