As we headed here to Casa Grande, we went through miles of not much, but we did go through the Joshua Tree National Forest where we pulled over to stretch and take pictures.  The Joshua tree was named by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid 19th century.  The tree reminded them of the biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer.

It hit 110 today in Casa Grande, AZ.  Thankfully the only reason we needed to leave the house was to go to church this morning..  but I did go out to take a few pictures of some of the glorious things in bloom right now.  And lots of shades of purple..no wonder I love them!





 

 The 5th wheel is parked in the storage area here at the community where Aunt Betty owns her home.  We've been staying in her lovely little home and enjoying it very much.  It's really nice to have a full-sized washer and dryer.  We do have one in the 5th wheel but it's very small and the dryer is only 110, so it takes over two and a half hours to wash and dry a small load.  But, when we are on the road I'm so happy to have it!  Laundromats are not one of my favorite places! 

 

We have been going to Mesa everyday since we got here, spending time with Aunt Betty and trying to figure out what the next step is.  She will be released from her current rehab facility on September 7th and we need to have another facility lined up.  Medicare will only pay for the first 20 days and after that things change.  The current assessment prevents her from coming home, so we are talking to lots of people and making lots of phone calls to figure this out. We had hoped to leave mid-week, but I'm not sure we can facilitate the transfer to a longer term home for her by then.  So at this point we are playing things by ear.  We have an appointment in the morning to look at a local assisted living home that has an opening coming up next week.  We are excited to see if this will work for her!  We are praying that doors will open and answers will be found to help Aunt Betty recover from the effects of her stroke and that we can find the very best place for her.

 

 

 

 

We managed to get back on the road today.  After spending three nights in Henderson the technician was able to diagnose tire problems and not suspension problems.  The belts had slipped inside the tire and allowed it to bulge just enough to allow the tires to rub.  We could not see it from the outside, so tire problems just didn't register.  The tire looked intact from the outside.  Certainly not what we expected, but so glad to know what we needed to do.  Four new tires on the fifth wheel and several hundred dollars later we finally left Nevada heading for Mesa, AZ.
We left via Boulder City and drove over the new bridge that spans the canyon at the Hoover Dam.  The new construction has high concrete walls and we could see nothing.  The old bridge was so scenic and the view was spectacular.  Now, apparently you must pull off the highway to see the dam.  It is such a great place to stop and see the grandeur of nature combined with the construction of man.
Tonight we are in Golden Valley just outside Kingman, AZ.  The RV park has lots of old tractors and farm equipment sitting around, plus this old carraige.

 It's still 100 degrees outside and getting dark. But we have 50amps and both AC's going so it's very comfortable inside. Lots of lightning strikes, clouds and thunder storms all around us.

We will be in Mesa by noon tomorrow, get settled at our RV park and then spend time with Doyle's Aunt Betty.
For every obstacle that Satan throws out in our direction, the Lord puts someone in our path to help us and allow those obstacles to be crushed.  I'm so thankful to know that we are being watched over and protected.

Another very hot day in Nevada!  It's somewhere in the neighborhood of 104.  We decided that we seriously lost the battle to keep the RV cool and we're staying at a motel about a half-mile down the street.  How dependent we are on electricity, and how miserable we can be when electrical things go wrong!!  (Like not enough amps to have both AC's!)  Makes me think of the hardships of the saints as they faced all kinds of weather conditions in their travels. 
I have a favor to ask of anyone reading the blogs....please leave me a short comment from time to time.  I can see we have lots of pageviews, but I don't know who's reading.  We have page views from Russia, so I want to say hello to Elder and Sister Webb. 

Forrest Gump says "Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're going to get."

That went through my mind several times as we sat broke down on I15 for 6 hours in 102 degree heat.  This picture was taken as the sun went behind the hill so we no longer had direct sunlight beating on us!

Our plan to head directly for South Carolina changed when we got a call while still in the MTC that Doyle's Aunt Betty had a stroke and was in a hospital in Phoenix.  That was Tuesday night.  We still had 2 full days of class left.  We made several phone calls and came to the conclusion that we needed to go to Arizona.  Doyle called the Mission President and told him of our situation.  He let us know that he supported our request as Doyle is the executor of her estate.  So on Friday morning we headed south instead of east.  Things went well, cruising along 55mph on I15, 50 miles from our destination.  I was following in the Toyota. 

