Tacoma Bound!

Arrival at Sea/Tac--January 19, 2016

The New Missionaries at Puget Sound

This morning at 6:51 am I received a call from an (801) phone number and was happy to answer the phone and hear Elder Lund on the other end.  "Mom, I'm at the airport heading out.  Someone is letting me borrow their phone so I can say goodbye to my parents." Elder Lund woke up at 2:45 this morning, ate breakfast at McDonalds, where a recent returned missionary came up to him and his companion and offered to buy them breakfast.  How kind.  They then took an MTC van to the FrontRunner/Trax and headed to the Salt Lake Airport for an 8:30 flight. So grateful that we could express our love to him before he flew to Tacoma.  We were able to speak for about 20 minutes and he told us how much he enjoyed the MTC--even the food. He said the first three days were very long and difficult. It felt as if he had been there for a month, but then it went fast.  He is grateful for all that he learned and he also was able to see his Mission Prep teacher from BYU and so he was happy about that.  While at the MTC he and his companion taught an investigator.  Christian said she was such a good actress that they truly believed she had no religious background and knew nothing about God.  When they asked the teacher about whether or not she would get baptized, the teacher laughed and said,  "Oh, she is the Relief Society President in my ward.  She was great though, right?"  Elder Lund and Elder Pipe now know the term "Investi-FAKER."  Godspeed, Elder Lund!

Here is the letter from his mission president announcing his safe arrival in Tacoma,

Dear Parents,

This is just a quick note to let you know that your missionary arrived safely in Tacoma today.

We took our new missionaries to the Puget Sound (photo attached). From here they will have a great lunch. Then they will be interviewed, given a brief orientation, and meet their new companion, who will also be their trainer.  After a very spiritual meeting where the departing missionaries will share their testimonies, they will be off to their new areas.

We are thrilled to welcome them into the out mission. Please feel free to contact either of us if you have any questions or concerns. You are also invited to check out the mission blog at www.calledtoservewa-tac.blogspot.com

May the Lord bless you and your family.

President and Sister Blatter