by Elizabeth Nielson
It used to be that when a senior couple wanted to serve a full-time mission, they would have to commit to serving for at least 18 months, which included leaving their homes.
Now, senior missionaries can serve from home and can serve for shorter periods of time.
Roy and Billie Jo Henretty of the Akron Ward answered the call to serve and became the first couple in the Akron Stake to serve a full-time mission from home. Cleveland Mission 1st Counselor Max Lewis approached Brother Henretty in May after the priesthood session of stake conference. President Lewis asked Brother Henretty to talk to Billie Jo about possibly working in the Cleveland Mission Office together. By Thursday, their papers were turned in.
The Henrettys started working at the mission office on June 26 and will be serving for 14 months with an option to extend that time if they choose. They are able to live at home during their months of service.
“We feel very good about the assignment,” says Sister Henretty. “We have some obligations at home that would have made it difficult to leave and serve a mission away from home right now. This allows us to take care of those obligations, and serve a mission at the same time.”
Brother Henretty is the Mission Housing Coordinator. His work includes finding, furnishing, inspecting, and maintaining missionary apartments. He also handles apartment issues between landlords and missionaries when necessary.
Sister Henretty is the Referral Secretary. She works to collect and distribute referrals and to take reports following a referral appointment. She also does office work such as entering baptism and confirmation data, ordering supplies, writing a monthly summary of mission activities, and publishing a monthly newsletter, among other duties,
The Henrettys left for the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah for two weeks on July 31. Starting work at the mission office a month before getting training at the MTC is unusual, but the Henrettys feel fortunate that they were able to have some hands-on experience first.
Brother and Sister Henretty are enjoying their service every day.
“After being retired for 5 years, I recognized I was getting dull,” says Brother Henretty. “Serving at the bishop’s storehouse was great, but I needed another challenge with more variety. When President Lewis approached me about serving in the Mission Office, I jumped with joy. Each day there is a new twist that I have never encountered before, and the Lord sees me through.
“The major lesson I am learning is the degree of trust which is given and is expected by all the office staff and missionaries. I have seen the Lord’s hand in the different job duties that are performed daily. There is a spirit of unity to focus on the job at hand. So, the Lord has answered my prayers [requesting another challenge], and now I need to meet that challenge with the Lord’s guidance.”
Sister Henretty says that she was never worried about taking the calling. “I have been asked if I was scared to begin. I have never felt worried or scared about the call. It just seems right. It is an answer to my prayer of being of service, and helping with the missionary effort. This is a joy, working in the office. It is a privilege to work with President and Sister Brown, and all the missionaries. Their enthusiasm and dedication is catching.”
Senior couples make up 8 percent of missionaries serving around the world. In the Ohio Cleveland mission, there are approximately 180 missionaries and 13 sets of senior couples. Brother and Sister Henretty are delighted to be one of those couples.
Akron Ohio Stake News 