Missionary Greetings from U-Dub - Yes we can!

Yes we can! We completed our MTC experience with three days devoted just to CES training. Below are all the wonderful “couple missionaries” that are being sent out on CES-related missions who came into the MTC with us. Their assignments take them around the world: Fiji islands, India, Armenia, Marshall islands, Mongolia, Switzerland, Singapore, etc., and SEATTLE! It is amazing how diversified the background is of each couple. Some are fairly recent converts, some past-mission presidents, some have been out 2 or 3 times – and then there was this one couple from Provo, , ,

Okay, it’s kind of a “Where’s Waldo” type of a photo to actually find “Sister” Thornton.

We could write an epistle on all we learned, BUT the new CES training on how to teach from the scriptures is truly AMAZING!!! (“Amazing?” Hey, we hadn’t left the MTC yet and we started spelling and sounding like missionaries.) Back on point, the training simply has brought new meaning to scripture reading – it truly is inspired and brings so much more out of every chapter you read. We would tell you all about the new techniques, BUT you really do just have to come here and find out for yourselves (okay, since Mike still hasn’t been released as the HP group leader, this is his shameless plug for every HP in our group to go anyway you can – either serving at home or abroad - it doesn’t matter – just go.)

Anyway, we would have stayed to learn more, but EVERYBODY in our group was leaving, so that was that – we had to go.

The next day we packed our suitcases. We then packed the 4runner. Then we packed a U-haul trailer. Okay, you might think we went a “little” overboard on packing, BUT, traveling on “purse and script” is simply a little different for “senior” couples nowadays AND although there are advantages on going on a mission to Fiji - there are also advantages on going to Seattle – what more can we say?

After all that packing we did start driving to Seattle, but we had a slight problem. Interstate 84 was closed going through Snoqualmie due to snow and avalanches. Interstate 5 was closed for flooding somewhere between Portland and Seattle. In other words, you just couldn’t get to Seattle. BUT we just started driving anyway and figured we had been called and something will just have give (we hoped not us.) Just as we made it to the point where you have to decide which way to go, something did. Interstate 84 opened up and we sailed into Seattle with no problems.

We drove straight to our apartment at:
13530 Linden Avenue North #313
Seattle, Washington 98133

That is our apartment mail box area – a VERY exciting place for missionaries!

Not that you need to start writing immediately, BUT, there is a reason why we just went to the trouble of typing out our address – feel free to write OR better yet, if you just happen to be in the Seattle area, please drop on by! (Okay, okay, emails are just fine too!)

We do live in an apartment complex, much like, well, every other apartment complex we can see for miles and miles. But just in case you haven’t seen one lately, this is what they look like from the inside:

After you get off this elevator, if you look REALLY close, our apartment door is CLEAR down this long hall (keep looking, it’s CLEAR down until you can’t see,,)

Anyway, it has been dark when we leave and it is dark when we get home, so this is what we mostly see. As far as the apartment insides go, again, it is pretty standard issue:

We feel pretty special though, because that is 100% NEW carpeting you are looking at!

After reaching the big city of Seattle, we drove over to the LDS Institute at the University of Washington (the U-dub!)
We didn’t even get lost (okay, the Garmin didn’t get lost – we’re not even sure where the Space needle is yet.
That might be because it has been a “little” foggy and overcast – but here in Seattle, they just call it “Partly-Cloudy.”

The Institute was built in 1959 and has quite the heritage. Dean Hughes emailed us “Congrats!” and said back when he was a “graduate” student at the U-Dub, the Institute was run by a director by the name of Jeff Holland.

Inside, we found the Institute to be a wonderful place for U-Dub students to simply hang out and banter about current affairs.

Relax and Recreate a little;

Eat and socialize a little:

Of course, there is ALWAYS the feeling like you should ALWAYS be studying as a student. AND, although we have an office upstairs, we prefer to set the example and study up for the BoM courses and the NT course we are teaching right in the thick of it:

Why? Well, our class enrollment started out very small, so while we prepare, we “enlist” student help with the lessons and our class sizes are growing, so maybe we can teach all these brilliant minds of U-dub graduate students a thing or two. AND they have a few things that they are teaching us also. Like, did you know there is this thing called “Cha Cha” on the internet, where live people (as opposed to “unlive” people) actually answer questions over the internet on basically any topic vs. the old “ask Jeeves” where you just got some computer generated answer? What a concept! Live people!

Well, we could go on and on, but we leave you some parting shots of the Institute’s “Multi – Multi” purpose room. Note, on the one end is the standard basketball hoop, with tables and chairs for eating, recreating, ect., But on the other end, behind the draw-back curtain, is a small podium/chapel which makes the room into a chapel on Sundays for three of the on-campus single wards.

This email must come to an end. We hope to get out and send some pictures next time of the big city, but the most we have been away from the Institute was simply to get a bite to eat on the “Ave” – which is what the locals have named their “University Avenue” where everyone seems to go for a bite to eat – which is very good – but not “Cheap.” We are really getting to love the students here and the wonderful program. We truly wish we could take all of you with us.

Our Best of Wishes and Love,

“Elder & Sister” Thornton