Great People to Work With

The Senior Missionary Zone

This was the group pics we took yesterday.  We are the only Spanish speaking. 20 missionaries of the 58 are going Church Headquarters/Family History.  7 couples are going foreign. 12 couples are stateside in mission offices or MLS.  Yes we are an anomoly.

Tonight we went out to dinner with our Spanish language coach and his wife.  What a cute, wonderful couple they are.  Both work in language training at the MTC.

Marlow Vasquez, Marissa Avila (Vasquez), Sister Griffin, Elder Griffin

Temple Time

We didn't have the energy to do a session but had the time and need to take a walk up to the temple.

The flowers are gorgeous.  I didn't have my camera with me to take pictures.  I know! I know!  Verle is shaking his head at me.  The flower beds are like floral arrangements and they are bloomed at their peek.

Primer Dia y Feliz Cumpleanos

Welcome to the Missionary Training Center

Take picture in front of map. Check!

We are officially checked in.  While last week was just that, a lot of lasts,  yesterday and today have been filled with a lot of firsts.

I got my first missionary tag (Dalene), got to take a picture with a famous person and LOTS of people we are meeting for the first time.

(John): Its been 37ish years since I was here.  Fun to feel the familiar MTC spirit and even funner to have my choice companion with me.  How blessed am I?! Dalene "sparkles" as she interacts and meets all these new people and experiences.  She reminds me of a much younger "Superwoman Cluff" who could do anything, was afraid of nothing, and loved everybody.  She's a great missionary already and will be even more so.

As we went to the fireside last night here, Vai Sikahema spoke. Prior to the fireside though the auditorium filled with missionaries, the large majority younger. We sang missionary songs together, including Primary missionary songs like Army of Helaman, and it became VERY real and pretty touching that we are THEM now.  I don't feel this old, but all of these younger Elders and Sisters are young enough to be our kids.  We watch them with great fondness, knowing the Lord will do great wonders with these wonderful, weak things.

There are so many wonderful senior couples here too and getting ready to head out in all directions; Hong Kong, Cambodia, South Africa, Phillipines, Germany, Church historical sights and lots to Church Family History. We are making fast friends with so many of them. Absolutely amazing!

We miss our children and grandchildren already, but know this is where we need to be.  We have had several assurances that the Lord will bless our children and family while we serve.  What more could we ask?

And for the record, I have been sung to twice for my birthday!  Dalene walked me down to BYU Creamery for birthday ice cream too.  Not sure if it was for her or for me... Pretty unbelievable birthday present to get to spend the first day in the MTC!!

(Dalene) It is his BIRTH-AS-A-SENIOR-MISSIONARY DAY!!  And yes he is wearing his birthday SUIT.  He will be wearing it for 18 months.....

Whew!

The past several days have really been hopping. I feel like I am playing jump rope and the lead in line is

How many things can you fit in 10 days....... (start jumping and counting)

1.

Get clothes together and into the bags.  Think and rethink what you need, may need, and probably not need but can't live without.

2.   More Skype language time.  Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays.  Study in between.

3.  Spend more time with family and eat more food

4.  Visit with friends and others that come by to say "Good-bye".  Hugs, tears and flowers.... wait that is not a funeral.  No estoy muerta. We will be back.

Plus the Sean Dolan family and the Orr family that we couldn't get a picture of and others.


5.  Take a trip over to Mesa for last minute appointments.  Say last "Good-Byes" to Justin and Cassie and take them to dinner.  Let the moisture begin to ooze out of the occipital ducts.

6. Go out to Dinner with the inlaws (John's siblings and spouses).

 

7.  Get set apart.... That would be important to do before you go.

 8.  Spend ONE MORE TIME GRANDPA.

9.

 

Measure the grandkids (and Katie too) to see if they grow while we are gone.

10. Put the cars on blocks

and get them taken care of.

And shut off and cover printer.

11.  Weigh the bags and rearrange them one more time.  Throw in last minute things remembered.  Check off more last minute list items.  Say more goodbyes.

Last goodbyes 

Celebrities

They haven't even taken off yet and they are already having incredible experiences! Mom.... I mean Sister Griffin, just sent us this picture of who they just met at the airport. How cool is that? 

 If you don't recognize who it is, here is a hint ;) 

They're off!

The long awaited day has arrived. They're on their way! I will be keeping you up to date until they can slow down for a second to post of their new adventures. We are so proud of them, and despite our (or at least my) jokes, we will miss them a whole heck of a lot. 

Thank you to everyone who has stopped by and given well wishes, it really means a lot to them and us! 

If we are lucky we will be getting report back to them this evening :) 

México Area

You report in 10 days.

Sister Griffin

                                                           

                                                                                       

Ten Days Away...... and Then I'm gonna get ya!!!

Comenzará su misión en....

Hermana Griffin

México Area

Comenzará su misión en 14 días.

I think this means we only have 2 weeks left.  OMG (commence the cartoon with chicken running around with head cut off....)  I am feeling a little chicken today and not the little red hen.  What am I forgetting to do?  What am I forgetting to pack? 

John: (I'll translate that for you Dalene...  That means: "You will start your mission in 14 days"!) You got this! The packing has commenced.  The lists are getting checked off.  Keys have been distributed to the appropriate parties. And we will still worry and probably call back a million times to check on things we forgot. I think we are to the point "ready or not, here we come". 

We had the conversation the other evening on our walk about what we'll miss the most. I suspect we will be busy enough that we won't have time to ponder that much in two weeks or so.  (We will report back if that is really so.) I can remember the pre-mission jitters on my first mission, but as goofy as I was as a 19 year old, I'm not sure that it really counts.  I do remember the great feelings at the MTC and the desire to do well and how hard the language seemed.  Just when we thought we were all that, we shipped out to Peru. I had no idea that they spoke Japanese in Peru, because it certainly didn't sound like anything we had learned in the MTC.

It is nice to be able to take "home" with me, because as long as you're there, it will be "home" and we will be just fine!