Saying Good Bye

Some of our group have already left.  They started leaving last weekend going to Nebraska, South Carolina and one couple left for the Philipeans  (sorry I don't know how to spell it).  The PEF missionaries had training on Saturday and Sunday and finished up today.   A couple  Elder and Sister Blatter from our first district leaves tomorrow morning for South Africa.  They are from Montana.   Others are leaving for Cambodia,  and the Ukraine.
There aren't any Humanitarian projects in the United States so all 6 couples assigned to that area are going a long way a way.   One couple in this group is departing on their 6th mission.  They are going to    Johanesburg South Africa.  They have been all over the world and are a great source of information to us.   Another of our group is headed our on their 4th mission.  They are going to the country of Georgia.   The rest of us are first timers one couple is going to China, another to Borneo, another Mexico City and us to Moldova.   Elder and Sister Elise have to fly to Los Vagus tomorrow morning trying to get a Visa to Mexico City.  There are about 6 of them going to do that.  We teased them about getting on a bus and crossing the river and be reverse illegals. They are not sure when they will get to go to Mexico City.  The couple going to Borneo will go home for 2 weeks then head out to their country.  I don't know why that arrangement was made unless they only have Humamitarian missionaries going out one time a month.  It is pretty extensive training with people from the head quarters doing the training.
      We have learned about the Water/ Sanitation, Vision, Wheelchair, Immunization, Neonatal Resussutaion programs.  We still have the food program to do or they might skip that one.  They said none of us will be doing that program so they want to save the time for something else.  We have also learned about the computer program that we have to writhe up our projects on.  We have one more day of training.  Then we will do the laundry, send back some of our stuff that we won't need, pack our bags and hopefully not have them weight over 50 lbs. and be off to Moldova at 5:30 a.m.
    We had a Windows 7 class this evening there is another tomorrow evening.  I don't know if we will make that one it depends on how ready we are by that time,
    We had more new missionaries come in today.  I looked out our window at 9:00 and could see lots of activity below.  I think a new group came in.  We didn't seem to have the cafeteria rush for dinner that we had last week so maybe they were more spread out coming in.
    Well it is bed time and I need to be obedient and get there.  
  Good night all and Thank you for your prayers.

Thankful for Gray hair continued.

I had to get off of a call coming in.
    So we went to dinner at 4:40  People traffic wasn't to bad, but before we finished eating they annouced that if you were down eating leave because another group was waiting to come in.  There was a crush to take dirty dishes to the belt and to leave.  It is amazing how this place works.
     We had 2 fire sides tonight.  The first was for missionaries leaving this week.  there were 2 room bigger than our chapel and over flow full of people leaving.  I have no idea how many.  We had a guy come and tells us where to sit right up front.  That was nice.  They announced all the places were we are all headed and had the missionaries going there stand.  Pretty amazing.
     The second was for everyone.  We had been told to go to the back of the auditorum.  So that is where we were looking.  But all we were heads of brown, blond or red hair.  Then Walt spotted a row of gray hair in the front left side and we knew where we were to go to for our reserved seating.  It is amazing to see all those youth going out into the world as Representitives of Jesus Christ.   I am so glad to be part of their number.
     Love you all
       Arlana

Thankful for Gray Hair

  Today was Sunday July 28.  We had sacrament meeting at 7:30 a.m.  Then breakfast at about 9.  From there we watched Music and the Spoken Word.   I have always like On a Clear Day You Can See for Ever.  The choir sang that song and others.
    Then we had Relief Society and 10:00  there 1,500 Sisters in the meeting.  We were admonished to strengthen faith,  find hope in all thing,  read the scriptures,  have trust in God.  The speaker spoke for 45 min with out notes.  She was awesome.  There was a new sisters meeting  then we had lunch.
    The missionaries came in waves so not all at once.  Very good thing. Roast beef, potatoes and gravy and carrots, plus side things to eat.  As I came out of the cafeteria I was headed East, right into the head of hundreds of tall, well dressed young men going West, to dinner.  Wow what a sight  I had to get to the side of the hall so I wouldn't cause a crash.
     We were home by 12:30 and talked to our kids.  Skype with Sharon and family then Darren and Lauren.  We called Valory.  Talked to Stacey last night.
     At 4:45 we went to dinner.   was not to bad but before w
 

Third day in the MTC

Third day in the MTC    I have found that it is not a good thing to go into dinner before 4:30 that is when all the young missionaries come in and there is no room for the older missionaries.  Especially by the ice cream bar.   I have observed young Elders in wheel chairs, on crutches  and in braces because of  twisted legs.  I have seen them in casts of leg and arms.  There is as young Sister here who is less than 3 feet tall.  They are amazing.  The are willing to serve the Lord no matter what there problems are.   Young return missionaries are teaching new senior missionaries and doing a great job.  To day we saw a machine in motion as 300 cars came in dropping off 300 missionaries in 3 hours.  They have that down to an art.    I have learned that I can teach with help from above.  Even though what we planed was not used.    We are learning more every day.   Now we want to go for a walk and see the old tabernacle that is being rebuilt.
    Good night to all
 Love,   Arlana

Entering the MTC

We caught the shuttle at the SLC airport.  Debbie and Wayne Watts were our ride  to the airport.
    We received our name tags and paper work.  We accomplished our check in tasks.  Book store, travel office, Immunizations check.  all were ok.  We had a short orientation meeting.  Then went to lunch.  We had a turkey terriaquie ( sorry I don't know how to spell it) with pineapple sandwich with sweet potato fries.  We looked of Elder Ogden but didn't see him.   There are lots of girls here as missionaries.  All sorts I was watching to see what they were wearing.  I should be alright.   We took our picture by a smaller world map.  A missionary was passing by and took it for us.
    At 1:00 we had another class at the end of it they divided us into districts.  Walt was hoping not to be called but he was.  So he is our District Leader for the next 4 days.  There are 3 other couple in our district.   We went over our list of things to check on and found out where every one is staying and phone numbers.
    I used all our minuets up last night so we didn't have a phone number.  We have replenished our minuets for the MTC.  They want us to have a phone number.
    They told us were to go for our district meeting. I took Walt the wrong way so we were the last ones to arrive.  Oh Well.   My sense of direction often gets me into trouble.
      We finished at 3:30 and went to find our Romanian teacher.   They wrote an emil to her.  I don't know if we will see her or not
       At 4:00 it was dinner time.  I thought the young people would come later but they didn't.  We were invited to sit with a couple with our district.  We hadn't eaten very much when a young man said "Hi"  It was Elder Odgen.  We was sitting further down our table.  He looked our way and saw us.  That was cool to be abel to talk to him for a few min.  Later we saw him in the hall and we took our picture with him.
   We had to waited for an hour for the shuttle to the Merriott Hotel.  This is where we are staying.  Don't tell the young missionaries.  We will go over to the regular housing on Sat.  For now we are in nice digs.
   Well I guess that is our day.  We still have to unpack and do some studying of Preach My Gospel. We also have to be in bed by 10:30  Wow that might be hard for me.  I am tired though so it will be a welcomed time.   We have to be in class by 8 a.m. that is after breakfast etc.
  Night all.