Provo, Utah, July 2-8, 2017, Portuguese Immersion, 4th with Utah kids

We were set apart as full-time missionaries on Wednesday night, June 28, at 8 pm at our stake center in Longmont by our Stake President, President David Richards.  Our blessings were very comforting and let us know once again that we truly have been called of God to do this work and we have some very important things to do in Brazil!

Since Hannah and Chase were gone, we got to spend the week with Addie in their apartment in Provo.  It was very comfortable, thank goodness, because it was over 100 degrees every day outside!  It was kind of weird being in Provo and not having Hannah or Eric there.  Eric was with his friend Jake and his family at Lake Powell.

On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday we went to the beautiful brand new MTC buildings to finish up our Portuguese Immersion.  We have loved working with our amazing tutors and appreciate their patience with us as we struggle along our path to fluency!!

Monday, we decided to catch a movie, The Book of Henry, and loved it!  We ate out a lot including Jdawgs and Zupas.  Had a blast on Wednesday eating pizza and playing Rook at Pizzeria Limone with Cindi and Jeff.

Took a couple of lovely, warm walks up around the Provo Temple.  Sooo happy to be here!

 Kalel Cascardi, Todd Workman, and Arthur Silva--our tutors

 Elsie Pulupuna, our learning coach

On Tuesday, the 4th of July, we celebrated America's Independence by going to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade.  We woke up to the sound of these air balloons going over the apartment building!

 One of our favorite things in the parade was the Utah Provo Mission missionaries!!

We are so grateful for all those who have fought or are fighting to keep our nation free!

After the parade, we headed to Salt Lake City to Joel and Erin's house where we joined them and Joni, Ellie, and Reese for a fun day of food, water, and relaxation!  We had some local entertainment (family crazies) at the park!

While we were there, Joel helped Mike list our Subaru Legacy in KSL Classifieds.  We sold it on Saturday!  We loved that car, but felt it was best to sell it and it was another tender mercy that it sold quickly and to a wonderful young family that love it!

We are now officially car less and homeless!  It feels like we have truly left the world and our worldly belongings behind and are literally following the Savior!

Hannah and Chase returned on Thursday evening after a wonderful time in Nauvoo.  Addie is a happy girl to get to stay with them for 18 months!

We moved our things into the MTC on Saturday morning, and got our badges!  We are so happy to have that mantel again.  We are thrilled to be on this adventure together!  Today, we had church in the MTC with some of the other senior missionaries in the International Branch.  Larry and Wendy Braithwaite were there as the senior missionary coordinators.  It was fun seeing them and we will be working with them all week.  Tomorrow, we start our Preach My Gospel training!