foreshadowing

When Ruth was 14 our ward did a weeks long program where the girls received "mission calls" and put in a companionship and did fun activities where they learned about missionary work. circa: 2017

Must have been effective because 6 out of these 10 young women are currently serving a mission 5 years later.

Young Women Companions Amy Jones and Ruth Evans

Ruth serving a Mini mission with our Stake in 2019. She spent all day Saturday and all day Sunday with the sisters learning to be a missionary. 

 

possible super spreade

Wednesday 8/17/22 10:22am

Ruth: Hey so bad news maybe. Sister MacMullen tested positive for covid and im pretty sure she got it from sister earl who probably got it from me so Adele might have Covid or something. I thougth it was just allergies but I still kind of have that sticky gross cough. 

Mom: So y'all have to quarantine now? 

Ruth: No just her. They're not even making us get tested 

Mom: Sorry! Do you feel ok now?

Ruth No I feel fine. Elder Halpren went to get tested too and he tested positive. I can still smell and taste and I didn't have any body aches or a sore throat. 

Mom: How long do they have to quarantine?

Ruth: 5 days. I honestly thought I was just having bad allergies bc I was sneezing and congested and watery eyes n stuff and I'm only coughing to get rid of the tickle in my throat from the gross mucus. 

 

First letter home

Howdy Brothers and Sisters!

First week of MTC down and I'm apparently considered a veteran now that a new group of missionaries has arrived. A group that included Neil and Liam's friend, Elder Gibson, who caught me right as I was leaving lunch today to say hi. Funny thing was I didn't know it was him at first because he's rarely over at our house, so I just thought it was some random elder haha.

I was so excited to meet my district after online MTC, if a little worried it would be awkward or we wouldn't get along. And then we got here and it was like instant friendship yalls (except for Elder Chapman who couldn't come and just has to zoom in to class every day :'( we miss you Elder Chapman you're awesome). We instantly hit it off and the jokes started rolling. 

We learned about how Elder Halpren got catfished by a mermaid, that my companion, Sister Liljenquist, thinks people who drink whole milk are drinking straight cow and should be in jail, Elder Brown can eat at least 7 ice cream pops and still want ice cream from the creamery ten minutes later, and Elder Duncan can and will sing at every opportunity. 

We've had so many cool experiences both just having fun and talking about the gospel and how it's impacted our lives. Our teachers and leaders are amazing and you can feel their love for us missionaries and I can't wait to get out into the field!!

idk if the pics will work but they are:

- all the Sisters in my district lookin fancy on Power Pants Friday last week

- don't fall asleep during district bonding time

- Elder Brown on his seventh ice cream/fudge bar like a boss. It was terrifying and impressive.

- all of our district and our amazing teacher Sister Miles

- our first temple trip (we didn't get a pic the second time. there was a wedding going on haha) 

- Our rock circle district bonding times

- me stealing the elders look

First week of MTC

Amy Johansen brought a little surprise 'thinking of you' gift this week, her daughter Carlee left on her mission a few months ago. She brought a framed picture of Ruth and a bag of Oreos with her picture on it as well. 

Mom devoured the Oreos and Adele commandeered the picture:

Aunt Aubrey has been taking all her nieces and nephews on Aunt Aubrey dates this year as her Christmas gift to them. She and Adele went last Saturday to As You Wish where they painted pottery pieces. Adele chose this moose and painted a Canadian flag on the bottom. 

official

Left for the MTC on a Wednesday and P Day the day after with a trip to the temple. 

Ruth's district. 

Zoom call a little later in the day. 

Roomies L to R: Companion Sis. Liljenquist Sister Earl, Ruth, Sister MacMullin. 

I actually don't know which is sister Earl and which is sister MacMullin I'm just guessing but I'm filling this out for Ruth and she can check here ____ if I guessed right or Here ____ if I put them in backwards.

Power pants Friday!

Called2Serve is a company that makes care packages and delivers them to the MTC for you. I got Ruth the chips and salsa and cookies package. 

Had to get a razor delivered from Amazon since she forgot hers and had herself in a hairy situation. 

having a picnic 8/19/22

Zooming with Ruth at the MTC is mostly watching her walk around, shop at the little MTC store and do laundry while watching her laugh and interact with her district. Quite entertaining and comforting to see she is having such a good time and doing so well. 

beautiful Provo weather. 

heart shaped Provo rock

Awwww Elder Allen and Elder Duncan got the whole district CTR rings.

 

Leaving on a jet plane.

4:02 am 8/10/22

4:40 am 

4:51 am

This is her Joshua pillow. Aunt Carrie let all the cousins pick one of Joshua's pillows after he passed and Ruth picked this batman one. Right after we took these pictures we turned the pillowcase inside out because the idea of laying my face on a pillow that has been through airport security gives me the heebie jeebies. 

This morning didn't go at all like I was expecting. I couldn't stop crying the day she was set apart, but no tears were shed this morning. I didn't want it to turn into a cry fest and send her off like that, it doesn't seem fair to do that. If someone else had started crying I would have lost it but we are all emotionally dead inside so we didn't cry. 

She asked the TSA agent in the blue shirt there where she should go and he just generically pointed behind him and she was headed to the line called PHX RESERVE and TSA yelled at Marcus when he stepped forward to call her back. Marcus kind of ignored him and had her come back to go into the general boarding line. 

you can see Marcus' finger pointing about where the lady TSA agent is standing and Ruth back peddling out of the wrong line.

found the right line.

What would we do without Dad. Oh my Ruthie! Have the best time! 

 Look close, you can see her back there heading through security where they will open both her bags and dig around before letting her head out on her first solo flight. She went through security with 3 other brand new missionaries but none of them were on her flight. They did find each other so they could drive to the MTC together. But I didn't know that until later. We drove home and went back to bed. Except Neil who went to Early morning seminary. I got a series of text messages from Ruth as the morning wore on:

 

LUCKY FOR ME

Someone knew I really wanted this picture and took it for me.