Monday July 24th Tuesday July 25th, 2023  Our first day was a bit of a nightmare. It was our free day to get groceries and take care of any business needs. Since we needed to txfr the title to our car, we decided to get it done first. We went to the Department of Motor Vehicles and waited in line. They encouraged us to make an appointment but since we didn't know our schedule we decided to just wait and get it done. I sent Terry off to the automotive store to get some new windshield wiper blades and I waited just over an hr. They finally called my name and I went up to get the title transferred and found that TerrieLou's brother had forgotten to sign the document so they wouldn't complete it. I called Nick and he very generously offered to meet us to get it signed. After it was signed, we got back in line and waited another hour but we got it done. Now on to the shopping.  First stop was Home Depot where we bought Terry a drill and bits so he could do some repairs. We also ...

 Today was our last day of class. Our instructor took us outside to read scriptures together then we were asked to participate in an activity. We were sent out to find some young missionaries to visit with and find out what how we as Sr. Missionaries could help and support them on their missions.  The first 2 elders we visited with were headed to the laundry when we stopped them to ask them how they would like it if the Sr. Missionaries did their laundry for them. Of course I was joking and they told us that it was something they needed to learn to do themselves. They did tell us that the Sr. Missionaries could bless their lives with their Wisdom. The next 2 elders we found were in the bookstore looking at colored pencils to mark their scriptures. We quickly learned that one of the elders who had been in the MTC only 2 days was suffering with a great deal of anxiety. He explained to us that he has had a history of anxiety and depression in his life and has been trying to work ...

 Thursday evening we had the pleasure of attending the Provo temple with our group. Since we had a car, we gave the Ray's a ride and attend with them. Attending the MTC with the Ray's had made our MTC experience extra extra special. We sure Love them!

 Wednesday evening we attended a very powerful and loved devotional at the MTC. It was called " Character of Christ " Experience. The meeting was absolutely amazing, and featured a video of a talk given a few years previous titled "Character of Christ". This URL is a link to Elder Bednar's talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6bofAYBpN8 Q- by Elder Bednar How can we as Missionaries exemplify the Character of Christ?  A-Get over yourself, it's not about you, Turn outward not inward. Inward reflection- Have you received his image in your countenance? Reference Mosiah 3:19 The video was periodically paused while we discussed what we saw and heard. I loved that Elder Bednar was so direct and clear in his instructions and teaching. Here are a couple slides to help us remember some of the things we were taught...  In on of our "Preach My Gospel" class's we were learning about listening to the spirit. We watched another video from Elder Bednar where...

Tuesday in our Preach my Gospel class, we were paired with another Sr. Missionary couple, Elder and Sister Chun. We spent some time getting to know each other. And since there are not coincidences, our couple just happed to be from Hawaii although they weren't currently living there. We spent some time learning about their lives and about their family. It was wonderful! We learned that they were called to serve their mission "AT HOME". We could feel that they had some  concerns about balancing their mission responsibilities with their normal life at home!! The next day we met with the Chun's again and each couple taught each other a lesson. They were much more prepared than we were and we learned a valuable lesson about getting clear directions and preparing a bit better. They plan to visit Honolulu in October and set up a dinner date with them and us at their sons home in Honolulu.

 

 Wednesday evening we were able to attend a Devotional with Brother and Sister Grow. We joined the Choir thanks to Stan and Michelle Ray. What a wonderful experience. One of our favorite church CD’s is the BYU men’s chorus “Set Apart”. Singing “Faith in Every Footstep” for the Devotional with all those Missionaries, was as powerful as listening to our CD. Just before we walked outside to get to our choir practice, it started to downpour. Michelle Ray and Nancy grabbed some extra trash bags found in one of the nearby garbage cans and put them over their heads so the rain wouldn't destroy their hair and makeup. 

