Packing -rh

I'm trying to pack and trying to remember what to pack but I've never gone away for two years before - well not exactly right, we went to Washington, DC for two years, but we had a whole car to fill up with stuff we needed. I didn't go on a mission as a young man, so no reference there. I've never gone more than two weeks on a vacation, so again, no reference. I did pack for a three month bike ride, but again a totally different kind of packing. We'll be in Provo for two weeks, so much of my stuff has to be available and then repacked - groan. Decisions, decision!

I guess this is one of the adventures of this whole thing. Really looking forward to this new service in a new place. Looking forward to learning the customs of South Africa, trying new foods and just being in a totally different environment.

Mission "Farewell" -gfh

Sunday we gave our "Farewell" talks in sacrament meeting. The program was very nice with three granddaughters doing a string trio: Elle Magnusson & Alexandra Morgan playing violas and Rebekah Morgan playing violin. They played "I am a Child of God" accompanied by Chris Kramer, the choir director of our branch. The number was beautiful and especially dear to me because that song is the tune for our Fish Family Forever song and the family sang it for the farewell sacrament meeting for Don and I almost ten years ago. The music was so sweet I'm sure there were angels playing with them. And as an unplanned extra bonus two of my handsome grandsons Tanner and Harris Morgan passed the sacrament. A proud moment for a grandma. They are both so tall and handsome and made an impressive sight performing their priesthood duty with reverence and respect.
I feel our talks went well. Rusty and I both spoke using our scripture we have chosen for our missionary plaque: 2 Nephi 25:25 "...and we speak of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, we write of Christ that our children may know to what source they may turn for a remission of their sins." I used the theme of Heroes and Rusty spoke of miracles.
The entire Morgan family came and Natalie and Elle represented the Magnussons. Our dear friends George and Nancy Nelson from Renton Washington with whom we served in Washington DC also made the trip. We all gathered at our house for a late lunch after the block meeting, played games and visited. It was very special having family and friends there. I wish we could have filled the house with all of the family. We know they support us and are thinking of us but many many miles come between us with other things being important as well.
Next Sunday we will be set apart as official missionaries by Pres Haslam of our Corvallis Stake. And then Thursday Jan 7 we fly out to SLC and will stay will AnneMarie's family for the weekend before we report to the MTC Monday Jan 11.
A special bonus will be that our grandson Aubrey Hatch goes into the MTC Jan 6 for his mission to Berlin! We hope to catch hugs from him in the halls occasionally while we're there.

Flight plan -rh

Today, we received our tickets to fly from Eugene to Salt Lake on January 7. Things are falling into place. However, we now have a new complication/blessing - a renter has fallen into our lives so we have to do a lot of clearing out of our stuff and taking care of legal and other problems.

This is not a random happening - there is a reason for all things. This lady needs a place to stay and we could sure use the money. I received an answer to the renting thing from a book I've been reading. The author, Michael Wilcox, had a little section in the book called, "Keep the back door open." He explains that we receive gifts from Heavenly Father in our front door. We sort through them and pick out those things we need most. Now since He always gives us more than we can possibly use, instead of hoarding the excess, we should pass these gifts on to others - out the back door. This is a "paying it forward" kind of thing.

Anyhow, this is a good thing and we will make it happen.

Not on the Most Want List -gfh

This morning I signed for a letter from the Department of Justice. As I opened it I had a brief moment of doubt. Was this a letter notifying me that because of inadequate print retrieval they were unable to give me a clearance? NOT SO!! I am totally Not Wanted by the FBI! Rusty rushed off to the post office to send our visa application material to Salt Lake. One major hurdle LEAPED over! We will soon be on our way. Maybe all the prayers and blessing were not necessary but do those ever go to waste? I think not. I actually feel closer to the Lord because of this experience and want even more to serve Him in South Africa.

Making Progress - gfh

We're making progress! Rusty's sweater is finished(actually two weeks ago and he wore it on our Thanksgiving trip to AZ. We're both pleased with how it turned out. Neither one of us will be embarrassed when he wears it. :-)
And even more exciting is that Rusty's FBI clearance was here when we got back from our Thanksgiving week but pas mine! Rusty called to check the status of mine and was told it was completed but they couldn't say when it would be mailed. Of course we're assuming that I "passed", that is if enough of my prints were readable. So we're still waiting for the second shoe to drop so we can lace them up!