The Beginning of the Adventure

We have been thinking about going on a mission for a long time. But thinking isn't doing. One great thing for Senior Missionaries (that is what we are called in our Church), is that a weekly listing of opportunities is posted on the internet. It is usually about 20 pages long, and lists all types of opportunities, and locations for those opportunities. The list changes often, depending on how well other seniors respond to and go on missions to those places. Look here at the list: (maybe some of you will find something that interests you)

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/callings/missionary/senior-missionary/senior-missionary-opportunities.pdf

We had promised ourselves an extended vacation in New Zealand after retirement. (And then after completing the sale of the ranch Lois and her sisters inherited). But we never quite got the trip organized. Then we found that there was an opportunity to go on a Family History mission to Wellington NZ. Bingo!! Problem solved!

We then began preparing the paperwork needed to get approved to go on a mission just after Christmas. We had to take physicals, and be approved by our church leaders. Then the application was sent to the church missionary department. Then, lo and behold we were approved!  Here is the reaction.

The special part of this, is that the Call to the mission was made on my birthday, and we opened the letter about 2 weeks later. The Apostles of our church review each call, so to have them thinking of us in Page AZ on my birthday was great!

We were also able to have all our kids "with" us on FaceTime when we opened the Packet. They were excited, but not as openly as we were!! And for those that are not aware, Cody and his family moved to Auckland, New Zealand in March, so they witnessed this grand opening from there. Love the modern tech stuff.

Since then, we have had a lot of activity. We had to get several immunizations, including Hepatitis A,B, (B was 3 shots) Pneumonia, shingles, DPT. Had to travel to Flagstaff for that. The big thing, we thought, is that although New Zealand loves tourists and the money they bring in, they are very selective on allowing people in who want to live there. We had to get a second physical, done by a New Zealand approved physician, within 3 months of when we hoped to travel there. The approved doctors were in Scottsdale, Provo, Los Angeles or Denver. We chose Provo in May. The approval  then took until July 12 when the Visa's were approved.

We also have cleaned up a lot of old projects around the house, fixed things like a broken water valve for the rear lawn (2 weeks ago), and a broken yard water line (this week).  We have gotten everything we need for our 18 months in New Zealand--at least everything that will fit into two 50 lb suitcases for each of us... We are still trying to figure that out.  My first try on a suitcase was way overweight.

We also found out that you can get prescription drugs for 18 months, if you want to spend about 3 weeks working on it, and can convince both the insurance provider and your doctor that you aren't becoming a drug dealer. Luckily we don't take many drugs or we could have filled a suitcase.

We have been studying a lot in preparation too. A pamphlet missionaries use "Preach My Gospel", a great book,  "The Power of Everyday Missionaries", to name a couple. We have been doing a lot of family history research, to help know how to work with people just beginning their research.

We will spend 2 weeks in Provo at the Missionary Training Center beginning July 25, and will fly to New Zealand August 8.

More to come.