:
Up at 2am, left home at 3:15am, checked in at DFW for 6am flight. And
we didn’t have to remove our shoes, love it when that happens! Arrived
in SLC at 7:30ish. We had to walk a little ways to get our rental car
(little Hyundai, no cruise).
Did
you know that it is VERY hard and very comical to push 3 suitcases
(each) through an airport, across a street, and down the sidewalk? And a
bit embarrassing too.
We
stopped at McDonalds (of course) for breakfast, no time for Kneaders. I
was supposed to be putting on my makeup as we drove to the MTC, but we
had one more tearful FaceTime with Sydney. We pulled into the MTC and
they waited patiently for me to finish my call and make up.
And
then we began our Exceedingly Awesome stay at the MTC!!! Man, they take
such good care of you, it is really heaven on earth here, except for
the MISSING FAMILY part!. But you, our family, are prayed for over and
over again, every prayer. My tears come often, as I think of all of you!
But most every senior couple here (60 couples, going all over the
world) are in the same situation, except for the fact that our family is
more AWESOME! I have carried our family picture book around to show you
all off!
Dad
is being super friendly to EVERYONE he sees and is teasing some. *We
have not met anyone we know, but we are making LOTS of new friends.
President Martino, the MTC President, has sat with dad and I twice for
lunch. We are from the same Stake in Denton, Texas, and really enjoy
visiting with each other.
Our
MTC experience is like the Disneyland of Spiritualness!!! We are
learning sooo much. Everything, I mean Everything is based around our
Savior Jesus Christ. It’s all about inviting others to come unto Christ,
and we are drawing nearer to Him as we do that. We are learning that
this is our Missionary Purpose. So, as you know, we are serving, that
our family will be blessed, so be prepared for lots of blessings and
churchiness (but you already expected that)!
Our classroom instructors are especially great
Tuesday
evening we attended a Missionary Devotional with Elder Garret _ Gong.
So Great! The choir was over half of our group, it blew up the building
when they sang/shouted Hoorah, Hoorah for Israel! Elder Gong taught us
to stay positive, to lift others, and not burst any of their ‘balloons’
He had some Elders prepared with a role play, so powerful, lots of
tears, Elder Gong was sobbing!
Dad
has really been a strength to me here. I worried that he might have a
tough time here, not at all, me on the other hand… Dad has been teaching
and participating a lot. Really stepping out of his comfort zone. It
seems our marriage is stronger than ever! What a blessing! We are very
happy being here and looking forward to serving in Russia.
Saturday,
we drove up to Midway to visit Scott and Trish Martineau at their
beautiful home. Park City for lunch at… wait for it… RUTH’S CHRIS!!! We
had no idea that they had such delicious and affordable lunches. After
lunch we picked up Chase at the Ottesen’s in Taylorsville. It is so very
cool to meet strangers that love him so much! The highlight of our day
was taking Chase with us to meet with many of our dear friends from
Colton Ward. Roxann and Kory hosted a pot luck dinner at their home in
American Fork. You have seen the pictures on Instagram. I really missed
all of you again, as we talked and laughed together. Dad and I felt so
much love and support from all of them. We drove Chase to Tooele and met
one of his converts, a young man, that was so blessed by Chase’s
service!
Dad
and I would like to invite all of you to watch Meet the Mormons, 1 or
2. It’s on Netflix. You could watch all segments at once or one at a
time. We watch three stories from MtM2 tonight. Good Stuff!
Well, we sure LOVE you, LIKE you, and MISS you tons! You are all in our every prayer.
2 Nephi 31:20, Doctrine and Covenants 100:1!!!
*Today
(Sunday) at lunch, dad and I were sitting across from each other in the
cafeteria, filled with hundreds of people. I mentioned to him that I
was surprised that we hadn’t seen anyone we knew yet. He agreed. Then…
not even sixty seconds later, a sister points us out and comes right
over to us. Scott and Katie Ellis from the Colton Ward! Scott’s dad is a
Branch President here, they were visiting their parents and came to
church with them to hear them speak. They joined us at our table for
lunch (the only little children in the whole MTC, I’m sure). We enjoyed a
great visit with them. I was McKay’s nursery leader, he is now six
years old. Scott asked how Chase was doing, he had been Home Teaching
companions with Chase. I believe the only one to every take Chase out.
Such a sweet Tender Mercy for us.
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