We stole what, from England?

Elder Young in Wrexham Wales

It is true! Alberta has stolen England's rain! I have photographic proof above! Dry skies!

This email just arrived this morning and I have already re-read it over and over! Without further delay:

June 23, 2014

Some of the kids asked about the plane: The plane flight was good, but I didn't get to see that much of the landscape for most of the flight. There were always clouds under us. The first flight I sat behind Elder Ferguson and the second flight I wasn't even close to him, but we were together at the airports and got to be lost together. haha. I'm now out of the MTC and am with my first companion, Elder Oakey, He's cool. The MTC was good, nice food, but I'm so glad to be out, and I now see how hard it would've been to learn a new language. There were a lot of German speaking missionaries there. 

Elder Young

It feels like I've only been gone a couple days but it has been weeks now. I'm in Wrexham Wales right now with my first companion, we had to white-wash the area, which basically means starting the area over as if the missionaries before us weren't here... in simple terms. So we've been tracting ever since we arrived here. Its been tons of fun, and a lot harder than I thought it'd be. The ward is really nice hear and we have a bunch of dinner appointments already, actually we had one on our first day here. 

I need to get better at talking with people on the street, I don't know what to say most of the time so my companion has to cover... which sucks, im working on it though. I'm working on the accent too... I think I'll actually need two years to perfect it. haha. I have seen little of the culture and nice architectural walls and buildings.

Elder Young

At one point we were trying to go to a recent convert's house, ended up getting lost and found an old telephone booth... had to take pictures of ourselves haha!

Elder Oakey

We also found a beautifully built stone bridge so we took photos of that too.

Umm, not really any stories yet but I'll keep you posted. It's only rained here a couple days, and those days were all at the MTC, there hasn't been a single drop in Wrexham... Yet. So much for the stereotype. YOU STOLE ALL THE RAIN!! 

That was the basic email. You guys had a lot of questions so I wrote down most of them and am now getting to them. haha. Umm... it sucks that you all got sick hope your over that now, ever since I got to the Preston MTC I've had hay fever and I wish my nose wasn't on my face most of the time. I keep sneezing and my nose is always dripping. At one point I had half a roll of TP in my bag for emergencies haha. 

Like I said I'm in Wrexham Wales, with my new companion from Nebraska. I like him, he does most of the cooking so I've taken it upon myself to do the dishes... its a lot easier to clean them right after your done eating! Insane RIGHT! HAHA, that was for you dad ;) Thanks so much for the letters and my suit, the candy is really nice, I probably wouldn't buy any because I'm wanting to save as much money as possible. Oh, the church gives every missionary a given amount of money every month for food which is really nice. I'm not sure how expensive it was to send stuff over but the mission president recommended using amazon.UK.  They say there are no extra fees other than the initial cost.

Where's Will? Wrexham Wales...
say that ten times fast!

 I also got the other letters you sent me, the ones with all the drawings, its nice to look at them, and good attempt Morgan haha. I got the online mail you all did too, so thank you. 

Now that I'm out here its a lot harder than I thought, especially since neither of us have ever been in this area before and we know absolutely no one. I trying to work on speaking to more people on the road or when we walk past them. There was one missionary who said he had a testimony of "fake it until you make it" so that's what im trying to do. Act more confident, and then I will be. 

I have a blister on my baby toe... sooooo annoying, it keeps getting bigger everyday. The majority of what we've been doing is street-contacting and its been a lot of 4hr times where we just walk and walk. This is supposed to be a bike mission but the bikes that are here are junk so we use the buses, when we aren't walking. I actually got to go on a double decker which was kinda cool, when i get to the higher deck I have to duck to keep walking. 

There are no trucks here, and the ones that are here are flat nose semis (lorries) or small small pick-ups. The traffic is crazy here and seeing other vehicles coming at you on the wrong side of the road make you think your about to crash every other second, and the amount of roundabouts is insane, there's practically one every other block. 

Roomies

Mom I'm so glad I brought my cleats, at the MTC we tried to play "fut-ball" as much as possible and the field was usually slippery. Almost all of the other Elders were better than me so having cleats when they didn't helped make it more even. I liked your plant analogy, very clever haha. All the mornings are terrible! We get up at 6:30 and then prepare and I'm falling asleep during personal study time which is from 8-9. Hardest part of the day so far. 

