Lost in the City

We had our first experience of traveling by Auto (the Rickshaw) on our own. The Lyerly's who have been serving for about 15 months gave directions to the drive and sent us on our way. You have to understand that all the people of India do this little headshake and you don't know if they are saying yes or no! It's a bobbledoll headshake!! The ride should have been about 25 minutes. After about 25 minutes our driver asked us which way he should turn. Not that he speaks English. He obviously spoke nothing but "Hindi"! We kept telling him 9.......9th street. He continued to drive us around, pulling over occassionally to see if he could talk us into getting out! Finally he pulls up to this little shop where they sell ballpoint pens and paper supplies. 3 Hindu men tried to help us. I was worried because we didn't think we even had a phone number so we could call for help. (dumb move!! Never get into an auto without a phone#......better yet....get a phone!!! we're working on that) I finally came up with a phone # and we were able to get to our apartment. Not because our driver knew how to get us there. We finally started recognizing a few places and weaved our way around and stumbled back to our place!!! A bit scary for us and when we talked to the Lyerly's they felt bad they had sent us out on our own. What better way to learn than by experience!!

The following pictures are a garden next to the mission presidents home. He lives in the top of the highrise and all the little gardens are around! A little more plush than where we live!! I just wanted you to see some of the beauty of India!!

British Air and Free For All Driving in Bangalore

Our District at the MTC

These are the people we spent the most time with at the MTC. A variety of people going to a variety of places.

The Whittakers (top picture) going to Nauvoo.

The Merkleys, going to Alaska. They served in Jordon on their last mission and it was so warm they asked for somewhere not so warm! They got their wish!!

Mo'unga's going to the Phillipines.

Thomas's leave tomorrow for Singapore.

Ted with one of our instructors, Elder Beal. Elder Beal served in Italy with AJ Woolstenhulme. It was fun listening to him talk about his mission as we could imagine AJ there experiencing the same things he did.

MTC MAIL

We've figured out that MTC mail is a wonderful thing! Erik and Kristina sent us a fun package as you see that we picked up today. We went there expecting to pick up our extra name tags. (Magnetic nametags!!!) Much to our surprise was our airline tickets and a BIG box! Ted was afraid I had ordered something and forgot about it.......but when we opened it there was a nice little note and many goodies! We will probably drink the little bottle but we will save the candy for the Senior Missionaries and Elders of India. Thanks Erik and Kristina!!

We love the MTC and are learning tons.

We are studying the discussions today. We have to present the 1st one this afternoon.

We get the rest of our shots today and we get to sing in the choir for the general authority fireside tonight. I'm excited about that. Ted also has his first assignment. He is a district leader and watches out for our group.

Arriving at the MTC

We got to the MTC on Sunday about noon. Just in time for lunch. As you see Tia, Porter and Selah were our chauffers!! After saying our goodbyes Ted & I made our way to the cafateria and had lunch with a zillion young Elders. While eating, Elder Jason Thompson made his way to our table to say hello. He fits in quite nicely here! We probably wouldn't have recognized him if he hadn't come to us as he looks like a zillion other elders all dressed in dark pants and white shirts!
We thoroughly enjoyed our 1st day here. We attended two meetings that spiritually uplifted us. We had several opportunitites to meet and mingle with other senior missionaries. All of which are going to various places. At one of the meetings we attended they said 305 missionaries will be leaving the MTC this week. 50 to Argentina and 35 to Japan. None to India and for Kurt and Linda's information...2 to Nigeria. (serving at the temple...not your mission) (sorry)'
In closing I just want to quote one of the messages we heard last night!
From Brother Pinegar: "The Lord won't make you Obey, but he will make you wish you had."
Isn't that the truth.

OFFICIAL MISSIONARIES

We are official missionaries as of last night. Kent & JaNell, Patricia, Tia, Matt, Kirk and Lynn joined us as Pres Price set us apart. We appreciated the words of encouragement from both President Price and President Kunz. We felt so blessed to have Kent, Kirk and Matt stand in to help set us apart. It was especially nice to have our son participate in setting us apart. The blessing we were given covered every aspect of concern we had. We both went in with butterflies in our tummies, but came out feeling calm, cool and collected.
We left home today and will spend a couple of days in SLC with Tia, Porter and Selah!

One Last Fishing Trip before we head to the MTC

Ted was up at the crack of dawn. It's April 10th and it's snowing outside and the ground is white. He made his way to the Snake River for one more fishing excursion! This was his reward. A great day and big fish for the last trip. NO BIG FISH STORY.....It's the real thing. We ate the little one for dinner and he was to BIG for the 2 of us to consume!! The perfect way to leave Idaho is to catch "The Big Fish."