Elder Jones

Andy has been talking about an Elder Jones in his letters home who he has become friends with in Mongolia. Elder Jones is from our home town and they have become tight friends while serving in Mongolia. I don't think they knew each other before they left on their missions because E. Jones is a year older than Andy. Elder Jones went to the rival high school across town (you can see them showing the signs of their respective high schools in the picture of the two of them.) Anyway, Andy emailed us and asked me to attend the homecoming sacrament meeting of Elder Jones, scheduled for this morning. He gave me the Elders home phone number and asked me to call him and get the details for the meeting. I called yesterday and E. Jones' mom answered the phone. I identified myself and asked to speak to E. Jones. I chatted with him and he gave me the info. Later in the evening it dawned on me that this Elder Jones just might be the son of my old junior high and high school friend Diane. I always think of her by her maiden name and she thinks of me by my maiden name. I knew she lived in the same part of town as the address I was given by E. Jones. I went to my address book and realized that indeed, the kid is the actual SON of my old friend Diane Redd*kopp from Rupert. We haven't seen each other for about five or six years and we kind of lost contact. How amazing that our sons became close friends in Mongolia serving together as missionaries in the same area. How random is that? I went to the meeting today and surprised Diane when she saw me. I explained about our sons and the connection they had made and she was truly amazed. They invited us over to their home to visit and to talk about missionary work in Mongolia and the friendship of these Elders and their mothers. She and her husband went to Mongolia two weeks ago to pick up their son as he finished his mission. While there, Elder Jones introduced them to our son and she remembered meeting Andy, not knowing that he was MY son. Wow. Life comes at you fast sometimes. We're meeting for lunch next week to get caught up and to learn more about Mongolia. They were in attendance with their son when the first stake was created in Mongolia, just last Sunday. Since we're planning to go get Andy from Mongolia in 8 months, they will be great coaches for our trip. Again, wow. How cool is that?