3 weeks after submitting her papers Eleanor’s mission call arrived this morning. As a Bishop I can track the progress of the call (though not where the assignment is). As such we knew that the assignment had been made on July 22^nd– we also know that calls to the UK usually arrive Wednesday or Thursday- so by process of elimination we were waiting for the postlady to arrive this morning. We were about to leave to take Eleanor to work at 1040 and the post arrived at 1030!!! Just enough time for her to take a picture of the envelope and put it on Facebook to let friends and family know it has arrived.

So why haven’t we opened it. Certainly when I got mine over 25 years ago, my mum brought it upstairs and I opened it with just the two of us- I then phoned everyone else to let them know where I was going. In the intervening time it seems that a culture of an ‘opening ceremony’ has developed. Indeed, there is a Facebook page where people upload their videos- please see here. However, if it was up to her parents Eleanor would have opened it by now- we are anxious to see where she is going. It won’t be until tonight for a couple of reasons:

• Gideon (our 14 year old son) is on a Church Young Men’s camp. As such I need to drive and get him so he can be here.
• Eleanor is at work until 5pm
• Other members of our family (grandparents and aunts and uncles) are working or out for the day.

We’re not prolonging the process for any strange reason- just logistics. If all goes well there will be a video uploaded tonight or tomorrow. At this time the words of a hymn may be appropriate as we wait with baited breath:

It may not be on the mountain height
Or over the stormy sea,
It may not be at the battle’s front
My Lord will have need of me.
But if, by a still, small voice he calls
To paths that I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:
I’ll go where you want me to go.

(Chorus) I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
I’ll be what you want me to be.

Perhaps today there are loving words
Which Jesus would have me speak;
There may be now in the paths of sin
Some wand’rer whom I should seek.
O Saviour, if thou wilt be my guide,
Tho dark and rugged the way,
My voice shall echo the message sweet:
I’ll say what you want me to say.

There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide
Where I may labour through life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified.
So trusting my all to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:
I’ll be what you want me to be.