Thursday at the Office

So this morning President Burt called and asked if I could change two of the elders' itineraries.  They were scheduled to return home on May 2, a Saturday.  Pres. Burt would not be available to go to the airport with them, and one of them has been an AP (a really excellent AP) and he wanted to be able to be there when they left.  So I emailed our Church Travel contact, Emily, and explained what the President wanted and could she change their itineraries to early morning on Thursday, April 30.

A short time later,  I received an email from Emily with the new itineraries.  I guess when a mission president makes a request it is done.  I called the president back told him the travel days were changed and all those details.  I asked him if he would like me to contact the parents to let them know of the change in travel.  He said yes.  He wanted to call the elders himself.  I called Elder Atwood's mom and told her I had a little present for her--her son would be coming home two days early.  She was surprised.  She thanked me for this, very pleased, and told me that Elder Atwood's brother is due to graduate from the U on Saturday, May 2, and they just didn't know how they were going to do both things on the same day.  She said they had been praying for a solution.  Wow.  That all knowing, all powerful, all loving Being did it again.  Prayers are answered.  Heavenly Father knows and loves us and is aware of the smallest details in our lives.  I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing, true church.

Gas Prices

Just saw on the news at the gym that gas in Vancouver, BC is the highest in North America-$131.9 (maybe it's not .9).  Anyway, it comes up to about $4.99 a gallon.  We get gas at Pt. Roberts, WA, which is within Canada for about $3.06.

Vancouver Harbor - If you ever take an Alaskan cruise, you will likely board the ship from this spot.

Yesterday was P day, so we ventured into the big city.  Vancouver, BC is a huge, modern metropolis consisting of Vancouver proper (northeast) and a bunch of large suburbs, cities in their own right to the east and south, each with city centers, tall buildings, lots of people, etc.  Thank Goodness for GPS.  Together all these cities consist of what's called the Lower Mainland.  Our mission headquarters and our apartment are in Richmond, just east of Vancouver and just north of the US border.  Richmond is home of large numbers of wealthy Chinese immigrants who have benefited from China's new-found capitalism - lots of large homes and high-end cars.

To the north and east of the Lower Mainland are a number of other smaller towns, all within our mission, extending clear up to the Yukon border on the north and not quite to Lake Louise on the east.  Overall, the mission is 1 1/2 the size of Texas, but 90% of the population is in the Lower Mainland, so that is where most of the missionaries are assigned.  We do have some missionaries up north in Prince George and Terrace areas.  As vehicle coordinator for the mission, I have become acutely aware that we have over 110 cars in the mission, and that the weather/road conditions up north require 4-wheel drive vehicles.  I suspect we are one of the few missions in the world where sister missionaries drive 4-wheel pickup trucks, the other Canadian missions excepted.  Being young, inexperienced drivers, they are not without their share of accidents, which I also have to deal with.

Debby has mostly been  involved with communicating with missionary parents and priesthood
leaders.  Even though our President has assigned us to work in the mission office, our mission call
noted that we were to work with a fairly large number of Korean immigrants in this area.  We
were not quite sure how that would play out, but it has started with a visit to the mission office by a Korean member who recently joined the Church in Korea and emigrated to BC with his wife and 6 year old son.  In broken English, he explained to Debby that they have been trying to attend the area's only Korean Branch in a town called Burnaby, but that not yet being employed, he cannot afford a car, and Burnaby is far enough away that it requires 4 bus exchanges which takes 2 hours one way, to get there, and then another 2 hours back to their apartment in Richmond. Because of this, he was considering attending the Richmond ward because it is much closer, but he was troubled that his wifand son, who don't speak much English, would not be able to learn the gospel as well in an English speakinge ward.  So, Brother Cho and his family became our reason and purpose to attend the Burnaby branch and become involved with the Korean people.  We have picked them up on the past two Sundays for the 40 minute drive to Burnaby.  The Korean members are so strong.  So committed. So smart.  They  have been very kind to us limited Korean speakers.  Two of the men in the HP quorum were baptized in their youth in Yung Dung Po Branch in Seoul, in 1969, the same time frame I served in that branch as a young missionary. I probably knew them as children, and I knew the elders who baptised them.  We attended the Vancouver temple with the Korean branch last week.  They have their own Korean sessions.  We used the English translation devices.  The goal is to shed those some day.

Tonight, we had these two sweeties over for dinner.  They are Sister Yeung from Hong Kong, and

Sister  Tsai from Taiwan.  They are here teaching the gospel to Chinese people.  They are so diligent and exude the Spirit.  We get to see them frequently as their teaching area is the same as the location of the mission office.  I also especially appreciate them because they ride bikes, and I don't  have to worry about a car in that companionship.

All is well.  We are gradually acclimating to the cool humidity and the new hours.  We are happy to be here and to have this opportunity to serve the Lord.  We feel blessed in this.  We are gratified in knowing that you all are also being blessed for your support of our mission.  Our family means more than ever to us now, and eternally speaking, nothing else in the world matters more to us than all of you.  We look forward to our next reunion.

Photos

The hotel we stayed our first 10 days in Canada, Executive Airport Plaza.  

Our District:) at the MTC. Next to us the Hansens from Gresham, Oregon, going to the Philippines, the Clarks, from Salt Lake, going to Chile, the Dohlberg's, from Salt Lake, Church and Family History in SLC.  Cute sister teachers.  

Not in chronological order, 2 sisters going home:  Sister Dahl and Sister Facer on the right, both went home a week ago Wednesday. These girls were both leaders.  Sister Burns, who I replaced is now on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo.  

