We hope to add to our mission blog every Saturday. Unfortunately, we got behind because of our getting ready to move out of our Springville home and because we were then without Internet service until yesterday. The following will be a brief recap of the past two weeks.

The last two days of our first week in the MTC were as spiritually enlivening as the first three. We were so well trained to be teaching missionaries, that we all set to go! On the final devotional of the week we both sang in the small choir, Signe played her "Meditation from Thais," and I was asked to give the closing prayer for the week. Then we said our goodbyes and gathered for a group photo of the 53 of us that you see on the upper left corner of our blog. Some of these couples we have kept in contact with, including the couple going to Italy Milan, whom we have recently heard from.

Because of our need to be separated from the younger missionaries, we surprised out ward by attending all three meetings on June 5 and spending time with the family.

The next four days at the MTC were not as spiritual as the previous week, mostly because we were trained to do everything from mission finances, referrals, vehicles, housing, Microsoft Word 2007, etc. We were exhausted each evening after this intense training. Wednesday evening Matt and his friend brought a 12-foot trailer to load our household goods into for the trip. We appreciate them so much. Thursday night, June 11, we finished packing for the trip to California. And at 6 in the morning (Gary's 65th birthday) we left Springville with our Prius full to the brim. While we were on enroute Adina called to tell us that had arrived and were unpacking our things at the apartment. (Then they went on their three-day cruise.) Thanks to them, all of our furniture and boxes were already in the apartment -- and even our bed was put together in the bedroom! We met our landlady, our neighbor, and the two Senior sister missionaries, Skinner and Peters.

Saturday was a day of unpacking and deciding where everything should go. We took a break by exploring the area a little, finding both the nearest Wal-Mart and Albertson's for some necessities. Meanwhile, we were visited by Elder and Sister Budge, who will be completing their 18 month mission in November. President Watrous and his wife then dropped by to welcome us to the mission and to express their deep gratitude for our accepting this call to work with them. Then we had our birthday dinner at Sizzler, since my birthday was yesterday and Signe's is tomorrow.

Sunday we drove to the Orange Third Ward with Sisters Skinner, Peters and Healey. Wed were assigned to this ward by President Watrous, with the enthusiastic approval of stake President Goodman. HThe bishop immediately assigned us to work on re-activating a sister in his ward. When we returned home we had dinner at the Budges, along with the three sisters. We had a delightful evening of conversation for more than three hours.

Monday the 15th Signe was trained in Finances by Sister Peters, who is leaving in two weeks. Gary was given general training by Elder and Sister Budge, while in the afternoon he was trained by the office elders, Koerper and Lee. (They are so intelligent at their young age! They seemed to coordinate the housing with humble aplomb!) They showed Gary how to keep up the supplies copies of the Book of Mormon (in English, Spanish, Tongan, Samoan and many other languages), as well as the pass-along cards, pamphlets and other supplies. Gary then began to inventory 244 VHS tapes which we need to dispose of. Gary was also issued a church cell phone.

Tuesday the 16th was Transfer time, with twice as many missionaries arriving because of the swine flu problem at the MTC. All of the office staff had a word to say to them, followed by an inspiring message by the mission president.