OH dad, one thing that made me think on Sunday, we were talking about sins and stuff, but I remember my companion say that those who do harm to you, you will stand in on their judgement day and they will be accountable for it. So if anyone ever does something to you, react calmly and remember that after this life we all have to atone for what we have done. So the propane theft is a good example for that, which is really frustrating. At this point, a few weeks into my mission, I'd say the gospel basics are the most effective thing you can do even though they are "primary answers". Pray as much as possible, read the scriptures daily, and try to treat others the way you want to be treated. I'm still working on all this, and I know I still need to gain a stronger testimony, I've heard of some crazy examples of miracles missionaries have had, and I want to have the same amount of faith. I'll be expecting those apricots haha. My side bag is really convenient but I learned that I need to carry less stuff in it, the weight is painful. 

Tell Dave and Amy congrats for me. (a new little cousin was born!)

Temple

Yes, I am able to print emails. 

Monday is my official P-day for the rest of my mission.

If its too late thats fine, but try to save my journal notes that are on my phone.

There are pillows here at the flat but they are disgusting, so I need to buy a pillow case here. I currently have my sheet over-top my bed and pillows. haha

I have two belts here so I don't need another one, but thanks anyway. 

Put whatever you feel people want to know on the blog. 

Missionaries

Thanks for being my parents Mom and Dad, I'm trying to use as much of what you taught me here on my mission, and thank you for raising me in the gospel. Mom remember you said you had a goal to be "unrecognisable" when I get back ;) LOVE you Mom and Dad.

...It's true, I have a goal to get fit in the next two years. Way to hold me to my challenge Will! 

It has arrived!

It took a full week, but Will's Suit-in-a-Box has landed! I have evidence from the Canada Post tracking system that it has arrived and been delivered. As to the condition of a suit that has been stuffed in a box, that I cannot attest to. I hope to know what fees Will was charged to pick it up for future reference. Let's hope for another letter from Elder Young with news of the end of this fantastic mission story!

I love how the story of the suit will always be part of our family culture! The moment it happened, I knew it was destined to become the first of our missionary legends, as we tell it over and over. It will be  a warning to future missionaries to keep their goals in sight lest they forget their purpose and lose their way! Oh, yes, this will be a great cautionary tale! A Young family idiom is born! "We'll, isn't that just a Suit-in-a-Box!",  we'll say as we nod in agreement.

addendum:

I now have photographic evidence of its' arrival and Will has at least been in the same room as the Suit-in-a-Box!

Can you see it! Behind Will on the ledge! The infamous Forgotten Suit! I stuffed it with Hi-Chews Candies instead of packing peanuts! He IS allergic!

Denied!

Elder Young & Elder Oakey

This week I feel like I've been singing the stalker song by Police that goes " I'll be watching you". I have never been so attentive to my phone before, but I checked my email so many times that it is certainly a record! "Every beep you make, every pic you take, I'll be watching you!"  Seriously! I have other children to take care of, so just send me your letter Will, and I can get on with my day! 

But no. I was DENIED! 

Since I had nothing to read this week, I sent Will a package and a letter describing life without him here. It was tough to write, but I felt he should know. 

Yes, this is my original artwork! I'm quite proud of my mad skills maintained from my kindergarten days! (FYI  Strangely the last line of each page cut off)

Along with the above letter I sent these two gems! I know they'll enjoy the flight! I wonder if the border will let them cross. I listed them as novelty toys! Ha Ha! This was actually Matt's idea! They were delicious, just in case you were wondering!

Here is what I do know, in absence of his email. On June 18th Will moved out of the MTC and into his mission! I am certain it was a busy day and there was just -NO -TIME-TO-WRITE!  I actually have a thought lingering in the back of my mind that wonders if I'm being taught a lesson for sending TOO MANY emails. Time to cut those proverbial apron-strings! 

I lieu of Will's letter we received the following excerpt quoted below.

18 June 2014

Dear Parents,

Your son has arrived in the England Manchester Mission (EMM) safely and is ready to go to work as a missionary.  We held a training session Wednesday morning at Mission Home where we covered many things including their mission finances, their first three month training schedule, becoming a “Christ-like Missionary” and the EMM vision and guiding principles.  We concluded with a testimony meeting, and afterwards we had lunch.  Then they were introduced to their first companion and trainer. 

