He called me while they were waiting for their connecting flight in Houston, and I had such a hard time not crying on the phone. I don't want to make him sad, but, I also don't want him to think I can so easily let him go for two years. It's a fine line to walk. But, I got through, and he sounded so amazing. He said his zone in the MTC became like family, and he will actually miss being there with them. He won't miss the three hour long classes twice a day, or being cooped up in the MTC facility, but, overall, he loved it there. While they were in the airport in Houston they felt the stares from the other people, and could tangibly feel that the Spirit they felt at the MTC was no longer surrounding them.
His time in the MTC was just 12 days, so, a lot was crammed into their heads as quickly as possible, so, the twelve week training program in the mission field will be so much more valuable. I spent most of yesterday reading the blog that President and Sister Woodbury started when they were first called as the mission presidents of the GKLM, and followed the journey of the mission all the way to this month. They post transfers and new missionary arrivals, outgoing missionary photos, holidays, trainings and zone conferences, whatever is important to the mission, and tell us how all our missionaries are doing. It will be so exciting to see Matthew in those pictures starting with today's arrival and tomorrow's transfer. They will have pictures of the group arriving, some of the group getting settled in the mission home, and then of them eating their dinner. There will be pictures of each missionary with their new companion/trainer. We'll get to read all about the big events. I won't be able to post anything here except pictures of Matthew, minus any other missionary just to protect the privacy of the other families and their children.
I will also update from Matthew's letters and emails, but, no names or pictures of others, again for privacy reasons.
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