Austin getting ready to load up his suitcases
Lunch at Jimmy John's before the MTC
Family Selfie while waiting in line at the MTC.
Sunglasses on ready to hide tears
Austin seemed to come to the MTC with a plan. He told me all morning he didn't want to cry. So we got a quick family photo and he grabbed his bags and took off. I was glad he at least turned around and gave us a little salute. It made goodbye a little easier on all of us to not draw out goodbye.
No tears because he left so quickly.
1st email about 1 hour after we dropped him off:
Hello family. It has been pretty crazy so far. My escort was cool. He went to Corner Canyon. He knew the Sampson's and Fillmore's. He played volleyball at corner so he knew them from that. Once I got in line to get my badge and the guy right behind me - I asked where he was going and he is going to Wisconsin too and is speaking Hmong. Funny thing is he is in my room too. The next line I went to I talked to another guy and he was from Rupert Idaho. I don't remember his name, but I think he said that Grandma Criss and the Schow's were in his ward. Something like that.
I then went to class for 15 minutes before I am writing this. Our teacher only spoke Hmong and refuses to speak English. I will say that the language is the craziest thing I have ever heard/spoke. A lot of the letters mean completely different things. Papa was right when he said we sing when we talk. It is very weird. The language is really, really, really, hard, but so far I think it is pretty fun to learn. The teacher is already making us speak and if we say it wrong we have to keep saying it until we say right.
Well anyways I love you guys and I asked one of the missionaries that has been here for 4 weeks and he said his P day is Tuesday so I think mine will be that day too.
Thursday August 3: Reese's P day - and the BEST surprise - he ran into Austin and sent a picture home. Happy happy!!!
Two days later: Surprise #2
My aunt Linda's good friend Merri, who's son Connor played basketball with Austin in middle school, sent me the following text:
"Meanwhile - on the MTC tour, look who we ran into in the cafeteria!! So fun! He looks great!!"
It made my whole day!!
