Visiting Family Before We Departed

June 12, 2011

Before departing to South Africa, we had a couple of days to visit family again .  It was great to visit my half-sister Billie (age 84).  She is doing well and enjoying her children, grandchildren , and her 12 great grandchildren.

We also went to Church with my sister Nellie.  It was great to visit family.  My brother Paul put us up for the weekend before and after our stay at the MTC.  He was so kind as to take us to the airport on June 13. 

June 10, 2011

Well, we are graduated from the Mission Training Center with our Office Training  group.  We fell in love with all our senior couple friends.  We were soon to depart to our missionary assignments in the Canary Islands which are just off  the African Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, London  England, Samoa, Miramar (Burma), Vananutu (Pacific Islands), Fiji, Greece, Russia, Germany, Panama, Mexico,  and of course, South Africa.  A number of our senior friends also went to Louisiana, Texas, and Minnesota.  We had wonderful return missionaries that instructed us all through our missionary training.  We really appreciated them.  We met Ron and Mary Lynn Peterson at the MTC who were volunteer trainer for the senior missionaries.  I can still remember the MTC encouraging us to “Lengthen our shuffle” as senior missionary to accomplish the work. 

We visited  Carol's parents in Idaho on our way to the Mission Training Center.  It was wonderful to be near  family, especially for Bob's 88th birthday for a week.   We stopped at Shoshone Falls at Twin Falls, Idaho on our way as we traveled to the MTC,

When we arrive at Salt Lake we stayed with my brother Paul.  We celebrated my sister Nellie's birthday.  We had a lovely luncheon at the Olive Garden Restaurant. Paul took us to the MTC on Monday.

While at the MTC we were privileged to visit the Provo Temple and complete some temple work for a friend at home. The temple was so beautiful in side.  It was such a spiritual experience. 









We have completed a week at the MTC with one more week of training left.  We will bea  office mission couple supporting the young missionaries.  We are learning all the administration and use of computers for this calling.  I am looking forward to teaching piano and keep up on my skills as I teach.  We will be on our way to South Africa on June 13.  It will be exciting to be on our way after waiting for so long.