Colby and Lilia waiting for Elder and Sister Croshaw to be set apart.  

More sisters who are awesome.  Sister Allen, Sister Gamble, Sister Burns, Sister Tsai, Sister Yeung (from Taiwan and Hong Kong, respectively.)  Last two sisters are Mandarin and Cantonese (and English) speaking.  These missionaries are beyond remarkable.  

Richmond Center Mall.  It is gigantic.  The sisters tell me there is a bigger mall in Burnaby, that takes all day to go through.  The  Korean Branch meets in Burnaby--NE Vancouver.  Burnaby is the Hollywood of Canada.  

Burt Brothers Tires--our  first introduction to our Mission President.  He and his brother own these Utah based tire stores.

My sweet Mom.  Just wanted to throw that one in.

Another one for me--some of our beautiful grandchildren at Cascade for the 4th of July.

Two weeks before we moved we met Verna Lee in Salt Lake City for our annual Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert.  Verna Lee used her connections to get us the tickets.  Wonderful night.  

Our farewell at the Cascade.  These dear friends showed up and surprised us.  Larry and Syndee Kemp and Syd and Barb Wood.  They have been an integral part of our lives for so many years.  We are so grateful for the many friends who have blessed our lives.

With Dana when we were set apart.  There is a story behind David's attire.  

So glad he is my mission and eternal companion.

Good Morning

Just getting ready for the office.  Going to the temple tonight with the Korean Branch.  We are speaking (in English) next week, briefly.  I wanted to share this picture which always brightens my day, and makes me feel at home.  Love all of you.

Some Canadian information.  Bathrooms are washrooms.  Eggs and chicken are highly regulated.  Neither can be brought into the country.  The eggs I bought at Costco each have a little pink 'Robin 3' I think it is on them, life the more expensive eggs in the states.  We live in the Lower Mainland.

I love the missionaries so much.  They have such a loving, strong spirit about them.  We love our life right now.  The gospel of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ particularly, provide the only way back to our heavenly home.  Love you all.

BORDER CROSSING

After a tearful departure from the Delgadillos in Boise on Monday, Feb 9, we traveled northwest through Oregon-Washington to Yakima for an afternoon/evening with Matt, (dinner at Abby's Pizzeria and building bed frame and shelves in his room.)  As in Boise, it was very sad to leave Matt that night, but somehow we tore ourselves away and traveled to Ellensberg for the night. Arising early the next  morning, we continued north to through Seattle and on to the Canadian border - road signs are self explanatory.

We were pleasantly surprised that the lines at the border were less than 5 minutes wait, and no car inspection necessary for us.  Then the immigration process (obtaining visas, etc.) took less than 45 minutes, a process which can take up to 3 hours.  We think our agent was LDS.  At least he told us he had history and family in Arizona and Utah, so somehow he knew we were not terrorists or smugglers, up to no good.  Whatever it takes, we are grateful for the perks.  Now we are all "established" in a hotel room while we await clearance of our apartment.  We love the young missionaries here and the other senior couples in our mission office.  More about that and all our new responsibilities on a later post.

MTC Buddies

These guys were Mom and Dad's teachers for their week at the MTC.

Day Two

We went to a zone meeting this morning.  These missionaries are incredible.  We gave them our number if they need our help.

Living in the Executive Airport Plaza, in Richmond, BC for the next week.  We'll be helping the missionaries get to the airport as they are returning home next Wednesday.  We'll also help with their farewell dinner the  night before.  They go to the temple the day before as well.  I think it is a sister temple to Twin Falls.

David will be helping with the cars.  I believe there are over 100 cars in the mission.  I'll update the number later.  He'll be trained officially next week.  We think we will have a place to move into next Wednesday.  The couple in it now will be transferring to a place on Vancouver island.

President Burt keeps saying how much he loves us and how much he needs us and how happy he is that we are here.   He told us they prayed us here.  He jokingly told us he told them in Salt Lake he would give any couple who would come a new set of tires.  He is a bit ovewhelmed with all his responsibilities.  It took them 35 days to meet all the elders after they arrived in July.  This province is either 1 1/2 or 2 1/2 times the size of Texas.  It's a beautiful place.  We're glad to be here with over 241 missionaries.  We feel loved and needed.

Welcome to the MTC

We arrived at 10:19 a.m. on Monday morning.  In our first group meeting we saw a couple from the old sixth ward-Keith and Carol Kendall.  They are going to SLC for the family history mission.  A member of the presidency has the last name Bertasso.  I talked to him and Millie is his grandmother.  Small world.  A lady came up to David  and told him she had been baptized by a Croshaw.  Turns out it was David's uncle, Harry.

We are studying Preach My Gospel.  It's been great as we are taught by young return missionaries, who are so capable.  Devotional tonight by Elder Schwitzer.  Beautiful music by the junior missionaries, as they are called here. Met a couple from Vancouver, BC.  Very nice people.  They tell us we will love our mission president.   Just about everyone oohs and aahs every time we tell them where we are going.  We feel so blessed to be able to do this right now.  Lots of latitude for the Senior Missionaries.  We can leave the campus if we want, and go to the front of the line in the cafeteria.  We can even go to special rooms to nap if we need.  Haven't needed that yet.  It costs $2.16 to dry clean a tie and $1.44 for shirts.  No idea how they came up with those figures.  Everything there is rushed for Senior Missionaries.  The food is pretty good, but way too much of it.

David will add some photos when he writes.  On to day three.