The happiest and most effective missionaries are those who limit thoughts of their pre-mission life, put the world behind them, and get completely lost in the work of serving the Lord.  Your encouragement and support of this principle will help your son grow personally, gain a greater depth of spiritually and more easily affect for good the lives of others. 

Attached you will find a picture of your son with Sister Preston and me and also a picture of his first companion and trainer.  Sister Preston and I have three sons who have served missions, so we fully understand the emotions and joys that you are going through right now.  Please know that we love the missionaries in the England Manchester Mission, and we watch over them with great care.  May the Lord bless you during this time of sacrifice in the lives of both you and your son.

With warm regards,

President Preston

England Manchester Mission

It's about time!

I finally got an email this morning! Wahoo! I'm on top of the world! Will asked me to share:

Hey eveyone, its going great in the mtc. Mom your gonna have to send this around because we have a time limit on these computers and reading took up most of that haha. So far the MTC is awesome and ive learned a ton. the biggest thing we are learning is Preach My Gospel and there is a ton of stuff within that. Ive been doing some practice teachings and its helped me a lot, the main goal is becoming an investigators' friend and building a bond with them. Its just teachers pretending to be people they taught while they were on their missions and for the most part me and my companion have been doing pretty good. there are times when we dont know ansewers to the questions they have; during that lesson we basically just pushed it to the side and started talking about something else... Not the best method. The spirit is super strong here, Ive been guided to tell them things that i dont think i would normally say, and i have been praying over ten times a day. Which helps with the spiritual aspect.

Elder Clayburn

There are a bunch of things i have to get used to still, being with a companion is the biggest one. Im not allowed to go anywhere without him. Hes a roudy guy from Wyoming, Elder Clayburn. We get along for the most part, they like to laugh/mock me and Canada. He's a good guy, and he thinks baptism is the main purpose, and if he dosent get any... I wouldnt want to be there!

Waking up at 6:30is terrible. I've beeen tired for soooo long. I miss my napping couch. I want to get out of the MTC though, it gets kinda boring... at least for me. I dont feel ready to go out on my own, but I wanna get started. I've grown so much spiritually.P.S. the spelling is bad because there is no auto correct and i didnt have time to go back.

Then it seems Will had more time than he thought and sent this:

Sorry i really didnt trust that time limit. Part two.I feel like this is the place to be and where im needed. People say that there are alot of baptisms that happen here, and i think back to being set apart, and i remember how he said i would see baptisms happening. So im starting to think that it means im gonna be baptising a lot of people... or im just going to be witnessing them. haha Im trying to focus myslf on the spirit and the lords work as much as i can, but talking with people you cant always be 100% focused on it.

  

I really miss you guys and am sad to think about gibby and sam not knowing me that well when i get back. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABE!! HOPE YOU HAD FUN!Its fun to hear all your stories, I dont have too many yet. The food here is pretty good, and the beds arent bad, but the clock that i have doesnt even faze me. I dont hear it at all. luckily my companion does and he nudges me at 6:30. Well im being pushed off my computer becase everyone wants to play "futball". Weve only got to play a couple times because of the rain, it goes for 5 min then stops, then another 5 and stop and they dont let us play on a slippery field. Tell everyone i love them and sorry for not being able to send personal messages. Love you Mom and Dad. Miss you guys.

So, I got my letter, which inspired me to get some stuff done! I collected Will"s stuff from around the house and relieved our family of these stinky, lovely pre-mission shoes. It was an executive decision!

  

Waiting...

Okay okay! I'll admit it! I have been waiting, and not very patiently, for another email from Will. I have probably sent him an email nearly every day, and yesterday I checked my email several times every hour just in case he sent one to me. Still nothing! I was hoping to catch him on the internet and email back and forth like texting.

Suit in a box!

On Friday I mailed Elder Young's suit, stuffed in a shoe box, and filled the remaining weight allowed with Mentos, Hi-Chews, and tooth flossers. Also, I mailed his new driving license, pictures from the kids and his banking info. I realized afterward that I should have sent his sucker (he meant to take it on the plane) and belt along in this package. It's too late now! I will be making another package soon enough.

