New Kids on the Block

Elder and Sister Turpin arrived here around 4:30.  It was already dark and the rain was coming down as it had all day....it has been relentless.  They had made the long flight over from Salt Lake, stopping in Chicago and London.  They blinked against the light as they entered the apartment.  They looked tired, and they were tired.

The interior of our apartment at 2:54 in the afternoon (the camera is set for Arizona time).  Isn't it deliciously dreary?

They came in and sat down and we visited.  They are from Bountiful, Utah!  They have lived there for 22 years and we have been gone over 45 years so there was little there that we had in common, except feeling a genuine love of that place.  They have a large family with 22 grandchildren.  Between being exhausted and thinking about all of the sweet little children they left behind....Sister Turpin was understandably just a little bit emotional.

Each time we have a new couple come in, it has been fascinating to gauge where we are in comparison.  That subdued Fall afternoon we arrived was so interesting.  Cities have different smells and the sights of Copenhagen were fascinating to me.  The apartment....walking through the front door from the sidewalk, the view of the lake, the light switches, the water faucets, labels that were foreign to me, so many new things...I felt a little overwhelmed.

Just a short time ago we were the new kids on the block and now we are among the "senior" senior couples.  Sister Turpin asked how long we had been out, and when I said 14 months, she said, "You're almost done!"....which came as kind of a shock.  Of course she was assuming that our mission is 18 months and not 23.  They will follow us around until Wednesday morning.

I fixed dinner for them and then we went to the Thorne's apartment where we spent some time with them, the Hicks (who will be going home in 4 weeks) and Sister Hamblin.  It was fun to hear all the mission stories exchanged.  Elder and Sister Turpin have already served one other mission....to New Zealand where they taught family history.

For this mission they will serve with YSAs in a little city 2 hours away from here...Odense...the city of Hans Christian Andersen....I love that place!

I can see how much Sister Turpin is literally grieving over the separation from her family.  What a sacrifice this is!  They both expressed so beautifully how much they want to serve the Lord, and how they know He will bless their family while they are away.  They are certainly stepping forward in faith, and although tired want to get started now on their mission work.

They are upstairs getting much-needed sleep (I hope).  I think the work will wait a little while yet.