OK. I promised an update on the visa issue.
No problem. When we arrived at the MTC we received a packet full of instructions, schedules, maps, name tags, travel itinerary and passports. The appropriate visa stamps are in place and it looks like everything is in order.
Apparently some people have had problems with visas. Not so for us.
Thank you to everyone involved.
Friday, October 18, 2013
The MTC
Disclaimer: I imagine there are some who would disagree with my assessment of the MTC, but this is MY blog, not theirs.
Monday morning, October 14, we arrived at the MTC, the missionary training center in Provo, as scheduled. We were a little nervous, but mostly too overwhelmed to think about it as we drove along by BYU and the Provo temple. When we drove through the gate I suddenly had the feeling we weren't in Provo any more. I suggested to Sherrie that perhaps this is what Heaven will be like. It was a great feeling that pretty much stayed with me the rest of the week.
We received our missionary name tags, a schedule and a map and with the help of a small army of other much younger missionaries, we made our way to the chapel for our orientation.
Tuesday night Elder Oaks and his wife came and spoke at a devotional. The speakers were great, of course, but perhaps even more stirring was the missionary choir of some hundreds of young Elders and Sisters singing the tabernacle choir arrangement of "Praise to the Man". Wow!
The cafeteria food may not have been exactly gourmet, but it tasted good to me and we didn't have to prepare it or clean up after it! And how often do you get to eat a meal with hundreds of young missionaries? And, can you say, "BYU Creamery chocolate milk and ice cream?"
The five days went fast, looking back. However, sometimes in the midst of a role-playing exercise, it seemed interminable. Nevertheless, we survived the exercises and unbelievably we are already done with the MTC experience and ready to move on to the final phase of our training in Salt Lake before we head off to our mission in Santo Domingo.
The MTC was a remarkable spiritual experience almost like those times in the Book of Mormon where the author said an occasion was so powerful it could not be written. I wish there were some way to let everyone have the same experience. I highly recommend it.
Monday morning, October 14, we arrived at the MTC, the missionary training center in Provo, as scheduled. We were a little nervous, but mostly too overwhelmed to think about it as we drove along by BYU and the Provo temple. When we drove through the gate I suddenly had the feeling we weren't in Provo any more. I suggested to Sherrie that perhaps this is what Heaven will be like. It was a great feeling that pretty much stayed with me the rest of the week.
We received our missionary name tags, a schedule and a map and with the help of a small army of other much younger missionaries, we made our way to the chapel for our orientation.
Tuesday night Elder Oaks and his wife came and spoke at a devotional. The speakers were great, of course, but perhaps even more stirring was the missionary choir of some hundreds of young Elders and Sisters singing the tabernacle choir arrangement of "Praise to the Man". Wow!
The cafeteria food may not have been exactly gourmet, but it tasted good to me and we didn't have to prepare it or clean up after it! And how often do you get to eat a meal with hundreds of young missionaries? And, can you say, "BYU Creamery chocolate milk and ice cream?"
The five days went fast, looking back. However, sometimes in the midst of a role-playing exercise, it seemed interminable. Nevertheless, we survived the exercises and unbelievably we are already done with the MTC experience and ready to move on to the final phase of our training in Salt Lake before we head off to our mission in Santo Domingo.
The MTC was a remarkable spiritual experience almost like those times in the Book of Mormon where the author said an occasion was so powerful it could not be written. I wish there were some way to let everyone have the same experience. I highly recommend it.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Full-Time Missionaries
Today after church Sherrie and I met with the Stake Presidency and were both set apart as full-time missionaries. So, it's official. Afterwards Sherrie observed that we have to be nice all the time now. Here we are, being nice:
Whatever we've done up to this point to prepare will have to suffice because tomorrow morning we report to the MTC in Provo at 10:15 AM. The past few weeks have been busy, hectic, cluttered, and whatever other adjectives you can think of like that. I suspect we could have spent a few more weeks preparing, but, ready or not, here we come.
Apparently the MTC is overly crowded, so instead of staying at the MTC, we'll be staying at the Provo Marriott. Our son and son-in-law, both veterans of the missionary training program, suggested that it's not a real mission if you don't actually stay at the MTC. As I recall, when I went through the mission home in Salt Lake in November of 1973, those of us going to English-speaking missions had three days of training/orientation before heading off to our missions. Things have changed.
Stay tuned for the next exciting episode!
