As we started getting to know the other couples on the trip yesterday,
we learned that one family just sent their missionary to the Brazil MTC this week and several have missionaries out in the field.
We're all close to the same age (we're on the older end), and in similar stages of life.
A few grandkids, lots of married kids, several missionaries, lots at BYU,
(some even were at the same party and didn't know each other before!),
half of us empty nesters, most of the others with just one or two at home.
Two couples are from Maryland, two from Chicago, two from Utah, one from Jackson Hole,
four from Sacramento area, four from the Bay Area and one in Southern Cal.
Just as we were walking to our kayak adventure, Nick called.
After we spoke, everyone wanted to know if it was our missionary and hear how he was doing.
It's so fun to be with a crowd who recognizes the missionary phone call signs:
1) it's Monday and 2) a FaceTime call with Mom and Dad
huddled together to both see and talk.
Since arriving in Quito on Wednesday, Nick has been living out of his backpack wearing the same shirt and pants (and socks and garments) for the last five days.
He and his companion are expanding a new area. The new apartment doesn't have furniture so they can't live there yet. In the meantime they've been staying with the Zone Leaders.
Nick's luggage is stored at a church. He also learned he won't have running water.
His companion is great, but Nick was feeling very unsettled, both physically and mentally.
To top it off, they met a guy on the bus who was a devil worshipper (!)
and whispered some creepy things in Nick's ear when they left.
It really gave him the heebie jeebies so the unsettled feeling creeped into the spiritual realm as well.
I'm so glad we got to talk to him and sympathize with him.
Also talk about ideas for bringing light to your spirit when something dark invades.
(A hymn was my go-to. Prayer, of course. A scripture. Any other suggestions?)
And then there's just plain old homesickness.
(I forgot to tell him to expect it to subside after two weeks.
Or that he remembers me telling him that in the past! Did I?
*Panicky mom moment.*)
Last week as he was headed out of the MTC,
I was with Chris when Nick called him. I'd already spoken to Nick earlier, so I just listened.
They were talking about the first phone call when arriving in your new area
and Chris remembered sitting in a green painted room, calling home and being so homesick.
"Nick, when you feel that way, just know your older brothers felt that way too,
so you're not alone. And it gets better."
Nick chuckled, and I'm pretty sure he didn't really understand at the time.
But he was definitely feeling it now, and I'm so glad Chris shared that advice!
Meanwhile, back in the Croatian sea (not an ocean!), basking in the sun on a high-end vacation,
all our new friends were very sympathetic to Nick's first week jitters,
remembering their own from when they were on missions and also each of their children when they went out. It's so cool to be with a big group where we all have that in common.
We stopped at a little island where the limestone for a lot of Croatia was quarried.
The size of this limestone wall, flat from the cut slabs was breathtaking.
The quarry was closed years ago, then reopened to rebuild some of the structures
that were bombed after the war in 1991-94.
Once again, the water is stunningly clear.
After our tour, the ship sailed to Korcula, another beautiful limestone city.
We found a great restaurant for dinner with
Bev & Todd; Dave & Robynn, Brent & Michelle and us,
then wandered around old town.
The only disappointing part was we arrive in time for a late dinner and afterwards,
all the shops were closed
and I really loved this painting.
Kitty saw a woman in the shop so opened the door and asked if we could come in.
Both the woman and I were hesitant, but we should have been more open because I would have gotten a new beautiful painting and she would have made a sale.
Sometimes us rule-followers need the Kitty's of the world to make things happen.
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