On Friday, October 19th we arrived in South Carolina!!  Our trip was long and tiring, but we made it safe and sound.  We left home on Thursday, October 11.  The route Elder France chose was the one with the shortest mileage which took us through Idaho, Montana,Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri,Illinois, Tennessee and into South Carolina.  We drove through a lot of really beautiful country!  We did stay one extra night in South Dakota so we could go to Mt. Rushmore.  It is an awe inspiring place with an incredible story.  It started out as a 5 year, $500,000 project and took 14 years at a cost of $1 million.  Not one life was lost during all those years even though they used massive scaffolding, used dynamite, and hung off the face of a rock formation.

 

 

Margie, this next picture is for you!  We had to stop and look at this wood sculpture!

 

Yesterday we checked out our local area, did some shopping, located the church building we will attend and found the mission office where we will work.  We have been asked to work in support of a small branch here as well as being office specialists during the week. This afternoon we went to the Mission Presidents home and met with him, his wife and the other senior missionaries that work in the office.

 

We are very excited to finally be here to begin our mission.  We know that there are many individuals who are waiting to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We pray that we might be instruments in his hands for that purpose.  We will we working with wonderful young elders and sisters who are filled with a love for the Savior that radiates from them as they share gospel principles with those who are ready to hear it.  We are grateful for your prayers in our behalf and so thankful for a safe journey.