1st two days as missionaries

THE ADVENTURE HAS BEGUN!!!

Wednesday morning I made myself stay in bed until 5:30. I spent a satisfying half hour in the garden tending to my precious's. Even our yard and garden are being blessed for our service; lupine in cranberry coloured blossom, pink climbing roses bursting with blooms, mock orange fragrant as ever, delphinium in bud, paper white iris almost finished, lavender-aromatic as ever, hydrangea ready to pop, the stunning white peonies, and all the bubble gum pink vista petunias making a magnificent show!! Feel free to come make take home bouquets!! Brendan and Megan will welcome visitors!! And by the way, it is looking like this year will be a banner one for both raspberries, and grapes....be prepared!!

We finished our last minute packing, and at about 8:35 we started worrying that Bjorn Garstad - our airport shuttle driver (and...one of Dad's priests) had forgotten us..About two minutes later he showed up and we arrived at the airport on the nose of nine..one hour before our departure. The kind attendant did not even charge us extra for our one suitcase that was 17 pounds overweight!! Hopefully they will do the same when we fly east!! Flight to Calgary was quick with a three hour layover. It was fun to have Michael and Kaylee on our same Calgary-SLC flight!

We had a fun, quick visit with David, Danielle, Claire, Lucy, Brendan, Megan and Macie in our Holiday Inn room, and then we all headed to Polly and Jim Despain's for a gathering of Bagley cousins! Great to see how their family is growing too! Julie and three of her kids were there, and her grandkids are almost as cute as ours. Sad to not have Tom here.

Slept great and Megan reported no snoring!! Dad was up early and loved his early morning run up City Creek Canyon...the rest of us enjoyed a few more hours of beauty sleep. 

David and Danielle joined us for the ten o'clock SLC temple session...and as Danielle described we had an all star cast...an articulate man named Ericson from the Ivory Coast, and a Tahitian with a unique accent too. Famous sightings...Nelle Marriott, and Rosemary Wixom as we left our dressing room. 

Grandma and Nancy joined us at the Lion House for a delightful salmon feast! Spent half and hour or so browsing the Church Museum of History and Art, finding a few possibilities for an art print for the Gander Relief Society Room (Sandra Smith told us this was essential!!) Wow they have some gorgeous art..Danielle found some lovely prints and some great gifts! 

Mostly I was trying to calm my rumbly, nervous tummy, and by the time we got back to the Family History Centre it was almost time to walk over to the Church Administration Building!! It is high security there, and we got buzzed in, took the elevator downstairs to a lovely waiting area inside (the Monacco-like parkade - not an oil spill anywhere..no gum residue, with a beautiful epoxy finish!!) where many of our family were already waiting. Folks were excited to see Wendy Watson Nelson, Sheri Dew, Sister Bednar, Elder Lance B. Wickman, Elder and Sister Bennett, Elder Schweitzer, and Elder M. Russell Ballard. At about 3:10 we were told it was time to head up to Elder Rasband's Office on the fourth floor. I think we had three elevators full of our dear ones. Mom, Nancy, Aaron, Jennie, Isabelle, Luke, Max, David, Danielle, Claire, Lucy, Bradley, Caylee, Berkley, Walker, Hudson, Michael, Kaylee, Mark, Brittney, Megan and Brendan, were all in attendance, and Elder Rasband had chairs for every single one of us. Yes we sooo missed Jonathan and Jordan... He was so kind, loving and gracious to all of us. He and Elder Gifford Nielsen greeted Dad and I, and then Elder Rasband had me stand right beside him and asked me to introduce each one as they entered, which was a thrill for me to do. Richard and I sat on two chairs right in front of his desk, and then he began to teach and explain how the call had come to both of us. We were so emotional as he taught how we had been chosen. His piercing blue eyes were emotional too as he told us that the Lord had called Richard, but that I was just as important in the call. He even joked that they had talked to old primary teachers to get references!! The way he testified, and taught was simple and beautiful. He told us that after he had visited with Brad at Forestry Ward a few weeks ago he told Elder Gong that we wanted to set us apart, and since he has a 'teeny bit of seniority,' Elder Gong was ok with it!!

Thank you so much to Caylee and Kaylee who took detailed notes of both Elder Rasband and Elder Nielsen's messages before our setting aparts, and bullet points of our setting aparts. The whole time we were being set apart I was wishing we had asked someone to record....and you did!! Now we can look back and remember...thank you!!!

Here are their notes if any of you want to skim over!

Bishops and mission presidents are where the rubber hits the highway in the church.... I will pray for you. 

-Sherri Dew

Elder Rasband asked if we had any questions-

⁃ (Shuttle driver waiting for them), “well, let him wait”

⁃ Leaders have been impressed to recommend you for this service. I may have been one of them. 

⁃ (Talking to Gayle) I want your family to know, He (pointing to Richard) wouldn’t have received this call without you.

⁃ You’ve been looked over and studied. They show a picture of them in the temple and then they take a vote. Approval in the house of the lord. From there a calling. Then assigned.

⁃ The most important thing you do is the same key that I have to assign missionaries to your mission, is your assignments to where they serve and who they serve with. Apostles assign missionaries to their missions, when we get them to you, then they’re yours. You have the gift of knowledge to know where they should serve. You’re going to have that right... 

⁃ Richard is the bishop of the mission. You’re not alone in that. You have a companion.... You can have pillow talk with him. You are like his councillor 

⁃ Sacrifice and consecration. Have your parents teach you about that word.  Your grandma and grandpa are going to live the law of consecration. It’s even more special than sacrifice. 