We have all been doing fine, emotionally so far, with the exception of me checking for emails every five minutes. On our first night home, after Will left, Matt came to bed and we talked for a minute about our day and Will being gone. After a few minutes I asked him if he locked the door, and he hadn't. Then we realized that we would now have to lock the door, as Will would not be walking in late after hanging out at Mike's house. We are going to miss him visiting with us about his day before going off to bed each night.

On Sunday I got a bit teary when everyone asked how I was doing! I was sure I was fine, but I guess emotions like to keep you on your toes! I also looked out the nursery window and wondered if he would come grab the baby soon and walk the kids home. It's the little things you think all day that get you!

So, I am planning to send a package every few weeks, for about $20 with Canada Post. It will take 6 weeks to arrive, minimum. Hopefully this will be a cheap way to send things off, on a regular basis.

So, I'm done this post and back to waiting...

On the plus side, I have cleaned up the hundreds of emails in my inbox while I was checking for Will's emails! I have also finally figured out how to download my pictures from my phone to the Apple. See! The blessings of having a missionary are already mine! Seriously, there were well over 200 emails and 2000 pics waiting for me! It's an illness, don't judge!

It begins!

For months I have assisted my son, Elder Will Young, in preparing to serve his mission for the LDS Church. It has been a lot of work! When his mission call arrived, we knew it was perfect for him and we were excited. "

"Elder Young you are called to serve in the England, Manchester Mission"

 He wanted to go on a foreign mission, speaking another language, but in retrospect we are relieved he will not have to worry about translating ingredient lists for his nut allergy. And, we must admit that learning English from the English is going to be an adjustment!

For several years now I have enjoyed reading the news from the UK, which is cool now that Will is  going to be there for the next two years! I already know what a lorry is, I can find the boot and bonnet of a car, and I know what "bangers and mash" is.  Will has also enjoyed his favorite sport, soccer, over the years and now he can share in the love of English Football! Yes, Elder Young + Manchester England Mission = match made in heaven! Literally!

While Elder Young was preparing to serve, he had many assignments to complete on the Missionary Portal, a website that tracks his assignment completion, immunizations, and it even does a countdown until they leave! So Will and I would sit down at night and work on the assignments together after the other 8 kids were in bed. It was a nice time for us to spend together, discussing the gospel and cheering excitedly as we checked off another assignment! I truly valued this alone time with him, as I get fairly busy with 9 kids. It was a great time!

 Young Family May 2014

So the time finally came for us to pack and be on our way to the airport, but I challenge anyone with 9 kids to get this done in a timely fashion! I am stretched thin with teens need rides to sports, activities and lessons,  grade-schoolers with field trips and assignments, a first-grader whom I am homeschooling, toddlers getting bored and into everything, and four month old baby who needs something different every 20 minutes. Add to that my regular activities. I am the Cubs Leader, Nursery Worker, soccer-line painter, belly dancer costume designer, I'm on parent council, do newspapers every morning, teach sewing lessons, cook for my family, and I even got my garden in this year! I have time for all this because I skimp on housework which my sweet husband picks up the slack by doing laundry and anything that needs doing. Lol

As you can see, getting to the airport in a timely fashion is a gargantuan achievement! The night before Elder Young's departure, we headed up to Grandma Toni's to stay for the night, leaving at 3:30 am to drive the rest of the way to the airport.  We dressed quickly as we slept in, but soon realized Will had forgotten his suit at home! I could tell he was quite frustrated with himself for leaving it behind, as he exclaimed " Do you know what I was Doing? I was playing with Lego!"  He went down to his room to get the suit, but saw his vast Lego collection and decided to put it out for the kids to play with after he left. It was tucked away for years, but managed sidetrack him enough that he forgot his suit. How sweet to think of the kids when he is so busy trying to leave, I thought, and I tried to let my eyes get watery but they misted up anyways.

So, Elder Young has therefore secured himself his first package! How sneaky of him! I teased him to lighten the mood! Besides, that suit could really use a cleaning before heading overseas! He also forgot the candy his dad gave him, and the sucker he saved. He also had a waist-belt thing for his money and passport that was forgotten in his checked bags! Darn! I cannot, however complain too much, because none of this really matters. He will be at the MTC soon enough, without his suit, suckers and money belt, but he will be there and that is what counts!

