France, Paris Mission - MTC

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Our mission officially started on Thursday, October 23 when we were set apart by our Stake President  at his home.  It was a very spiritual setting apart and a great blessing that encouraged us to be positive to work hard and to listen to inspiration.  As a followup we went to the Dairy Queen to celebrate with friends and family.  It was a very special evening for us.

On Saturday we started our journey.  We left from Lethbridge.  Imagine our surprise when a large group of Lakeview students and parents showed up with a sign to wish us farewell.  We were able to get a last hug from them.  It was a very touching and emotional scene.  We have been truly blessed to have worked with such great students and families.    We flew to Calgary where we were met by our son Dustin, his wife Lindsey and their four kids for another emotional goodbye.  It's hard to say goodbye to those you love.   We next flew to Salt Lake and then finally to Provo by shuttle.

We have spent the week at the MTC (Missionary Training Centre) learning how to teach and doing role plays on the different aspects of the church out of Preach My Gospel.  It was an incredibly busy week and we worked hard.  We have attended some great devotionals that were very inspirational.  We finished our official training yesterday.  The food is great here but much too plentiful.  We are housed in a building that is much like a hotel right here on campus.  We were also blessed to meet some great new friends including a couple who are going to the same mission as us.  There are two Canadian couples here - ourselves and the Gibbons from Kelowna.  Besides about 60 senior missionaries, as we are called, there are about 1800 young missionaries, male and female.  They all seem to be great kids, very polite, kind and respectful.  They are going all over the world from Zambia to Scotland to Christmas Island.  There is a very special spirit here.

Good-bye at the Calgary Airport

Elder et Soeur Wilson

We have had the opportunity to visit with friends that we know here on a couple of occasions.  Yesterday we went for supper at Bruce and Carol Selk's house and then we went trick or treating with their grandkids.  Today we are going out with Caroline and Curtis Fletcher - shopping, dinner and a movie.  We have also gone over to BYU a couple of times which is just down the road from us.

On Tuesday we fly out early in the morning to France and then our adventure will certainly kick into high gear and we will let you know how that is next week

Lyndi-lou and Eddie too