She is off to Uruguay!

 July 3, 2013
We have a had a spiritual few days. It started off with Katie farewell talk in church. She did such a great job. The spirit was so nice. She spoke on the "Priesthood".

Tuesday night, July 2, President Andersen came to our home at 9pm to set Katie apart as a missionary.  The spirit was so sweet and warm.  He talked to us for a while and them gave her a blessing. President Andersen asked her to share her testimony.  Grant and I talked and both agreed the testimony she shared with us was not a testimony of a missionary just leaving on her mission. It was a strong testimony that a return missionary would have given. She is such a valiant, happy young women.

Wednesday morning, July 3, we woke and I fixed her one last green smoothie. Then Grant gave her a fathers blessing.  Again it was a beautiful blessing.

We stood outside the security for 30 minutes just soaking up each other.  It was hard to let her go, but we are also so excited for her to serve as a missionary... a representative of our Savior. All afternoon we followed her airplane on an app on our phones. She flew to Atlanta, Georgia at 5pm.  Then she had a lay over for 4 hours in the airport.  Then she flew to Argentina through the night, arriving at 7am.  At 2 pm I received a call from her telling me she borrowed someone's phone to call, we talked for 2 minutes. This morning she wrote an email and told us she made it. Argentina MTC is right across the street from the Temple. It is very beautiful there and the people are so friendly.  They are all greeting her with lots of hugs and kisses on both cheeks.
This is going to be such a wonderful experience.  I look forward to receiving letter and pictures from my wonderful daughter and close friend, each week.  Until the first letter... bye bye!