Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of columns about senior missionaries and the adventures that await those who are willing to leave home and go serve the Lord. Senior missionaries, send us your stories and experiences.

When my husband and I were called to serve a couple mission, we had previously decided that we would let the Lord call us to where we were needed. That was fortunate because we probably never would have chosen Nigeria, Africa!

An interesting reaction came as we received our mission call from those of our children living in the area. In the past with their mission calls, everyone in the room had cheered as the call was read. When we read our call together, my husband and I immediately felt a great peace and acceptance of this call and “high-fived” each other! However, there was an ominous silence from those children present, each one a returned missionary. Spit-fire comments were aimed our way: “Do you realize that this is Africa ? You can't go there!” “They won't even send young North American elders there; they certainly wouldn't send someone as old as you to Nigeria !”

Of course that last comment sealed our determination and off we went to Nigeria. We were assigned as the office couple for the Uyo Mission, so, as is the case with many couples, we did not proselyte. But our services and abilities were sorely needed.

Many think of a couple mission solely in terms of proselyting. But there are so many areas where seasoned, experienced couples or individuals can contribute. These include leadership and member support, mission/area offices, visitor's centers, health care, temple missions, family and church history, church education system, public relations, welfare and humanitarian services, farm management, physical facilities and construction, perpetual education fund, church security, music, and many other areas.

Also, couples are given a great deal of latitude that the younger elders and sisters do not enjoy. They are often able to request specific missions or places. Some couples are adventurous; some are not. This can be discussed with bishops and stake presidents. If a couple does not desire a foreign mission, they need not be called there. And, in many areas, P days or preparation days, which are very busy for the younger missionary, can be used as free days to travel or pursue other interests for the couple missionaries.

The same faith that is needed when young missionaries are called is needed for missionary couples. Finances, health, family problems all can be worked out with the Lord's help. When a determination to serve the Lord is present, it is amazing how quickly things come together with prayer and faith.

And of course, that faith yields wonderful results on the mission itself. We had many sweet experiences on our mission where prayers were readily answered. One involved my computer and the Nigerian electric power system which only worked sporadically. We had a back-up generator, but unfortunately it often broke down. I was working late one night trying to boot up my computer. We had suffered days of power outage and although the generator had finally been fixed, my computer would not work. It was solidly frozen with an unfamiliar image on the screen.

My husband was also working late in his office with finances and I finally went to him in frustration and asked if he could try to “unfreeze” my computer. He worked for some time, but could do nothing. Because I was so behind in my work, having been unable to enter baptisms or any of the other myriad details that needed to be entered, I was frantic. We had computer service people, but they had to fly from the city of Lagos , usually to an airport a couple of hours away, and then take “transport” to our city of Uyo . With their busy schedules they normally could not come any sooner than a week.

I had deadlines imminently looming! Despite the outages, a mission president would have been horrified for Salt Lake to see that he had only a few baptisms that month–especially when his missionaries had baptized many!

I finally turned away from the screen in despair, and with tears pouring down my cheeks, I bowed my head and poured out my heart to Heavenly Father. It was a prayer of great frustration and I asked how we could be expected to accomplish anything in a country so deprived of normal resources and without help. I reminded Him that this was not my work, but His, that He had called us and that without His help, we could accomplish nothing.

After the prayer, I pondered in my heart how that help could come. Maybe we could get technicians to Uyo faster than usual. Maybe the information could be transmitted in a sidewalk “cyberspace” café (in Uyo the closest was in a dark lot with a bare, poorly lit little room with computers that sometimes worked and sometimes did not) and how could it be sent to Salt Lake without the programs that were in my computer?

I finally turned around to face the computer and was stunned to see an entirely different screen! It was the usual familiar one that allowed me to access all the information and programs that were needed. The Spirit enveloped me with a mighty warmth and assurance and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was not a coincidence. A small miracle had once again been performed to allow the work of the Lord to continue in a timely manner.

“Enduring to the end” is a very literal term which can give great joy as we realize that we can continue to serve, grow, and learn, no matter our age. Serving a mission later in life is one of the wonderful ways to accomplish this ongoing progress.

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We would love to hear perspectives or experiences from others who have served couple missions or “sister” missions or who are currently serving anywhere in the world. We invite you to send your stories of faith, your unique experiences and perspectives, your unusual circumstances, your joyful moments. Please send your stories (with pictures attached as .jpeg or .jpg images) to missionarystories@meridianmagazine.com . Please include your names and what mission you are serving or have served. Please also include a brief biography of yourselves.