Getting started

Hi, Family!

Today is the last day of our first month here in the Washington Everett Mission. You have all been very patient and understanding of our "information blackout."--- We have discovered that being a new mission president (and wife) feels like trying to jump onto a playground merry-go-round going full speed. With the Lord's help and two able assistants, (Elder Nelson and Elder Johnson) we are on the merry-go-round and hanging on for dear life! We have been busy beyond comprehension, but we know that you are all anxious to hear the details of our experiences thus far. Welcome to our blog! (Dad writing, Mom editing this time...)

So much to tell you. I'll just jot down a list of topics to draw upon for future posts...

• Mission Presidents Seminar at the MTC
• Our trip here
• New missionary calendar
• Weather / trees / our mission area
• Ada's time, medical
• Emily and Nathan
• Baptisms
• Teaching appts with the missionaries
• Stake leaders
• Interviews
• Cottage meeting in our home
• Transfers
• and more

It seems that every day we are doing something new - the first time speaking impromptu; the first time feeding missionaries in our home, and hence, the first trip to Costco; the first time orienting new missionaries; the first time through transfers; the first time planning a zone leader council; the first sprained ankle. You get the idea.

There is no time to go back and be better prepared. Nor can we delay something to have more time to get ready. We can't call up the MTC and say, "Please keep those elders a few more days while we get ready here." Ten new missionaries are coming - ready or not, here they come! And ready or not we will have an orientation with them. And will have initial interviews with each of them. And will determine who should be their trainer companion and where they will serve.

I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to find the pause button. There is none. It can be very humbling.

On top of incredibly busy days, we got off to a rough start with technology. Maybe in another post I'll comment on that, but for now, the good news is that I have a cell phone that works and our computers here in the mission home and at the mission office can send and receive email.

Well, that is probably enough for now to get started. Please feel free to send questions. And, while what we write will be primarily addressed to you, our family, feel free to pass on the blog reference to others that express interest.

We love you. It is an incredible blessing to be involved in this work of saving souls. Our young missionaries are absolutely wonderful and are so supportive of us while we learn. We are reminded each and every day in numerous ways that this is the Lord's work and that He is directing it.

Dad