We're Finally Online!!!

The first picture is us with our daughter-in-law's aunt at the MTC in Provo.  I don't remember their names, but we met the day before we left.  She asked us if we knew Jeff Lovell & we said he's our son.

We had a good time in the MTC and found out that we had the Largest group Ever--we had 129 people.  Most were married.  We were Shocked--we thought there would be a LOT More seniors.  We found out that the #1 reason couples weren't going on missions was Pets!  They couldn't leave their pets.  #2 was they didn't want to leave their grandchildren, and #3 was finances.  The church really caters to couples--they can go for 6 mo., 12 mo., 18 mo., or 23 mo.  There weren't very many couples who were going for 23 mo.  Most were 18 mo., and then 12 mo.  Couples don't have to change companions and they also don't very often change areas.  You can work as CES, MLS,(Missionary Support Leaders), Humanitarian, Temple, and more.  While we were there a new group of over 900 young missionaries came.  The MTC was bursting at the seams, but was extremely well organized.  We had to stay at the Marriott in Provo.......

We were only in the MTC for 3 1/2 days--not very long.  We flew out to London on August 9, 2013.  We flew all night and arrove here at 5:30 am London time.  The mission president and his wife met us at the airport and drove us to the Hyde Park Chapel.  We were there only about an hour+.  The president talked to us and then asked his wife if she was in agreement with what they had talked about.  She said "Yes."  Then he turned to us and told us that he wanted to send us to Gravesend.  It's in Kent almost at the mouth of the Thames River.  It was interesting because that was where Byron had suggested that he felt would be a great area for us to serve because it was the closest area to the London Temple.  Anyway we were very Excited!!!

We got here on Saturday afternoon--didn't have a fridge until the following Thursday.  We went to church on Sunday morning and walked in--nobody knew we were coming.  They had heard that we would be there on Tuesday.  There weren't very many people there--it's August & almost everyone goes on holiday, plus it's a very small ward.  The chapel is lovely and the people were so friendly.  The first thing they asked me was, "Do you play the piano?"  I have played every week since for RS & Sacrament Meeting.  We finally met our bishop this past Thurs.  He was on "holiday" the first two Sundays that we were here.  He's a good man!  We're not sure what he wants us to do yet, but we're sure we'll find out soon.

This was us at the MTC.  I do have more than one dress.  Just happened to be wearing it that day.
I'll write more later and upload some pictures of our flat.  Bye for now.