 Today we entered the MTC. We weren’t sure what to expect but everyone has told us it is an awesome experience. The place is the busiest it has been since COVID with 400 arrivals today and if I heard correctly, another 500 expected on Wednesday. Stan and Michelle Ray got there shortly after us so we were able to sit together for all but our small group Preach my gospel classes. It was amazing to hear all the couples tell about why they decided to go and serve. It truly was a spiritual day. The MTC was so crowded they put some of us up in the Best Western Plus. Classes begin at 8:00 am tomorrow and there is a Devotional tomorrow night. Michelle Ray wants us to sing in the choir with them so we decided we would. I’m sure it will be an Amazing experience.

 Yesterday was final packing day. We thought we would be able to get away with 1 extra bag but no matter how we rearranged things, we could’ve get it all in. We were tired and hungry and decided to just pay for another bag. We took Terry’s mom out for lunch and told her goodbye. Terry gave her a blessing before we left. It’s hard to tell your elderly parents goodbye and I know she will really miss Terry. When we returned from lunch, LeAnn was there so we got to tell her goodbye. Dean and Eileen came over in the evening to visit and bid us farewell. We will miss everyone! This morning we were up at 5:30 AM to finish packing and telling our Beal family goodbye. They were heading out early to Arco for their Beal reunion. After everyone was gone and Terry were left alone in our home, I began to get quite emotional. So much anxious anxiety. I was finishing up some last minute laundry, and was cleaning out the refrigerator when the tears began to flow. Up until this moment, I think I hav...

We arrived at the stake center a few minutes before 7:00 to be set apart. We were very happy that Anna & Alex and Melissa were able to show their support and be in attendance. President Kropf visited with us for a few minutes and asked what we would be doing at the PCC. We told him about our recent conversation with President and Sister Bassett and let him know that we really didn't know at this point what exactly we would be doing.  Terry and Alex were able to participate in the circle and as he laid his hands on my head to set me apart, I could visualize my dad and Gary in that circle. I could not feel their actual presence but I could visualize them being there. I don't know if it was because I wanted it to be so, or that it just made sense to me that they would be there, but for what ever reason, I did have the distinct impression that they were there in that circle. I believe it with all my heart that they will be there to support us as we serve our mission. President ...

 We had a wonderful Face Time visit with President and Sister Bassett this afternoon. They told us they would be picking us up at the airport on 7/24/23 then will take us to Terrie Lou's brother's house to pick up our car. We will then follow them back to Laie where they will take us to our new apartment where we will be able to start unpacking and getting settled. He did mention that I would be doing secretary work for one of the PCC presidents which was news to me. When I asked about it, he said that the two main  question the senior couples have is where will they live and where will they serve. He said I could change 5 times between now and when we actually get there and then change again after we get there depending on the needs. We will just leave that up to the Lord and serve the best we can wherever we are needed. It was wonderful to meet with them face to face as they expressed their excitement for our arrival. Terry and I feel so blessed that we get to have this oppo...

  Thursday December 28 th - Terry and I took a ½ day off work today and Friday off since Heather and Parker would be coming.  They arrived around 2:00 and Terry got home shortly after. I made sloppy Joe’s for lunch since I didn’t have much time for preparation. It is always so wonderful to have the family over. It seems like they grow just between our visits. Tonight is the night we get to open our mission call. We are very nervous and excited. Everyone started gathering around 4:00, we were scheduled to open our call at 6:00. Dean and Eileen brought mom and came in wearing Hawaiian shirts. Dean said matter of factly that we were going to Hawaii. David and Derek were both tuned in to the ZOOM call as Derek was working. I was a bit disappointed that Derek couldn’t be there in person. Tory set up the microphone and equipment so he could zoom and record our call. I opened the call and began to read trying very hard not to scroll too far and reveal where we would be going before I...

  Tuesday December-27 th - Our mission call popped into our inbox today while I was working. Heather and Parker will be here on Thursday when we will celebrate our family Christmas and have our traditional Christmas Breakfast of French Toast with berries and ice cream for dinner. We have decided to wait till then to open our call. Longest 2 days ever! We have made a list of all who have expressed interest and sent out a ZOOM link to watch us open our call. I told Terry I get to read it because he already got to read on in his lifetime.

