Still Holding Fast

It's now Monday, October 10, and we're still holding.  An automated email confirmed our application was received at Church headquarters. We replied by completing the short on-line surveys that supplemented our application and were reminded that the call may take 4-6 weeks. So, we remain patient, and busy. We're a bit more anxious as each day passes because the reality of a major change ahead is sinking in. We've been cleaning closets, servicing vehicles, prepping our yard, organizing business information, and tending to a myriad other things that need to be wrapped up so we can leave our home and affairs behind and move - possibly on short notice.

We also met last week with Lilla and Nephi Szvoboda, a young couple who are interested in staying in our home while he studies at LDS Business College prior to transferring to BYU in about two years. We're now in the deciding stage. We met them a few weeks ago when serving in the Bountiful Temple. Lilla was receiving her endowment for their marriage the next day, and Linda was her attendant. She is from Hungary; her new husband, Nephi is from Switzerland. Nephi's father is native Hungarian, and the two spent some time in elementary school together when Nephi's family moved back to Hungary for a time. Nephi helped with Lilla's conversion when he served his mission in Hungary. He is studying at LDS Business College. On the day we met in the temple, we discovered they both are well-acquainted (through time spent in Vietnam) with Billy and Karleen Jackson, a former member of our Stake Presidency and his wife, who served a mission in Vietnam and another sister in our stake. Nephi's father's business has a production facility in Vietnam. Linda felt a special bond with Lilla that day, even dropping off a wedding gift that night. Are these all coincidences? No. We feel the Lord's hand has connected us.

On Saturday, our grandson, Noah, was baptized.  It was a happy and traditional Wasatch Front stake baptism day, with Noah and Nefi being the two boys baptized from the Centerville Porter Lane 1st Ward.  Linda gave a message about the Gift of the Holy Ghost - good practice. The flashlights she used were a good object lesson to add to our missionary toolbox.

Stay tuned!