Off and Running

Where to begin . . .

I could write plenty about what has happened 
since the last post, but there simply isn't time.

A few pictures will have to do.

The last three days at the MTC was CES training, and it was superb.  The devotional that Tuesday was Elder Sitati and his wife.  We took lots of notes.  Nori, Travis and Jimmy were in Provo on business, so we got to spend some time with them.

Then we drove and drove and drove (over 3000 miles since leaving Mesa).

We got to spend a night with Emily and her family in Ohio and another with Jeff and his family in Michigan on the way to NY.

It was a highlight to be able to visit our old mission and see a few friends there.  We also visited the grove and attended a session at the temple.

Last Monday afternoon we were on our way again to the mission home in Utica.

We witnessed the behind-the-scenes work involved in transfers and training meetings.  We shadowed President and his wife to buy the groceries in preparation for the group that would be there the next day.  That night we went with them and the two office couples to eat and visit.

Spending the night at the mission home was a special treat in multiple ways. But on Tuesday morning we climbed back in our car (which we had been living out of now for three weeks) and started the last leg of our journey to Guilderland, NY where we got settled into our apartment.

That night we attended institute, met the class, and studied together from Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon. Thankfully, we were not the teachers since we had arrived only hours earlier.

On Wednesday we traveled back to Utica (an hour, fifteen minute drive) for the mission transfer meetings. We took two elders and their luggage and brought back two different elders.  Sixteen missionaries arrived in the mission, and about nine went home.  Their testimonies before leaving were inspiring!

That night we attended a CES training for all the seminary teachers in the stake. (Thank goodness for a GPS.)  Brother Baker, our CES Coordinator, did the training.  By the time we got home that night, we had been gone fifteen hours. (Needless to say, we slept good.)

The next day was the busiest yet.  We taught the morning institute class with very little actual preparation time. (Although we spent little time on a lesson plan, we had been preparing for two weeks through MTC trainings, readings, and role plays.)  We also pushed hard to prepare to teach the evening YSA class; but when we got there, we learned that someone else had been assigned. It was still a good opportunity for us to introduce ourselves and get to know the young adults.

It wasn't until yesterday that we were able to get internet connection, so today we have been catching up with bills, laundry, shopping, and other errands.

A mission is the hardest work you'll ever love!