Whatever we've done up to this point to prepare will have to suffice because tomorrow morning we report to the MTC in Provo at 10:15 AM. The past few weeks have been busy, hectic, cluttered, and whatever other adjectives you can think of like that. I suspect we could have spent a few more weeks preparing, but, ready or not, here we come.
Apparently the MTC is overly crowded, so instead of staying at the MTC, we'll be staying at the Provo Marriott. Our son and son-in-law, both veterans of the missionary training program, suggested that it's not a real mission if you don't actually stay at the MTC. As I recall, when I went through the mission home in Salt Lake in November of 1973, those of us going to English-speaking missions had three days of training/orientation before heading off to our missions. Things have changed.
Stay tuned for the next exciting episode!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
One Week Out
One day this last week we had about an inch of snow on the ground when we got up. I have no idea what day that was. How can I be expected to remember more than a whole day ago? In any case it was still September. I remember that much. How fun to have the first snowfall in September right before we go to the Caribbean!
It is conference weekend. Conference is usually a peaceful, happy, reflective time, but somehow this one has been surrounded by, well, other things. As far as we know all the doctor stuff is done. We're all done with the dentist as of a couple days ago. We got our last immunizations last week and we'll be taking the last of the Typhoid pills tomorrow and Wednesday. Sherrie has been taking Spanish lessons and I did a couple days of Spanish immersion with her up in Provo. We've been released from our callings at church - although nobody told Sherrie she had been released as organist until after she played for sacrament meeting last week. I wonder who was planning to play if she hadn't. I think there are still far too many things remaining to be done. Ready or not, we're going to the MTC a week from Monday.
The house is quite a mess with Monica's and Ryan's stuff transitioning into place while our stuff is being packed up and moved to the basement. There are boxes and furniture and things piled everywhere. Who knew there would be this much stuff to do? Who knew we had this much stuff?
Somehow it's all going to happen. Somehow. Next week.
It is conference weekend. Conference is usually a peaceful, happy, reflective time, but somehow this one has been surrounded by, well, other things. As far as we know all the doctor stuff is done. We're all done with the dentist as of a couple days ago. We got our last immunizations last week and we'll be taking the last of the Typhoid pills tomorrow and Wednesday. Sherrie has been taking Spanish lessons and I did a couple days of Spanish immersion with her up in Provo. We've been released from our callings at church - although nobody told Sherrie she had been released as organist until after she played for sacrament meeting last week. I wonder who was planning to play if she hadn't. I think there are still far too many things remaining to be done. Ready or not, we're going to the MTC a week from Monday.
The house is quite a mess with Monica's and Ryan's stuff transitioning into place while our stuff is being packed up and moved to the basement. There are boxes and furniture and things piled everywhere. Who knew there would be this much stuff to do? Who knew we had this much stuff?
Somehow it's all going to happen. Somehow. Next week.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
House-sitters
We had wondered for a long time what to do about the house while we're away on a mission. In the movies, they just cover the furniture with sheets and turn everything off. Somehow in real life, I don't think that works. There are the small problems of pipes freezing in winter and keeping the yard alive and mowed in the summer.
Our baby girl Monica and her husband Ryan and their almost one-year-old Michael have graciously consented to live in our house and be caretakers while we're gone. We sincerely hope this is a good thing for all of us.
The problem is that they are bringing all their stuff with them. The solution is for us to un-furnish some parts of our house, moving our stuff to the basement. Sounds easy.
It looks like we'll be overlapping for about two months (pending successful visa applications). Monica and Ryan will be moving out of their apartment and in with us next week. Personally, I'm looking forward to having them here, but this sort of situation is the fodder for movies and jokes on late night television. I am optimistic.
Our baby girl Monica and her husband Ryan and their almost one-year-old Michael have graciously consented to live in our house and be caretakers while we're gone. We sincerely hope this is a good thing for all of us.
The problem is that they are bringing all their stuff with them. The solution is for us to un-furnish some parts of our house, moving our stuff to the basement. Sounds easy.
It looks like we'll be overlapping for about two months (pending successful visa applications). Monica and Ryan will be moving out of their apartment and in with us next week. Personally, I'm looking forward to having them here, but this sort of situation is the fodder for movies and jokes on late night television. I am optimistic.
Visas part 1
It seems it is necessary to have a visa to enter and live in the Dominican Republic legally. Since we prefer being legal, we had to fill out some paperwork, renew a passport, and get some pictures. This was not really very difficult, but provided some adventure right from the beginning.
