Missionary service can take different forms and fill various needs, especially when you are a senior couple. They lend their experience gained throughout their lives to help build up the kingdom. Some assignments are less formal or straightforward.
Philip and Rene Kerste served as medical advisor to the Omaha, NE, mission, due to his medical history. He also served with his first wife in Africa in a similar capacity. Now Brother and Sister Kerste are embarking on a new kind of service.
“I call it a search and rescue mission,” said Sister Kerste. “There are a lot of good people out there and some have lost their way. For military members, their records don’t go with them to their bases and some get lost. We want to help find them.”
It’s a relatively new role in missionary service, and the Kerstes will be the first senior couple missionaries to serve members at the Leavenworth base for the Independence, Missouri, Mission. They will live at home and drive to Leavenworth to help find the lost sheep, whatever that may entail.
“The Independence Mission had never had military relations missionary couples before,” Elder Kerste said. “The mission office couldn’t really tell me what I would be doing because they don’t really know themselves. We have asked some questions, but they keep saying, ‘You’ll learn more about it at the MTC.’”
The tender mercy for the Kerstes is that they were found through this assignment. They had put in their missionary application months earlier and never heard anything. Medical concerns had seemingly kept them from being assigned to far away missions. As they patiently waited for a call, Brother Kerste met a former temple worker colleague and current Independence, Missouri, Mission president. As they caught up, Brother Kerste learned about this new military relations role the mission president was directed to fill. The timing was perfect, and they were almost immediately assigned to the Independence mission. Soon Brother and Sister Kerste will be sharing their testimonies with military service members.
“I see so many miracles that occur with the missionaries,” Sister Kerste said. “It’s wonderful to know that the Lord is watching out for them. We want to serve because we love the Lord.”
Knowing how or what they will be doing is not as important as being in the service of God.
“When you are serving, you’re feeling the spirit,” Brother Kerste said. “I love the feeling that comes with being a dedicated servant. It’s wonderful. And if I’m alive after this 12-month assignment, we will probably serve another mission. We will serve in this life, and in the next because that’s where happiness is found”