WE ARE MISSIONARIES!!! FINALLY!!!

As we sang the words of the hymn Called to serve Him, Heavenly King of Glory... at the beginning of our fireside this evening my voice gave out as the tears came realizing we were finally here, at the MTC, beginning our mission. This has been our dream/plan for so many years and despite many road blocks it actually happened. We are missionaries! It has been quite the journey.

We got our missionary badges!!!

Last week was full of great last minute activities. We spent a lovely Thursday with one of our sons and his family in the park. 

Then Friday morning we played with our daughter and her family who had driven over from Colorado to see us. Also great fun! 

Then Friday evening our Utah family was getting together for pizza. It is always great for me when the family gets together. And it is always lovely to catch with them all including those from Colorado this time.

What we did not realize was that our children had planned to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary as well as our leaving for our mission in Australia. We came out of our room to discover the living room decorated for our anniversary and for our Australian Mission with the Australian flag.

Timtams and Pavlovas

We were treated to Pavlova and Timtams which are Australian desserts. What fun! And what a delight to have 5 of our 10 children, lots of grandchildren and some great grandchildren all in one place with us. So Awesome!! 

And of course I was in tears when I realized all they had done to surprise us. One of our daughters had collaborated with everyone and complied a beautiful book with pictures of EVERYONE in the family which will be so great to bring with us on our mission so we can look at the sweet faces of each of our family whenever we want. And there was also a wonderful  gold leaf rendering of the Salt Lake Temple with our wedding date. We felt so spoiled.

We just can't say enough about how loved we have felt this past few weeks.

34 of our 73 member family!!! if I counted right :)

Saturday was also a special day as several of our family attended the Provo Temple with us. It was such a joy to look around the room and see so many of those I love so much in the temple with me. What a lovely day! And Sunday was also great! We sure love being with our family! And now we are on to our next adventure. It is wonderful to know that our family is so supportive. The past several months we have witnessed such an outpouring of love from our family and friends for which we are very grateful.                      

Monday morning our son and daughter-in-law brought us to the Mission Training Center where we were given our missionary badges, our room cards, our departure tickets and our VISAS!!!. They actually were issued.

Can it really only be 2 days ago that we got here???? 

We were immediately taken into meetings and given a lot of information. We were divided into districts for study class purposes. We all took pictures in front of the iconic world map.

pointing to Sydney, Australia

OUR DISTRICT: the couple next to us will also be in our Sydney North mission as office support taking care of all the missionaries; the next couple will go to Nauvoo to help visitors learn about the history of the Church in that part of the country, and the couple on the right will be heading to Italy headquartered in Rome to work with refugees in that country. They are a great bunch and we enjoy our study classes together.

We heard a wonderful talk by Elder Bednar about the Character of Jesus Christ. We talked about faith and how faith causes us to act. And I had such a rush of conflicting emotion. I loved everything but at the same time I almost felt like running out the door because I felt incapable of being a missionary. I realize that I need to develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ to be able to be effective. By the time we got to our room and did a little unpacking I was exhausted and ready for bed.

Today, Tuesday was fantastic! Although I began the day still feeling totally inadequate I gradually felt like with the Lord's help I would be able to do what I was being asked to do. So onward and upward! There is lots of room in my life for growth.

There is such special Spirit here at the MTC. It just feels fantastic - kind of like we are bathed in warmth. Everyone is so nice. There were about 75 senior missionaries including us that came in on Monday morning. What a delight it is to also see literally hundreds of young men and women who are already here to train for their worldwide mission assignments. The cafeteria is amazing as it functions so well to provide meals for so many.

And of course my tears often flow because I feel it all so deeply. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and feel so grateful that we have been called to serve the Lord.

OUR EXIT FROM LIMBO

When we moved to our daughter's home in mid November we thought we would stay there for 10 days. Instead, our stay turned out to be almost 3 months long. What a sweet time for us to enjoy their company and get to know them even better! But sweet as it was, it was still LIMBO as we waited to know when we would leave on our mission.

But we trusted in the Lord's timing and know that for many amazing reasons our delay was needed. We can already pinpoint some great reasons but look forward to learning more reasons. 

On Sunday we were 'set apart' by our Stake President. That means we were given a special blessing with special promises to begin our mission and we are now officially Elder and Sister Jenkins! We are just missing our names tags which we will receive when we get to the MTC. We are excited and anxious to begin our service as Self Reliance Missionaries.

