A Letter from Holly
(From the Florida Orlando Mission Home, Monday, October 27, 2003)
Hi everyone,
I am writing you to let you know that I made it to Orlando and have started my official mission here. I had to get up at 2:45 a.m. this morning because the sister going to Edmonton left at 4:00 a.m. and they wanted to get ready. I actually really felt sorry for Sister Buckles for two reasons. One she got woken up when we were all getting ready. Secondly she had to watch us pack & was left behind in the MTC as a solo sister until Wednesday morning. So while we're entering the field she gets to stay behind in the MTC.
After getting all the last minute packing done I met with Elders Allred, Fletcher, Haas & Nall, who walked with me to the travel office (It was 5 a.m. at this point.) After checking out we loaded all our bags in a big moving-style van and got on a charter-style bus. The bus left the MTC around 5:40 a.m. and for me the really strange thing was driving past all the places I used to go (Movies 8, University Mall, Media Play, etc.). It really started to hit me then that I was actually leaving the state for a long time. Driving up I-15 was the same.
I got to SLC International Airport and guess what? None of my bags weighed too much! We took American Airlines to St. Louis. Our flight was delayed so we ate lunch at the airport. I am ashamed to admit I caved and ate a personal cheeze pizza from Pizza Hut. We finally boarded our airplane and left for Orlando at about 2 p.m. (central time).
When we got to Orlando we were met by President and Sister White. (To backtrack, on the ride from St. Louis to Orlando I sat by a really nice couple and got to share just a bit about the gospel with them.) There we fit all the luggage for 12 missionaries in the back of an extended van & a truck. This was a pretty impressive feat.
When we got to the mission home we had a really great dinner. Then we went to the Second Counselor's home (President Herzog), who lives right next to the Orlando Temple. We had dessert, interviews with Pres. White, a testimony meeting, and contemplated the temple.
It has been a wonderful day. It was great to talk to you all*. I love you and want you to know I know the Gospel is true.
Love,
Sister Holly Neibaur
[* Holly got to call home from the Salt Lake airport. Terry & I were in Monterey, California, so she called on Terry's cell phone. We had a wonderful talk. It's water in the desert to hear a loved one's voice after an absence!]