Me, Zack and Jeff as we leave for the airport.August 5, 2008
Our family prior to Zack's departure.August 5, 2008
Zack and GrandmaAugust 5, 2008
Zack and Alivia, 8/5/08.
The guys: Chris, Spencer, Zack, Brian,Morgan and Dane. We missed Shane by about 2 minutes.
August 5, 2008.
Final hug goodbye:Morgan and Zack
Zack and Spencer
Group Hug!
The Elder headed toward his gate at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport
08/05/08
Zack left for the Brazil Santa Maria mission yesterday, August 5, 2006. at 11:20 am. Most missionaries travel to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, and the parents can travel with them, listen to a talk and bid farewell. Not our son! He was assigned directly to the Sao Paulo MTC. Thus, we bid him farewell at the Seattle-Tacoma airport. I must say that Zack did not want his parents to travel with him to Provo, had he been assigned to that MTC; so, it worked out perfectly for him.
It was an exciting day and an emotional day. I did fine until I watched him go through security and then turn to find us. We had moved, so that we could see him; but, he could not see us. I waved and he gave us that Zack smile and nod of his head that basically says: "I'm cool." He then walked out of security, turned to us, waved, and walked off with Grandma who was traveling home to Sacramento after being here with us for the week. We headed toward our car where I dropped my head into my hands and finally sobbed. Those were my first real tears, other than the emotion felt during his setting apart as a Missionary.
Zack reports to the Sao Paulo MTC today, August 6, 2008. Someone assigned from the MTC would be at the airport to transport the missionaries to the MTC. I have not received word that he has arrived, but I am certain he has and all is well.
Zack will be at the MTC in Sao Paulo for approximately 62 days. While there, he will be immersed in the language (Portuguese) and prepared to travel to Santa Maria --the very Southern tip of Brazil boarding Uruguay and Argentina. In fact, it appears that a tiny portion of his mission boundaries extends ever so slightly into Uruguay.
Zack will spend the next 24 months of his life proselyting--teaching the people of Brazil the gospel of Jesus Christ whom we worship and recognize as our elder brother and Saviour. We will miss him, but we are more excited for this period in his life than sad.
Zack can receive letters at:
His Full Name
District 32-A, Box 46
Brazil Santa Maria Mission
Brazil Missionary Training Center
Brazil Santa Maria Mission
Brazil Missionary Training Center
Rua Padre Antonio D’Angelo 121
Casa Verde, Sao Paulo SP
Casa Verde, Sao Paulo SP
Brazil 02516-040
1 comment:
I'm so glad you started a blog! We look forward to keeping up-to-date on things. Thanks for sharing this experience with us. We wish we could have been there to see him off, but we're glad we were there this past weekend. Thanks again for that! We know Zack will be a great missionary. I'm sure he's loving every minute so far! Love you!
Post a Comment