Sunday evening we were able to say goodbye to so many of our great friends!

After packing and squeezing everything into our suitcases we got to the Bellingham Airport to have our luggage weighed and checked in..  Our check-through luggage had a 50 weight limit for each piece. And we were so close!!! They weighed in at 49.7 pounds, 49.9 pounds, 50.2 pounds and 52.1 pounds. Because we mentioned we were traveling to Australia the agent said she would tag our heavier suitcase  as "heavy" but would not charge us extra - so kind of her. But she cautioned us that we had better make sure that we were at or under 50 pounds for our flight to Australia.

We had to line everything up before we went in.

We needed tags!!!

We flew safely to Utah. And all of our luggage made it. Our carryons and backpacks were so heavy I was worried about getting them on the plane. But it worked from Bellingham to Seattle and then since the flight to Salt Lake was only half full we were able to put both carryons and both backpacks in the overhead bins. We have a few things to leave in Utah so our load will be slightly less going forward. but then there will be some printed materials to consider. The rental car was barely big enough to fit all of our luggage!

This will be a busy week leading up to our entry into the Mission Training Center on Monday. We are enjoying our stay with our son and his family. They are always so kind to allow us to stay in their home,  to come and go as we need. Tuesday we had a delightful meeting with a long lost niece and her family. Wednesday  we met  with  "Elder Jenkins" brother and sister and their spouses for lunch. What a sweet experience! And it was our grandson's birthday. Today is Thursday and we will play with the family of another of our sons. 

We are so blessed to have such a loving family. The days are passing quickly but in some respects it still is surreal that we will actually enter the Mission Training Center on Monday to begin our mission. I guess our Limbo will not be officially over until we actually check into the MTC.

TIME TO PACK!!

We are actually packing our suitcases today!!! Four check through suitcases to weigh 50 lbs or less, 2 carry-ons and our backpacks which will serve as our personal items. Do you think we can make it? And very important do you think everything will make it to Sydney without being lost or misdirected?

trying to pack through the mess!

I can hardly believe that we have been gathering our wardrobes for over 9 months! Lots of shopping trying to find just the right items in the right size and quantity. And then there are all the little things we do not know if we can live without. Do we have too much of certain things or not enough of others? So, now we are at that point where it all has to fit into our luggage and our weight limits. And there are stores in Australia if we find there is something we have forgotten. So...

The weather has been so cold and WINTERY the past few days. Schools have been closed all week, roads have been covered with snow drifts not to mention the freezing rain. Yet as I sit and write this at 6 PM Thursday evening it is 102 degrees hot in Sydney at 1 PM Friday afternoon. Wow! I wonder if we will be able to breath when we get there. I definitely will not have to worry about my coat!!

We did have one lovely day this week with clear skies and sunshine. After bundling up we took a little time for a walk to enjoy the beauties of nature. Trees and grasses were covered with ice. When the sun shone on them we were treated to nature's jewels. What a treat!

our hike in the back field

nature's jewels 

So just four more sleeps and we are off to begin our adventures. First stop Salt Lake City to visit family. It is all surreal but I guess we are really going.

TICKETS, TEMPLE, HOT SPRINGS, BEING SICK all in a few days !!!

How is it possible for time to fly and drag at the same time?! These past few days have flown by with so much going on and yet at the same time it seems to be taking forever until we are actually leaving. But I am also in a state of disbelief that we are actually going to leave on our mission. There have been so many road blocks and sometimes it seems that as soon as one is removed another takes its place. But I guess that is the nature of opposition. And we will survive!

For the past few days Steve has been fighting a cold/flu issue. Not fun for him and I am really hoping I am not next. Lots of airborne, mucinex, fluids, etc, etc and a blessing and he is improving. We had to cancel some things so we did not share but missed seeing our friends.

Prior to Steve getting sick we were able to take a short trip to Harrison Hot Springs, BC

Hanging out with Sasquatch

with our daughter and her family. We enjoyed our time on a short hike to see Bridal Veil Falls. Water features in nature are so fantastic! We hadn't been swimming in warm pools when the outside air was just above freezing. So relaxing! But chilly getting back to our room.

 Even though it was just a short trip it was nice to get away  for just a little while. The scenery was beautiful which always makes me want to break out my camera.