What a blessing it was to run into another missionary going on the same date to the same MTC while at the Cardston Temple! I was able to call church travel after that and have them put in the same flights! There was an 8 hour layover in Chicago, so I am very grateful to have him with someone! Especially because this is his first plane ride and Chicago airport is huge!

We dropped him off, I cried a respectable amount, not too little nor great heaving sobs, and hugged him as tight as I could. I gave him four kisses on his cheek, one for each Christmas and birthday we will miss. Oh, I love this boy! Oh how I love the man is is becoming! I watched him walk into the airport with his dad, trying so hard to etch this image into my mind forever. His square shoulders looking much like his Dad's, they walk the same with Will just an inch shorter. I love watching them walk together. They are like twins, twenty years apart.

It reminds me of another moment etched in my mind. Will was a newborn baby so sweet and soft. I held him in my lap, his tiny head in my hands, and I vowed to remember this moment forever. So I keep that image tucked away safely, close to my heart, and add to it my handsome young man in a suit, walking straight and strong with his dad at his side.

I do have a few worries at this point. Will he find his connection in the Chicago airport? Will he get through customs and the TSA with his Epi-pen? Will he be able to sit with the other missionary? Will his second ticket print out, because it did not print with the first and there was no-one there to help?  Will he find his luggage? Will someone tell me if he arrived safely?

On the drive home I looked around our van, which has eleven seats and several of the children were not seated. They kept sneaking out of their seat belts and into the back of he van to lay down. Finally, after telling them they could not ride back there for the umpteenth time, I saw an empty seat and yelled to the back "Who's not in their seat?" As my words were yet hovering on my lips, I realized the children were all seated and it was, in fact, Will's seat that was unoccupied. What a shock! A wave of emotion came over me like pins and needles, caught in my chest and leaked a bit from my eyes. I was sure to wipe away the evidence as the children loudly protested that the were indeed still in their seats!

Once home again, I looked around and so much has changed, but it looks the same. I hoped I would get an email or call from someone telling us if Will reached his designation in time. How was his adventurous day? Did he love flying like me? Did turbulence thrill him to the core? Seriously, I DO love that feeling!

I slept fairly well, probably due to exhaustion from the sleep that eluded me the night before he left. Morning came too soon, and while I was up making Matt's lunch for work I checked my email, and there it was, Will's first email to us as a missionary:

"Hey fam jam. I'm now at the MTC, the flights were okay...not really what I thought they were gonna be. I was expecting more roller coaster-like, they weren't. I went to the wrong terminal 2 or 3 times in Chicago, but we had time to spare because of he huge layover so that's a plus. 

Really tired, didn't fall asleep as much as i wanted to on the planes but I'm still functioning. I don't think it's kicked in yet, which is weird because i'm already here. From the sounds of it I'm going to get busy coming up quick. Apparently I'm supposed to teach an investigator tomorrow so we will see how that goes. 

It's actually really beautiful here, it's kinda like a rain forest, and then you look past the top of the trees and see power lines popping out. I miss you guys, it's weird here. The MTC here is pretty small, I think there's a max of 40 missionaries here at a time. 

Anyway, i'm just letting you know that I've arrived safely and miss you all. So far it's been fairly fun, but I think it's about to get hard. Talk to you soon."

I cannot wait for next Monday and another email! I hope he got all our letters we sent with DearElder.com. From what I read on their website the letters should have arrived there before  he did. Nearly all the kids wrote something to him and that should be a good stack of reading material!

After I sent him a reply, I went to wake up the kids for newspapers and school. I did my usual routine and as I went to get him up I was shocked to see his bed made and him not in it. I had to stand there for a moment to fully take it in. His Lego was set up for the kids, and nearly all his decorations are down and put safely away until his return. Deep breaths.

My mantra: When I think of myself, I am selfish and sad for him leaving. When I think of him, I am happy and at peace. I took a deep breath and thought of his adventure. A huge grin spread across my face. I sure miss him but there is nowhere I would rather he could be.


And, there hangs his suit!  Ah ha! Time to research how to get it to him the cheapest. Do I mail it here, or drive over the US/Canada border to mail it? I will soon find out!