⁃ Balance is the key... On p-day run that FaceTime all day long. But You all need to let them go serve now. 

⁃ You’re getting the most intense calling  the church has to offer. And you will love it. 

⁃ Elder Nielsen: you’re going to be teaching about families. 

⁃ Missionaries carry out the work of the q of 12

⁃ I would council you to stay very very close to b of m. Pray and study it, have it come to life. Share your insights with your posterity and missionaries. The game plan is preach my gospel. It has been assembled for all of us to learn how to teach the gospel. Don’t rely on personal experience, stay with preach my gospel and you will have profound experiences. 

⁃ E Rasband- “last advice” Missionaries will be your second family. Challenge will be to motivate them to high expectations. Don’t just love them, help them rise up. There’s an element of loving and coddle, but teach them, and hold them accountable. Have high expectations along with your love. Can you do that? Yes you can. 

⁃ Setting apart;

⁃ “Dear friend and brother Richard Alan low... “

⁃ Bless w/ every gift and talent you need, especially discernment... your senses expanded. You will feel what needs to happen with your missionaries. 

⁃ You will find a place in your heart for your missionaries, it will actually come easy. 

⁃ Health and strength and a love and continuing affection for your companion and family.... give the proper attention to your own house hold and family. Take time for yourself and your wife, take time to date her. 

⁃ Mission can seem so busy that you may seem tempted to put aside these things, take time for them. 

⁃ You are a peace maker, you can bring everyone to move forward together above all, we bless you to build Jesus Christ’s church and kingdom. Add glory to His name, In all ways, in all circumstances, and in all times. 

⁃ We send you forth to save souls... and with a small amount of pride that you are worthy to serve. 

⁃ Setting apart, Gayle:

⁃ “With love in our hearts we set you apart...”

⁃ We see the fruits of your labours in this room. The lord is well pleased with you. 

⁃ Bless you that you will understand the power of this call... Carry on with your talents and extend this to the missionaries that will grow to love you very quickly. 

⁃ You have a talent to smile and engage others, this will be magnified on your mission.

⁃ We bless you with calmness in your heart and confidence in your step, you are in the errand of the savior.... you will be an example along with your husband 

⁃ The heavens will be opened to you as you engage in your study, share them with your posterity and with your missionaries. 

⁃ Your relationship with president Low will grow, your testimony will be strengthened. 

⁃ Bless you with health and strength, with excitement. Bless you to know that your family will be blessed by your efforts... you can focus on this mission and still love and communicate with your family. 

Right after blessing, while hugging Richard, “well, we’re going to do it!” —Gayle

Our shuttle driver along with the Brad and Cindy Card from Edmonton (who are heading to Taiwan) patiently waited for us to head from to Provo on the  I-15 in crazy rush hour traffic!..We did stop at our Holiday Inn and loaded our 7 suitcases into the massive green Hutterite van! 

We had missed the orientation meetings on health, finances, and travel, but our contact Ali Blake assured us we would great all the info.

Supper was an Italian feast on official BYU China plates - (who Knew?) Gelato - straight from the BYU Creamery for dessert!!

Meeting some of our ZoomZoom friends - the Vests, the Caplin's was so fun. Ross and Keri (Appleton) Chiles who are heading to Vietnam are some new friends too. 

We had a lovely visit with Elder Brent and his wife Marcia Nielson - he released Dad as Stake President.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

We keep pinching ourselves to make sure this is really happening!! Everyone is so wonderful, and we are loving every new person we meet...couples heading to NYC, to Ghana, to Mexico City, to Scotland, to Argentina, to Baltimore,to Haiti, to Denmark to North Carolina.. AND many more. The folks going to Baltimore are from the DR Congo, and the couple going to North Carolina are from Germany!!It is incredible the feeling of the Spirit..in fact you think this whole group of Saints we are surrounded by could just be translated!! We visited with Elder and Sister Uchtdorf, and they were so lovely. Our lunch table guest was Elder and Sister Waterford Clayton, and they had tons of positive advice for us too!! Elder and Sister Bennett sat at our dinner table and we had a wonderful time getting reaquainted. They raved about Jonathan and Jordan, and their interactions in St. John's with you guys!! Oh and Sister Bednar was so impressed with the amazing organist in St. John's, and his sweet wife!

We had large group sessions with all of us, and then break out sessions with a group of about 64 couples in an upstairs classroom, where we had lots of counsel, teaching and 

opportunities to role play discussions with investigators(us!) it was a very good exercise for all of us, and we were evaluated by each other, and BYU missionary staff. 

We wish you could all be here with us, and feel what we are feeling...you are all want to go on missions...again or soon!! We have to wait to go to Halifax till Thursday, and we want to go NOW!! Our Canada Halifax statistical report has all fabulous statistics except for finding investigators so that will be our challenge to help our missionaries learn how to find! We have a few ideas...do any of you have any?!

Tomorrow we are getting up super early so we can sit on or near the front row, because we get to have Sacrament Meeting with President Nelson, Elder Uchfdorf, Elder Cook, Elder Christofferson, and Elder Brent Nielson, along with their wives!!

Talk about all star cast!!

I think I will send this off to you un-edited...we are exhausted!! Our hearts are minds are on maximum capacity and we have just barely started!!

Thank you all for all your love and support....

We LOVE YOU right back!

Love Dad and Mom, Richard and Gayle

Keep Smiling, CTR and DYB DYB DYB (do your best!)