It was also our 50th or Golden Wedding Anniversary last Wednesday. We never expected to be stateside for our anniversary, expecting to celebrate "down under". But we were still here. We connected with each of our children which is always awesome but did not get together. We decided it would be nice to spend some time in the temple since that is where we began our journey together. Since we were not in Utah and able to go to the Salt Lake Temple we went to the Vancouver Temple. Different building but the same feeling inside. What a delight! We are so grateful for the Plan of Salvation which provides the way for us to be together forever. Now we will begin our next 50 years as we soon leave on our mission.

Outside of the Vancouver B.C. Temple

And WE HAVE OUR TICKETS TO SYDNEY!!! We will fly to  Salt Lake City on February 13 and have a few days to spend with our family- really looking forward to that time to connect and reconnect. Then we will enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on February 20 for a week of training. The next week we will spend 3 days training in the Self Reliance Office of the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah. Then on Thursday March 2 we will fly first to Los Angeles and then to Sydney. During our 15 hour flight we lose Friday due to the time change and will begin our Australian adventure as we arrive in Sydney on March 4!!!

So, there are amazingly still a lot of loose ends we need to tie up in the next 11-12 days But we really are leaving soon!!

Well, our car DIED!! Now we are 'homeless' and 'carless'

Can't really complain that our car died. About a year ago when we knew we were planning to serve  a mission and knew that our car was getting old and having some issues we started praying that our car would last until we left on our mission which we thought would be in November. 

Well, our prayers were answered and it lasted through November, even December and then on January 16 it finally just gave up as we were driving to town. It started shaking and hesitating and was really scary to drive. We changed drivers and Steve managed to get it to his appointment, to run our errands and to the car dealership to be checked. 3 valves were bad and with an estimate of anywhere between $500 to $2000 to fix we knew it was time to say 'good-bye'. 

Our daughter came to rescue us and Steve skillfully drove it to a friend's car lot where it could be used for parts. By skillfully, I mean putting it into neutral each time he had to stop so it would not die. I guess that is the farm boy in him coming out that he knows how to do

that. Definitely beyond my skill set.

It is like saying goodbye to an old friend. We bought this Buick in the spring of 2001. It been driven only 33,000 miles. A few week later we drove from Brownsville, TX to Kelowna, BC for a family reunion and then through my old stomping grounds in Alberta.  Over the years we have driven to Nauvoo, IL, to Fort Wayne, IN, back and forth several times to Utah, to Star Valley, WY, moved up to Washington State, to Scottsdale, AZ, up the west coast on scenic Highway One, more trips  to Utah, to Banff, Canada, numerous trips to Seattle and Vancouver, plus all of the regular comings and goings

of our very busy life. 

Almost 16 years later our good old car had carried us well over 300,000 miles, often fully loaded with various items to deliver to our various children as we visited with them. 

One summer for our reunion we all posed in front of this car to recreate a family picture from many years ago. It was a great car and did not owe us anything. But it is still strange to be without a vehicle. It is just one more push showing us it is time to leave. Our daughter and her family have been great in giving us access to one of their vehicles when we need one so we are not stranded.   

And we will leave in just 3 more weeks. February 13 we will fly to Utah and visited a few days with our family there and then report to the MTC on February 20. Wow! all of a sudden it feels like it is coming up soon! and I am getting a little nervous.

There is so much to learn and even though we are skyping with the Sydney and Melbourne Self Reliance team for training every week ,and reading so much material, it stills feels like there is so much to learn. I am working on the Sydney Self Reliance page and on preparing the newsletter for the mission which helps me be more tuned in; but I still feel like I have along way to go.

When we enter the MTC on February 20 it will have been 10 months since we received our mission call on April 19. That is a LONG time. We have learned much and accomplished much and are grateful for our many great experiences. We also know that there is a reason or are reasons for us to experience this delay.

Now we are anxious to move forward and serve the Lord and the people in the Sydney area.

WE HAVE A REPORTING DATE, BUT OUR FBI BACKGROUND CHECK EXPIRED

Disclaimer: I thought I published this on January 14 but 5 days later it seems not have have properly published. So, will try again and hope it works this time.

The great news is that we finally have a date to report to the MTC! I thought it would be sooner but surprisingly we do not report until February 20 with other Self-Reliance missionaries who will be reporting as well. Maybe we missed a January intake. So, almost 6 more weeks to go. By the time we report it will have been 10 months since we received our mission call!

Apparently FBI background checks expire after a certain amount of time. A new investigation was required which included another batch of fingerprints. On Tuesday we met with our friend who can take fingerprints. This time I came armed with Corn Husker's Lotion and Tabasco sauce! 

