MY BROTHER JOSH IS COMING HOME FROM HIS MISSION!!!
He has been serving the last 2 years in the
Paraguay Asuncion North Mission
Josh is not like every other missionary. He is a very rare one! Josh began his mission journey back on May 7th 2008. He and his twin brother enter the Missionary Training Center that day. After about 6 weeks on being in the MTC my parents received a call from my brother asking them to come pick him up. My parents were VERY SHOCKED as were the rest of us of course. I remember that day that I got the call from my dad. Josh and I were up in Oroville visiting family and I had just drove up to the house. It was a very unusual call. My dad and I talked for a bit. I remember saying to my dad, "that I was really missing all 3 of my brothers (they were all over lapped each other while on their missions) at that time and I had the thought that I wish just one was home, but I didn't want that wish to come true." We chuckled a little and then he asked me if I wanted to talk to Josh. I was a little hesitant, but of course we talked. He really didn't have a lot to say. I think we all were very unsure about what to say or do. It was a very surreal moment. I remember talking to him and asking him if he would ever go back out on a mission and finish. He had said he would, but I remember thinking I don't really believe that. I know the odds are low when missionaries come home from their missions early. It's very rare that they ever go back again. Many of them just get sucked back into the world and Satan works his hardest on them to make sure they don't go back out and serve the Lord. Josh was told that if he wanted to go back on a mission again he would have to wait at least a year. 1 whole year was very hard for all of us to hear. With that much time at home we had doubts about him going back out.
Throughout that whole year that he was home we talked a lot about when he would go back on a mission. I remember a few times that he and I talked about how amazing of a story he would have to be able to tell his kids, all his nieces and nephews and just anyone. Josh came and lived with Josh, Payton and I for a few weeks. During that time he was able to build a relationship with Payton who was about 11ish months old. Payton loves his uncle Josh. It wasn't until the beginning of September 2009 that he was able to go back out and serve the Lord.
He and my other brother Jared were driving out here to California to come visit us when Josh received a call from his Stake President. The Stake President had told him that he has been called to serve a mission again and that President Monson and the General Authorities have asked that he just go back to the mission he was originally assigned to. We all thought he would just get a letter in the mail and it would be the same way as before, but that wasn't the case. The Stake President then asked if he could leave a week from that day, and that he would just be getting on a flight to go straight to Paraguay. He said he didn't need to go back to the MTC because he was there long enough before and that the mission duration would continue on just as if he hadn't been home for a whole year in between. I remember them getting to my house and telling me that. We were all very SHOCKED!!! He called my parents and told them. He and Jared had to cut their trip short. Since September of 2009 Josh has been such an amazing missionary in Paraguay.
They live the life of luxury in Paraguay!
Sitting here typing all these things and remember everything it begins to make my heart ache, my throat tighten and my eyes water. I can't even express how proud I am to have such an amazing brother like Josh. Josh absolutely went on a mission for the right reason!!! He is a great example to my kids and to our whole family. I am OVERLY EXCITED about being able to go meet him at the airport 1 week from today. It has been too long!
The Cambra family has been through so much since we began the journey of sending out missionaries. My brother right below me began it all! Jared left for his mission February 2007. At that time Stef and Dawson were married and so were Josh and I. I had announced the night before that I was 7 weeks pregnant. This was big news since there were no grandkids in the family yet.
Since that time I gave birth to Payton, Danny went and served a mission, Jared came home from his mission, Josh went back out on his mission, I got pregnant again, Stef finally got pregnant with her first, my dad lost his job, Danny came home from his mission, my parents moved to Elmo, Ut where they are both currently working, and Danny got engaged.
Our family has definitely grown since 2007. So when Josh gets home in 1 week that will be the first time since February 2007 that the Cambra family has all been together. For those who don't want to figure that out its been 4 years and 5 months!!!! That is a freaking long time to not have a family completely together.
I wanted to post some random pictures of our family so that Josh can be reminded of what he will be coming home to in 1 week!!!
This was taken when Danny came home from his mission. It was like midnight! Scarlett was an infant at that time and Sofia was still in Stefs stomach. We will be in this same spot in 1 week! Can't wait!
Payton is 3 years 8 months old!
Sophia will be 1 year old in 20 days, Scarlett is 16 months old!
My brother Danny and our soon to be Sister Jacie! She's amazing!
Me, Jared and Josh ready to go snow tubing right after Jared came home from his mission. The funnest day ever for me with just these two!
The family without Stef, Dawson and Sofia and me of course cause I am taking the picture. Sorry you 3 I don't have very many recent pictures of you guys.
Had to add this picture cause it make me laugh! I can't wait for Josh to come home.
My stud of a brother!
I just want to end with saying that I am very excited for this new chapter to start in our family. I am very proud of each of my brothers for taking 2 years out of their lives and going and serving the Lord. All 3 were amazing missionaries. The are great examples to me. I know they each have a very strong testimony! My parents are very blessed to have all 5 of us progressing and doing so well as adults! I love my family so much. Next week will be amazing! I can't wait for Josh to meet Scarlett and Sofia! Payton I am sure will be nervous at first, but it wont take him long to remember how amazing his uncle Josh is.
This post has ended up being a lot longer than I had planned, but I know 25 years from now when I can't remember anything I will appreciate it.
I just want Josh to know we are ALL VERY EXCITED to see you next Friday!!! We love you!!!
