New Jersey Mission Begins!

On December 31, 2012 we entered the MTC in Provo, Utah for four days of training before beginning our 18 month mission in New Jersey as MLS (Mission, Leader, Support) missionaries.

Entering the MTC for the second timne!

New Jersey!

We left Utah on Jan. 5, 2013 and began our trip EAST! 

We spent the night in Denver, Colorado - staying with our dear friends the Valentines (who we trained as our replacements in Rome) and also visited with our wonderful friends the Marcuccis (who we served with in Rome).

Claudette Burt ~ Jodi Marcucci ~ Marilynn Valentine

Dallas Valentine ~ Jeff Burt ~ Ed Marcucci

Next stop Champaigne, Illinois and a 2 day visit with the Wagstaff's (see previous post).  We then drove for 13 hours (crossing 5 state lines) arriving in Newark, N.J. on Jan. 10th
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We were SO grateful for our safe driving conditions from Utah to Illinois and then on to New Jersey. It was cold with snow on the ground the whole way but the roads were dry and clear.

 

  Arriving in downtown Newark was an eye opener for us country folk and a bit of a culture shock! As we observed the night life on the streets, we were glad to get to the safety of our hotel. 

 

The next morning, a young black woman (who oversaw the continental breakfast at the hotel) asked about our name tags. We explained we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She said, "Oh, like on TV?" We said, "Yes!" She asked, "Where abouts do you all meet?" We said we didn't know, since we just arrived last night, but we would find out for her. She gave us all her contact information and told us to "have a blessed day." Wow, how easy was that?!! We were told that such things were happening because of the media focus and it was so SWEET to experience it!

 

We drove 40 minutes to Bayonne and met our landlord. 

Crossing the Newark Bay Bridge - toll $1.65

View off the left of the bridge shows the skyline of Manhatten.

Our neighborhood.

Bayonne Elders who came to help us move in.

There were many things that did not get passed to our apartment (blanket, bedspread, shower curtain, hangers, toilet bowl scrubber, bath and kitchen towels, spices, broom, etc.) because they were used to furnish another senior couple apartment) so after spending $250 at Walmart we are almost set up!
FYI - the mission will reimburse us for things that will stay in the apartment for the next couple. 

 

Our unloaded Walmart purchases.

We had arranged for an internet cable guy to come hook up our internet the first day - so we are easily connected to our family and friends again!  Before our cable guy left (a 27 year old black man from Haiti), Jeff asked him if he would like to learn more about our church.  He said, "sure."  Mama Mia!  I thought missionary work was suppose to be hard! 

We had a 5:00 pm meeting with President and Sister Jeppson at the mission home about 40 minutes away. Driving in rush hour traffic in the very congested big cities of N.J. is not quite as bad as driving in Rome (thankfully) but it was pouring cats and dogs on our way home - so it was just about as bad!

 

Welcome sign on the Jeppson's door.

The transfer board in the President's office showing 4 additonal zones that will be created when the mission receives 100 more missionaries in the next 6 months!

President and Sister Jeppson.  We love them already!

At the close of our wonderful meeting with the Jeppson's, President Jeppson offered a prayer. I felt as if I were receiving a priesthood blessing. At one point, he asked the Lord to bless our grandchildren, that as they observed the example we were setting for them, that a testimony of the truths of the gospel would be embedded deep within their hearts.

 

That brought tears to my eyes because in truth, that is our very hope.