Steve went first while I gave my fingers several applications of Corn Husker's. Then I soaked my poor fingers in Tabasco Sauce a few minutes. After wiping it all off our friend completed 4 fingerprint sheets in the hopes that at least one of them would be acceptable. We thought they looked pretty good and were hopeful.

The fingerprints cards were sent that same day by priority mail to Accurate Biometric in Illinois. They arrived on Friday and WERE ACCEPTABLE!!!! I passed the first "go round" this time thanks to copious use of Corn Husker's and Tabasco sauce!!! and our friend's skill.

Apparently our visa was already issued with our old dates and is set to expire November 11, 2018. With our delayed departure our release date is now in January 2019 which means an extension must be filed when the time comes if we are to fulfill our 23 month mission assignment.

In the meantime we have more opportunities to spend time with our family, attend the temple and visit with friends. Limbo is much more manageable with an end in site. Steve's hip has been acting up and giving him grief so we are hoping it will calm down before we leave and allow him to move forward.

It just seems like we have had a lot of  opposition as we have prepared to serve this mission. We are getting lots of opportunities to learn some things we need to learn - just not sure what we are supposed to be learning. Not sure I am doing very well in learning to be patient. 

Heavenly Father always has a plan for us, that I know. He just does not let us know in advance what that plan is. We are moving forward and hope we will be able to learn/accomplish whatever it is that Heavenly Father requires of us.

This amazing Self-Reliance Initiative is so exciting and we are anxious to begin our work. The various opportunities are wonderful and have such a great impact on the lives of those who participate. The more I learn the more excited I get.

Our plane reservations are set for February 13, leaving Bellingham International Airport about 11:30 AM to fly to Seattle. Then a short layover and a flight to Salt Lake City. We will have a week to visit our Utah family, tie up loose ends and even meet our new niece and her family who live just north of Salt Lake City before we report to the MTC in Provo on February 20.

Thank you for the many prayers offered for the healing of Steve's eye. It is humbling to know that so many people are concerned for us.

WE HAVE OUR MEDICAL CLEARANCE!!!

Well today was the day we have been waiting for!!! The doctor said the eye looks fabulous and gave his medical clearance. The Stake President has been notified and has already contacted the missionary department in Salt Lake City who will make things happen. Now, we just have to wait for our new date to report to the Mission Training Center. And of course our travel arrangements to Sydney.

Not sure when yet, but I think it will all happen pretty fast now. 

Of course now I am feeling very emotional.

This has  been quite a visit in Limbo. There have been some hard down days when I began to wonder if I was even capable of serving this mission. But as crazy as it has been to wait, in many ways we see the Lord's hand in giving us this extra time. There were just  some things that needed doing. We can immediately say how great it has been to spend these weeks with our daughter and her family. Never will we grow tired of hugs and "I love yous" from everyone in this house. It has also been great to get my photos organized and ready for our daughter to scan. There have been many things, big and little, which would not have happened had we not been delayed. Perhaps one of the biggest things occurred this past Friday.

For some time now one of my younger sisters has been interested in finding our niece who was given up for adoption in 1970. Her mother passed away in 2008 without ever meeting her daughter. There has always been a question of what happened to her.  There has been a void. With the little information we had my sister registered on GSAdoptionregistry.com.  Some "search angels" were able to help with more information. That additional information paved the way for my sister to find and contact our niece through Facebook. It has been a time of wonderful emotion. We have all shed many years as we have connected through Skype, email, messenger, text - isn't modern technology wonderful?  Since our niece also wanted to find her birth family it has been great for all of us.

So, all in all this is a time of heightened happy emotions. It also reminds me how much our Father in Heaven is aware of us, our wants and our needs; and how much He is willing to direct the events of our lives if we will but allow it. His timing is always right. And I am always amazed at the great economy the Lord uses in the simplest of events that touch so many lives.

Due to our wait we have experienced some cold winter weather that we did not expect to experience this winter. It is MUCH warmer in Australia right now! [Yes, we will have to adjust to the warmer weather.] But we have enjoyed the beauties of the season. 

a view of Mt Baker as we drove towards Lynden, WA

                                                                                                                                                             We will miss seeing our beautiful mountains. There is something truly beautiful about snow capped mountains ranges. We will miss our good friends and our great  family in this area but we are anxious to move forward and serve the Lord.