The Phone Call

By 4:00 I had given up any hope of receiving a phone call from Ryan. Either he didn't have time to call or he didn't want to. I spent the day by the phone, jumping with excitement each time it rang. A few times Matthew wrestled it out of my hands in order to be the one to answer it. But, by 4:00 I decided he wasn't calling. They would never send Missionaries out that late, it was a six hour flight from SLC to NJ. The phone rang at 4:30 and the caller ID read BYU, I got excited but my hopes were quickly dashed when I realized it was probably my dad calling from work. I picked up they receiver and heard "Hey Mom!" I was so excited. He quickly told me that they had to leave in 30 minutes and he would call from the Denver Airport later that night. More waiting.

He finally called at 11:30. He explained that they were scheduled to leave on Tuesday. On Monday they were sitting in class and at 3:15 someone came over the loudspeaker asking the missionaries for the Morristownn Mission to report to the office. The teacher asked if they had time to sing a song and say a prayer and she said "I don't know, you have to leave at 4". Apparently, the booking agent had made a mistake and put them on flights on Tuesday but the Mission President wanted them there on Monday. They changed the flights, gave them 30 minutes to pack and they were on their way.

He also told us that his time in the MTC may go down as the worst timing to be in the MTC. The Temple was closed for most of it, they didn't get to hear from a General Authority because they all take they month of July off, the gym was closed for reconstruction, so no basketball, and the AC went out in the resident hall and the mess hall. Despite all that, he had an amazing time in the MTC.

He was traveling with a total of 13 Elders, 10 English speaking, 2 Spanish speaking and 1 Portuguese speaking, all heading to Morristown, New Jersey. It was so good to hear his voice. I am amazed at how much he has learned and how much he has matured in three short weeks. He gained a testimony of the importance of Missionary work while in the MTC and was very excited to get out in the field and teach.

He also told us that he looks forward to letters, so feel free to drop him a line! I know he would appreciate it. If nothing else, keep him in your prayers, I know he feels them.