We took a family picture in our home on the eve of departing for the MTC.

We have been in the MTC for a week and have enjoyed it.  Just think, 3,200 young elders and sisters streaming through the halls and eating in the cafeteria.  I told Nettie that we were witnessing a miracle - they come from all of the world and are going to everywhere in the world.  When another senior couple asked us where we were going and I said West Indies, an elder yelled "that's where I'm from".  He was a very handsome black young man and we introduced ourselves to him.  He said he was from Guadeloupe, spoke French and he is going to Montreal Canada.  He gave us his family names and address and we said we would try to find them and say hi.  Next week we fly out on Saturday the 23rd at 6:00 am.

The West Indies mission president called us and asked if we could enter the MTC earlier.  He indicated that he was having a couple leave the mission and needed us there as soon as possible.  We have changed our departure date to Monday February 11 moving it up one month.  We are quickly getting ready with just two weeks to finish up.  The next big hurdle is to tell the Ute Tribe that I am leaving and to have them accept Rob Cottle in my absence.  The project is at the stage where Rob would normally take over and I would be available but in the background.  The tribe has relied on my full participation over the past several years and I am a bit anxious on how they will take the news.  Rob and I have a verbal agreement on our relationship during our mission.  I hope to have that signed by both of us next week.

January 26, 2013