The envelopes containing our travel instructions were sent to Kansas. To prevent just such a thing, we called the missionary department as soon as we received our call letter to have them change our address back to Utah. Apparently that message was filed in somebody's inbox.
The travel instructions said the visa forms must be in Salt Lake by July 28, but that instruction didn't arrive in Kansas until after that date. Even then, there was still the problem that Sherrie's passport was going to expire 2 months after our expected return date. The travel office insisted that this was not adequate; the passport had to be good for at least 6 months after the return date. Hence, we expedited (at great expense) a passport renewal. Thankfully the new passport came quickly and we mailed off all the visa forms, pictures and passports on Monday, Aug 5. Whew.
A number of questions arose in filling out the visa forms. Suffice it to say that we crossed our fingers and pressed on through the vague and conflicting instructions.
Judging from others' experiences with visas, we are a bit anxious about the timing. We're still crossing our fingers. Stay tuned for more on this . . .
The envelopes containing our travel instructions were sent to Kansas. To prevent just such a thing, we called the missionary department as soon as we received our call letter to have them change our address back to Utah. Apparently that message was filed in somebody's inbox.
The travel instructions said the visa forms must be in Salt Lake by July 28, but that instruction didn't arrive in Kansas until after that date. Even then, there was still the problem that Sherrie's passport was going to expire 2 months after our expected return date. The travel office insisted that this was not adequate; the passport had to be good for at least 6 months after the return date. Hence, we expedited (at great expense) a passport renewal. Thankfully the new passport came quickly and we mailed off all the visa forms, pictures and passports on Monday, Aug 5. Whew.
A number of questions arose in filling out the visa forms. Suffice it to say that we crossed our fingers and pressed on through the vague and conflicting instructions.
Judging from others' experiences with visas, we are a bit anxious about the timing. We're still crossing our fingers. Stay tuned for more on this . . .
Monday, August 5, 2013
Making The Blog
Now that we have received the call and have told everyone about it, we're kind of up to our ears getting ready for it. The medical stuff is mostly behind us, with the exception of some more vaccinations.
Of course, one of the first things required to go on a mission is to start a blog. Actually, it's not required. But it seemed like a good idea.
After I requested some creative assistance, our daughter Kathryn proposed some possible names for our new blog:
Daltonsinparadise.blogspot.com
Dominicandaltons
Takingpicturesfortwoyears
Scanninghistory
Imnotcoldanymore
Wearingmysweaterinparadise
Preservinghistoryinparadise
Santodomingodaltons
Twoyearsinparadise
Calledtoserve.santodomingo
Leftourfamilytofindyours
Findinglostsheepinparadise
The problem with blog names is that, while they may sound cute when written with proper spacing and punctuation, they may be misinterpreted all mushed together. You are quite welcome to comment on which of Kathryn's suggestions you like best.
"Dalton sin paradise" seemed somehow to create a wrong impression.
"I'm not cold anymore" was a bit too one-sided since Sherrie doesn't really complain about the cold in Utah. That's pretty much my thing.
We've been advised that the work place and church may be pretty cold due to air-conditioning, hence the "Wearing my sweater in paradise".
I think my favorite is probably "Left my family to find yours".
I have no proper explanation for the names we finally chose.
Of course, one of the first things required to go on a mission is to start a blog. Actually, it's not required. But it seemed like a good idea.
After I requested some creative assistance, our daughter Kathryn proposed some possible names for our new blog:
Daltonsinparadise.blogspot.com
Dominicandaltons
Takingpicturesfortwoyears
Scanninghistory
Imnotcoldanymore
Wearingmysweaterinparadise
Preservinghistoryinparadise
Santodomingodaltons
Twoyearsinparadise
Calledtoserve.santodomingo
Leftourfamilytofindyours
Findinglostsheepinparadise
The problem with blog names is that, while they may sound cute when written with proper spacing and punctuation, they may be misinterpreted all mushed together. You are quite welcome to comment on which of Kathryn's suggestions you like best.
"Dalton sin paradise" seemed somehow to create a wrong impression.
"I'm not cold anymore" was a bit too one-sided since Sherrie doesn't really complain about the cold in Utah. That's pretty much my thing.
We've been advised that the work place and church may be pretty cold due to air-conditioning, hence the "Wearing my sweater in paradise".
I think my favorite is probably "Left my family to find yours".
I have no proper explanation for the names we finally chose.
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