  Tuesday Dec 7 th I received a phone call from a Sister Vanwagnen a nurse with the Church who had a few medical questions for me. She asked if I had a Thyroid problem since I was taking a persc for Thyroid. I explained that I was taking bio identical hormones and that was just one of the ones they use to keep my hormones in balance. She said that she figured that because of the other medications I was taking for my hormones. I told her that I was evaluating weather or not to stop them all before serving my mission. She said that was another of her questions as I would be unable to get those prescriptions filled if we were called to serve in a another country. She asked if we had the COVID booster and if we were required by another country to have one if we would be willing to take one. I told her we didn’t want to get one but if it was required for us to serve that we would comply. She then asked me if Terry had any troubles with his knees since his Masques surgery on his knees. ...

  Monday Dec 6 th Terry received a txt from President Kropf letting us know that SLC had received our Mission application.  

  Sunday December 4 th . We still had no word from President Kropf concerning the submission of our Missionary paperwork. Terry decided that since we arrived a church early that he would walk over and try to catch President as they are usually in the bldg. when we arrive for Sacrament meeting. Apparently we had just missed them. Our bishop said that President Kropf told him that he had planned to submit the paperwork on Tuesday November 29 th .

  Mon November 28 th.  Terry received an email from the Mission Committee stating that couples could submit their paperwork up to 9 months before their availability date. Terry reached out to President Ford Grigg to get word to President Kropf. President Kropf is a Dr. and does not give out his phone # or email address. Tuesday terry called the executive secretary to ask him to have president Kropf let us know when he submitted our paperwork as Elder Talbott had asked us to let him know so he could get in contact with SLC when it arrived.  

  November 27 th - Terry and I had our Stk President Interview scheduled for 5:00 PM. At 4:00 PM we received a phone call from the stk Executive Secretary letting us know that President Kropf had gone over all our submitted paperwork but that he was not able to submit it till 120 days prior to our availability date which was July 1 st . He asked us if we still wanted to keep the appointment. Well, this took us quite off guard because we were pretty excited at this point to be able to complete that last step of our application. We had high hopes that we would maybe receive our call by Christmas. He told him that we had been in constant communication with Elder Talbott and that as we understood it, couples didn’t have to wait till the 120 days. He decided that we should just keep the appointment then sort it out later.  We immediately tried to get ahold of Elder Talbott and had to leave a message as he wasn’t answering his phone. We figured he was probably in meetings. Terry the...

  Sunday November 20 th - Terry and I got the kids off to church and made them some dinner to have available when they got home from church then headed home as we had our Mission interview scheduled with our Bishop that afternoon.

  November 17 th -Terry and I were traveling to Utah to watch Heather and Parkers kids while they took a trip to Zion’s National Park. While we were traveling there, we received a phone call from Elder Talbott. He didn’t have much time as he was expecting a phone call from SLC. He asked us if we would mind if he built a profile of our qualifications and the needs at the PCC to submit to the mission committee in SLC. We told him that would be fine. He got our church record #’s from us then he had to suddenly go because his call from SLC came in. We were hoping to be able to ask him a few questions but they would have to wait for another opportunity.

  Nancys Mission Journal   Terry and I have been planning to serve a mission for as long as I can remember, the question has been When should we put in our paperwork. There are certain things that needed to happen before we could retire and go on a mission. First, our Mortgage had to be paid off. Secondly, When to retire? I am currently working at Delta Dental and have been planning to continue in that job till I had been there at least 2 years because that is when I vest the employee match for retirement. The 2 year mark is June 28 th so my plan was to go at least till that point and maybe just work till the end of the year. Terry is adamant about not retiring till I do and I have been concerned that if we wait to long, he may not have good enough health to go as his current job with Madden Homes is at times quite hard on him although for the most part he has really enjoyed this job I had made several mission budget projections and we had been on the church website several t...