Then I saw smoke coming from the fifth wheel and grabbed for my cell to call Doyle.  He put his blinker on at about that time...unaware of the smoke, but planning on pulling over to stretch and get water.  We discovered our problem very quickly!  The two tires on the passenger side were rubbing together and smelled really hot.  Something in the suspension, or a bent spindle is what Doyle suspects.  We called AAA and because the truck and fifth wheel are so long, tall and heavy, a special low-boy semi was required to haul us...hence the 6 hr wait.  He finally showed up at ten-thirty....after we ran the gas out of the car idling for that long.  Same for the truck, but we did have 5 gallons of diesel to put in the tank.  The semi truck driver said that there was a gas station only 5 miles up the road, so I left to fill up....besides, I did not have the courage to watch them load the truck and trailer onto the low-boy.

We successfully traversed the freeway underpasses (even though I stayed way back just in case the AC ripped off!), a brief monsoon that left visibility very limited, and several very risky moves by bikers!  The freeways were still very busy which made me very nervous.  But the Lord and his angels watched over us and the semi driver and we made it to Camping World in Henderson and unloaded.  That amazing feat I did watch and took pictures!  The margin for error is very small but Doyle backed off without any problems...my hero!

Doyle unloading the truck and 5th wheel from the low-boy at Camping World in Henderson, Nevada.

So after a short night at a frightful motel nearby, we came back to get started on the repairs.  We'll be here at least until Monday.  They allowed us to hook up to the power here and we'll stay in the 5th wheel for the next couple of nights on their lot.  We'll just need to be very conservative with our water.  We can do it!

We are both very relaxed about this set-back.  We know it could have been so much worse.  But we are safe and we are together and that is what matters. 

Well...I wish I would have found the first one before I repeated myself with a second one.  Forgive me....I've just spent two weeks at the MTC and I'm tired! 

OK I'm just really frustrated now...I just did a very long and descriptive blog and then proceeded to delete it.  So many great stories and Poof..gone.  I need to remember to save occasionally!   Here we go again.

Today was our last day at the MTC.  We finished up our computer training at about 4pm and said our tearful goodbyes to everyone.  We had a wonderful testimony meeting that lasted about an hour!  More than a few Kleenex needed for that experience!  We have been so blessed to have two really wonderful groups to learn and study with.  We learned office procedures with Bro and Sis Evans who are going to Jamaica, Bro and Sis Fullmer who are going to the Phillipines and Bro and Sis Andrus who are going to North Carolina.  They will be our neighbors to the north.  We also had some awesome return missionaries as our teachers and they each did an incredible job.  They added so much to our classrooms with their knowledge as well as their patience with us.  They really did teach old dogs new tricks.

Our office specialist class.

From left to right Evans, France, Andrus and Fullmer.

We made friends with two single sisters in our class.  They were also staying at the Marriott and we offered to provide them with some of their transportation and really enjoyed their company.  Sister Bjorn and Sister Kelly are going to New Jersey to serve a CES mission.  They will be a wonderful addition to the mission.  Last night we spent an evening out on the town with Sister Kelly, our loveable Georgia peach.  We went to DI, Wal-Mart and Costco and found a few things.  DI was a treasure and we left with a few bags!  Just what I need ..more clothes and shoes to add to the collection...but I'm so serious when I say they really were treasures.  Doyle even loved the things I found and did not give me a bad time.  Now to just find a place to squeeze them in!  (For those who didn't hear this story...he built a special closet in the 5th wheel for his suits and white shirts so I could have the wardrobe area!!  What a guy!!)

We will miss the MTC.  It gave us the opportunity to learn, grow and meet so many wonderful people with so many life experiences and so much to give.  They have such a strong commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and I know they will touch the hearts and minds of many individuals who have come to the realization that they need the gospel in their lives!

We will miss the exuberance and energy of all the young elders and sisters who study diligently, eat with gusto and enthusiasm and receive the packages from home with thanks and love in their hearts.  Thank goodness for Moms who send cookies, candies and all things wonderful, all coated with the special love only they can give.  We are grateful for wonderful families who raise good young men and women.  They are the future of the church and this country. 

