MTC Part Two and Bon Voyage

After spending the weekend with Leslie, Rob, and the girls, we returned to the MTC for week 2. It was a totally different pace from week one. Here we began learning how to set up the camera for taking photos in the New Zealand archives. The system is quite complex, from the $25,000 camera to the computer and hard drives, to the lights and flat table that had to be set up to capture the images quickly. We learned that many couples can capture up to 3,000 images a week. We spent 4 days at the MTC, and one day at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake, where we met staff from the various groups that provide assistance to the missionaries.

Well, we must have done okay because they said that we could still go to New Zealand. We returned to the MTC after class and picked up our small load of suitcases...

That, folks, is 5 suitcases and  2 carry-on bags totaling 282 pounds (oops, I meant to say 128 kilograms), plus a jacket each and a purse, and computer bag. There are a few excess items there that were returned to Page, and a few leftovers that Leslie is storing until we return. (Those were what we had to pull to get to 282 lb. We final weighed at a post office)  

Friday night, I did what everyone said was crazy. I drove our truck to Phoenix to leave with Ty. Half way Friday night-to Page, and the rest of the way Saturday. Flew back to Salt Lake Saturday night. The only excitement was a tire that began a tread separation-luckily for me I didn't throw tread or blow the tire. Limped to the tire store 3 miles from Ty's and an hour later, had blown money for a new set of tires. (Lucky Ty) (in picture below, note the top of the tire has a bulge, rather than being flat across). 

Monday we did the final weigh-in (as noted above) then headed to the airport. Max and Nancy, Lois' sister and hubby, drove us, for a noon arrival. 

Our flights were Delta from Salt Lake to San Francisco; then Air New Zealand to Auckland and on to Wellington. What we awoke to was kind of scary--Delta had experienced a computer outage overnight and had grounded their fleet. But they were able to start getting the flights going again, so we only had a 2 hour delay. Our layover in San Fran was 5 hours, so we had enough wiggle room. 

While waiting at the Salt Lake Airport, we celebrated our last US meal by making it Mexican food, since we hear that we may not have another Mexican meal until we return-so did it in style at Cafe Rio--at the airport. (Note to readers: Cafe Rio has added another meat flavor-Spicy Green Chili Pork--to their menu. It is awesome)

Air New Zealand flight left about 10pm, and lasted 13 hours. We lost Tuesday because of the International Date Line, so landed in Auckland on Wednesday about 6am local time. We also lost 50 degrees and 5 hours of daylight (desert summer to coastal winter). We also seem to have lost some sleep. 

More next time: our start in Wellington.