Visa Waiters

Visa Waiters:  That is our new title now which is self explanatory and let's everyone know exactly where we are on our mission journey.  On Monday, February 27th, we had a devotional with our new mission to attend at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Elder Bauer, our mentor,  met us in the Church Office Building (COB) and led us through an underground maze of parking lots to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB). The devotional was held in the chapel.  They had Tim and I stand up and we were introduced as "visa waiters".  Then they had all the other visa waiters stand up, about 10 couples.  It just happened to be our mission president's birthday that day too!  The Family History Center zone, only 1 out of 12 zones, was in charge and they gave wonderful talks, Elijah moments (experiences where Elijah helped them), and a musical number.   

We were then wisked up to the third floor of the JSMB where the mission headquarters are.  We met the Winders who gave us our new lanyards with i.d. cards to open doors, the Lynches who were in charge of housing and Sister Howell who got us signed up on the computers and who"tricked" us into joining the "Elijah Choir", that's the mission choir. She really didn't trick us but she led us from one screen to the next and before we knew it, we had joined!  Ha!ha!

We then had our interview with the mission presidency which was soooo amazing:  President Douglas and Erin Holmes, President Paul and Jenna Jackson and President Mike and LuAnn Faerber. They were all so kind and loving and really interested in us.  We have never had so much attention in our lives.  Previous to our interview, we had submitted a biography to them and we had read their biographies.  They asked all about us, our children, our service in the Church, Ramah, and our stake in Gallup.

Sister Howell, who truly was an angel to us that day, took us to the COB for lunch in the cafeteria!  Back through the underground maze of parking lots.  The food was incredible--so many choices!  The prices were very low because the Church subsidizes the meals and you got points for making healthy choices.  Also, you get a free piece of fruit every day!  I'm sure Dr./President Nelson is behind all these healthy choices.

It was a heavenly day spent with consecrated people and I could feel the Spirit leave as we made our way back home to Saratoga Springs.