This is a photo of the main hall of the MTC leading to the dining room. 

In nine short days we have made some incredible friendships. We have enjoyed the instruction, the stories, the camaraderie, the laughter and the spirit of those we have met, talked with and befriended.

Tomorrow we leave the beautiful mountains of the Provo area and head east.  It should take us about a week to arrive at our destination.  To all our new friends, we wish you safety in your travels and pray that you might always have the spirit of the Lord to watch over you and guide you.

To our friends and family back home, we love and miss you all and include you in our prayers!! 

Today was a sad day!  We said goodbye to many new wonderful friends!  After almost two full weeks at the MTC (one of the greatest places I have ever been) our training is completed and we will be heading off to South Carolina in the morning.  For our group of the past week we trained on the computer for financial, opening and closing houses, recording baptisms and confirmations, completing transfers, making newsletters and several other procedures.  The newsletters were my personal favorite because we got to get creative with clip art and special effects.  Our office training class consisted of 4 couples, Bro and Sis Evans, Bro and Sis Fullmer and Bro and Sis Andrus.

From left to right, Evans, France, Andrus and Fullmer.

Thankfully we have an instruction manual as we will no doubt need it when we each get to our missions!  We spent our last day together not only receiving instruction from our wonderful young instructors, but we also had a very spiritual testimony meeting that lasted for about an hour.  We had our final cafeteria lunch with all the sisters and elders and said goodbye to some of them as well.  Warm and wonderful connections can be made at the MTC.  We are so blessed to have had this opportunity in our lives.

Speaking of warm and wonderful...there were two single sisters in our group who also stayed at the Marriott.  We provided them with some of their transportation needs and got to know them.  Sister Bjorn and Sister Kelly are going to New Jersey on a CES mission.  Last night we went shopping and took Sister Kelly with us.  She was so much fun..my Georgia peach!  We went to DI and found some great treasures there..then to Wal-Mart and Costco!  We really know how to have fun.  Sister Kelly and I found some absolute treasures at DI.  For those of you who know me..just what I need..more clothes to add to the closet!!

From left to right, Sister Bjorn, Sister Kelly, and me.

So, with MTC behind us, we begin the rest of our travel tomorrow...bright and early!!  Hopefully we can beat some of the traffic.

A new week and a new phase of our training.  This is the computer training phase for us.  Some of our original group are now in place serving at their mission destinations.  Many of us are still here receiving specialized training.  As we began using the computers today, we were able to see all of the missionaries serving in our area in South Carolina.  The current count is 220 throughout the mission.  There is a couple from Wenatchee serving in Union, South Carolina.  We'll see them soon I'm sure.
A new group of senior missionaries came into the MTC today.  There are 9 single sisters in the group out of about 60.  We spent some time at dinner talking with two of the sisters.  They are going to New York, New York.  What an experience that would be!  They are very excited about it.
We have only 3 days of training left and then we'll be leaving beautiful Provo.  I love Utah.  The temple here is really gorgeous.  We did not attend, but I did walk the grounds and got a few pictures to share.

The mountains in the background are spectacular!  The grounds are perfection and with all the flowers that have been planted, and the fragrance of those flowers is a delight.

Sunday is definitely not a day off!  What an amazing day!  We started sacrament at 8am and had wonderful meetings.  We had the privilege of hearing from Sister Rosemary Wixam in Relief Society.  The music from The Spoken Word was so enriching and spiritual.  I particularly was touched by "The Lilies of the Field."  After our meetings were over we had lunch with sweet Sister Kelly from Georgia and then came back to the hotel.  We both had a nice nap!
Then back to the MTC for dinner and a departure devotional for any missionaries leaving this coming week.  All missionaries were asked to stand when their mission destination was called out.  And then lastly for the day was a fireside where we were taught by Richard I. Heaton, Administrative Director.  What a great experience that was.  He called up several Elders to help him by using their own personal conversion stories to teach us.  It was incredibly effective.  Listening to the Elders tell of their own personal journey was amazing.
Tomorrow we begin our computer training.  I am looking forward to that.  I'm also hoping that I can get more pictures taken to post on our blog!

