On December 1, 2015, we received the big white envelope in the mail. That night, about 10 p.m. when we could gather some of our children together (Michael, Craig, Eric & Jocelyn), with Eric recording, we opened our call.
Kenya Nairobi Mission!!! Never in our wildest dreams did we ever think we would go to Africa! (That's not entirely true. I had had this sneaking suspicion that we would go to Africa, but since I didn't really want to go to Africa, I kept burying it in my heart). But it felt right almost immediately. We were to report to the MTC (the Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah on April 18, 2016. We had four months to get ready!! Wow. Kenya! Here we come!!! We were scared, excited, happy, nervous. But we knew that it was a call from the Lord and we would do our best.
Now on to the report of our mission:
We arrived at the Provo MTC on Saturday, April 16, 2016. We checked in and got unpacked. We actually start on Monday, April 18.
Our first week at the Missionary Training Center here in Provo Utah has been intense. Our young returned missionary instructors were excellent and enthusiastic teachers. Our poor old brains had information overload. By the end of the eight hours a day we were ready for bed!! But we are more prepared to go out into the world to witness of the reality of our Savior Jesus Christ and the good news of the gospel.
Gorgeous tulips with the sunlight shining through. |
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Ta Da! Here are Elder and Sister Torrie. Happy to be companions 24 hrs/day seven days a week. We'll be leaving next week for training in Johannesburg, South Africa and then we will head to Nairobi, Kenya. Looking forward to it and excited to serve the Lord in Kenya. |
Ready to become "Sister Torrie." |
All the senior missionaries were divided into two groups. This is Group 1. L-R: Elder & Sister Larsen (New York); Elder & Sister ____; Elder & Sister Benedict (Dominican Republic); Elder & Sister Chen (Beijing China humanitarian); Elder & Sister _____; Elder & Sister Hart (Scotland); Sister Bergen (Washington Seattle); Sister Avis (Missouri Independence); Elder & Sister _____; Elder & Sister Halliday (Utah Orem); Elder & Sister Robison (South Africa Johannesburg); Elder & Sister DeGraw (Ohio Cincinnati); Elder & Sister Robins (Bismarck ND); Elder & Sister_____. |
This is our Group -- Group 2. L-R: First 3 couples unknown; Elder & Sister Maki (Tonga); Elder & Sister Healy (German Frankfurt Area); Elder & Sister Hecker (England Manchester); Elder & Sister Torrie (Kenya Nairobi); Elder & Sister Olson (Adriatic North Montenegro); Elder & Sister _______; Elder & Sister Harline (Ethiopia); Elder & Sister Day (DR Congo Kinshasha); Elder & Sister Rasmussen (California Sacramento). |
So good to hear from you! Brings back memories of our time in that wonderful place three years ago
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