Matthew had his dentist checkup for his mission paperwork today. I can only imagine that this step and the physical exam portion are so much easier if you live in Utah, than anywhere else. The doctors and dentists are very familiar with not only what a mission is, but, what is required and why to complete that paperwork. I'm sure outside of Utah the conversations had at these appointments are interesting and maybe a little awkward. After all, we are preparing kids just out of high school or shortly thereafter to leave for two years to serve their church as missionaries. They don't know, at this point, where they will be going, what language they will be speaking, or who they will be living with. It's all voluntary, and the missionary's family are responsible for paying the expenses of the mission. A unique situation I have to admit, and while I do enjoy talking about my faith, and am so deeply proud that Matthew is going on a mission to teach the gospel message, I really am not in the frame of mind to have any adversarial conversations about it at the dentist's office. I just want this experience, from the preparation to the send off, to be a happy pleasant time.
Well, the dentist appointment went well, just a few minor cavities, otherwise, no problems. Luckily we had his wisdom teeth removed voluntarily when Matthew was in his early teens. They are so much smaller and not impacted at that age that the process is easier and the recovery faster than it would be if we had waited til now. It also takes that expense out of the budget, which is nice considering what we need to plan to purchase in the way of supplies as it is. Matthew signed his portion of the dental exam form, and we handed it off to the dentist office secretary along with a stamped envelope addressed to our Bishop, per the instructions on the missionary paperwork checklist. I advise anyone preparing mission paperwork to read carefully all of the instructions, including the part about setting your printer to print the paperwork. It has very specific instructions, and our default settings were not the same as what is required. I also did not know that we needed to bring stamped and addressed envelopes to the appointments until I read that part in detail. If I hadn't, it would have been a bit of a hassle to run out and get that prepared before the appointment was over.
While Matthew was sitting in the dentist's chair he was subjected to story after story about missionaries that were called to places that freaked them out or was the polar opposite to what they had hoped for. Some sent to what they thought were less interesting missions, like Dallas/Fort Worth. There was the cousin who hated hot weather and was called to Thailand where the heat and humidity are some of the worst in the world. And the brother who hated the cold and would wear snow boots up to a mountain
lake in the middle of the summertime saying how cold it was up there, he of course was called to Newfoundland where it is bitter cold most of the year, and doesn't really warm up in the summer. There were the anecdotes about eating weird foods, like bugs and worms. On and on they went, and I was cringing a bit that they might talk him out of going at all. After a few minutes of this I chimed in with the very real truth that prepping for a mission is much like being pregnant. As soon as someone finds out, they feel it necessary to share every horror story they have ever heard. If having children, and going on missions, was really so terrible, no one would do it. Finally, the dentist and his tech relented that the two years on his mission, no matter where he goes, will be the most amazing adventure and memorable time in his life. Phew.
So, with the notes about the plans for taking care of the cavities later this month, and the rest of his checkup being positive, the paperwork was signed, sealed, and mailed to our Bishop. One more item down.
Well, that was pretty much the last step for Matthew's mission paperwork that we take before they are sent to Salt Lake. The Stake President found Matt to be worthy to serve a full time mission, and gave him a mutual agreement to sign agreeing to attend Institute classes on Tuesday nights, and Mission Prep classes on Sunday mornings, have weekly meetings alternately with the Bishop and a member of the Stake Presidency to track his preparations, and a few other things that have to do with preparing himself for his missionary service. 
