HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2009

This is New Year's Eve, 2008. No celebrating for us. We are busy with final packing and John is attempting to put order to his garage.

We are having intensive training at the MTC(Missionary Training Center) which is here in Provo just two miles north of us. We have chosen to stay at home and eat some of our meals there. Ummm - what delicious food and what a great selection! All the "young" missionaries treat us with such consideration, holding doors open and stepping back for us to select our food before them. Our teachers, most of them young men and women who have served missions, are so knowledgeable and are such effective teachers. Of the 70+ senior missionaries in our training group, at least half of them are going to places like Mongolia, Czech Republic, Romania, Kiev, Croatia, Armenia, Stockholm, Ireland, India, various places in South and Central America, Guam, Samoa, Tonga--John was quite envious as they told of the exotic places he has always wanted to see. Still, we are very happy to be serving in Michigan.

We had a wonderful time learning from the couple who just completed their year's service at the Institute of Religion at Michigan State University. They were having a hard time "letting go" and I am sure we are in for a wonderful experience.

On the health front: John spent 4 hours at the dentist office Monday. We left feeling satisfied that things were finally "right." (Still, he finds his mouth is too tender to eat normally.) The next morning, one of his permanent teeth broke so it was back to the dentist yesterday. We deferred the preferred treatment which would have interferred with the remainder of our training and cost another $2500. He is having a fake tooth made to fill the gap and we will deal with the necessary procedure at a later time.

We have two more days at the MTC and weather permitting will leave Provo Saturday morning. We'll post again as soon as we are settled in East Lansing.

John and Ranelle - "Dad & Mom" - "Grandpa and Grandma"