It has been a wonderful day.  We slept in and even took a nap in the afternoon after shopping, fueling both the car and the truck and making a Thursday reservation at the RV park. Today is Doyle's birthday and his request was to have sushi for dinner.  That was an easy request to fill!!  We went to the Wild Ginger not too far from the hotel..it was very nice and the food was very good.  Dessert was a chocolate dipped cone from McDonalds.

The photo is a picture of all our group.  From the left, the Chipman's, the Green's, us and the Diehl's.  We loved our group!!! We have been so blessed to get to know them. What a wonderful week we have had!  Friday was very hard and very emotional as we said goodbye to the Diehl's who left for Minneapolis.  What a delight they were to know.  They live in Montana and are rancher/farmers there.  Sister Diehl was such a wonderful lady.  We had several very touching conversations with her.  The Green's are going to France.  What an exciting adventure that will be. The Chipman's will be serving a CES mission at Southern Virginia University.

One of our teachers, return missionary Sister Reese.

 
We are pointing to South Carolina, where we will serve, on the big map in the main hall of the Wilford Woodruff Administration Building.

Our first week is finished.  It has been a wonderful treasure to add to the scrapbook of our lives.
Now we know firsthand some of the experiences of the young missionaries as they navigate the MTC and learn the teaching tools they will need.  What wonderful young people with such great enthusiasm! Our second week will be focused on the computers and training for financial forms and paperwork.  Final day will be Thursday.  We'll hit the road again on Friday.  Doyle has all of our stops mapped out at about 300 miles per day.

Here we are in beautiful Provo.  We arrived on Saturday the 4th and spent 2 nights at an RV park near Utah Lake.  We really like it there.  It's a very nice park.  On Monday the 6th we moved our RV onto the MTC grounds and got changed clothes to check in and get our name badges.  The day was spent with orientations and tours so we could find our way around.  The busiest hub is the cafeteria.  (Doyle says that you take your life in your hands when you enter the cafeteria).  The MTC houses about 2400 young elders every week, plus about 200 senior missionaries and teachers and staff.  Today we talked to two new elders who had just arrived.  They use red dots on the name tags to identify the new arrivals.  Interestingly, they both arrived from Colorado and they were going to India (English speaking).  It is a sight to behold!  Such energy and enthusiasm!
Tuesday was a very long day.  We started classes at 8am and got out of our very first devotional here at 8pm. Today was not as long with classes starting at 8am and running through 4:15.  The instructors are wonderful and the senior missionaries all have inspiring and interesting stories to tell.  There are 42 couples in our group. We are then sub-divided into smaller groups.  Our group has a couple going to France.  The rest of us are serving in the states. We will continue to have classes together through Friday and for those of us staying for another week, we will be going into additional types of classes.
It's been beautiful and hot, but we have been inside alot so we haven't been able to enjoy the sun.  On Saturday we will have our first opportunity to relax and enjoy the area. Oh and did I mention, that I will sleep in on Saturday?  No 5:30 wake-up on that day!

We arrived in Provo today.  We left our home on August 1st bright and early in the morning.  We stayed at Baker City the first night and then on to Twin Falls, Idaho.  What a wonderful city.  We loved the impressive beauty of the Snake River Canyon and Shoshone Falls, the "Niagara of the West."

It reminded me so much of the basalt cliffs and majesty of the Columbia River.  We went down into the canyon to check out the golf course and watched about a dozen young people enjoying the zip-lines there.  It looked like so much fun.  I would have loved to have tried it..but not enough time. 





We attended the beautiful temple there.

What a wonderful way to start our Friday.  Today (Saturday) we made our final leg of this part of our journey. The travel was very uneventful until we hit the busy section of freeway that extends for some 60 or so miles on either end of SLC with no rest stops or easy pull-offs.   It was very stressful!  We're staying at the same RV park in Provo that we stayed at 4 years ago when we came down to BYU for education week.  It's very nice here and only about 15 minutes from the campus and MTC.  We decided to locate the MTC so that we don't get lost on Monday morning.  We finally found it.  Neither of our GPS's like the street names here with all the numbers. We didn't get totally lost but we did make several u-turns.  We went in and got our ID cards for our meals and our room.  We also found out where we'll be parking the 5th wheel for the next 2 weeks while we are in the MTC. We're so excited to begin!