Goodbye MTC . . .HELLO Florida!!

Elder MacLay left the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 to go to his Florida mission.  We received a call from him on Tuesday morning during his 1 hour layover in Atlanta, Georgia.  He was unable to use his calling card and a kind fellow lent him his cellphone.  Our call lasted all but 5 minutes with a hope we could possibly get another call once he checked in at the gates.  It was a very brief call but so wonderful to hear his voice.  He called again for another 5 minutes and he asked us if he could bear his testimony to us in Spanish.  Which was interrupted by a need for quarters to be fed to the payphone.  Thank goodness somewhere, somehow, someone still sees a need to install pay phones.  We were so happy he found one. 

Trevin on speaker phone.  We couldn't hear well so it took a lot of concentration . . .obviously. :-)

Trevin was traveling with 33 other missionaries heading to the same mission. You can imagine the line to call home.  There were only a few Spanish speaking missionaries in that group all of which had been in the beginning Spanish class.  Since Trevin was in intermediate Spanish this was his first time meeting any of the Tallahassee missionaries.  This is unique of itself, since most commonly missionaries are housed in districts that are serving the same missions.  The intermediate Spanish speakers are put in a district together and are from several different missions.

Later that evening we were pleasantly surprised to receive another brief call from Elder MacLay letting us know he arrived in Florida.  He had just had a fantastic southern meal and received his assignment.  He will be serving in the Fort Walton Beach area and sounded excited and happy.

That same day, I received a FB message from a dear person that we know in Florida which brought great comfort and joy.  How sweet for her to take the time to write and tell us.

"Hi Vicki,

Today at the missionary transfer spot a few miles from our home, my husband was able to talk to Elder MacLay. My husband was released as a counselor when our last Mission president was released. But, he has a calling as a high counselor to work with the missionaries. Today, he was helping out our local missionaries to get to the transfer spot. There were about 60 missionaries there, many new ones from the MTC. My husband said he was visiting with all the missionaries that he knows, then ( in his words)"suddenly the spirit told me Elder MacLay was in the group and I began walking around calling out "Elder MacLay, Elder MacLay," and your son answered. They had a sweet conversation. My husband said your son was being transferred to Spanish speaking area of Ft. Walton Beach, FL. He said, " Elder MacLay is a tall, handsome, missionary filled with the spirit and ready to do the Lord's work." I thought you would like to know. Have a great day!"

A tender mercy indeed.  Our family is looking forward to our first email from our Elder MacLay.