Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Tearful Farewells, Exciting New Advevtures!

 


We woke early to get Bryce to Ontario Airport for his 6:04a.m. flight.

 

 

early morning hugs with Lilly and Alice
    
Sean, Diana, and Matt

                                    
Ready to go. . .
     



checking in at the kiosk
checking in luggage

Goodbyes  =' (

these are the least emotional of the pics
Looking at the photos still makes me tear up.

           
          





  



one last look
as he heads up the escalator to security 
I'm my normal teary self- letting your baby
grow up 'is hawd wowk'

 
 
Elder Montague- Ontario Airport - When we printed Bryce's boarding pass, we discovered that he would be seated next to this elder during the whole trip. Ontario to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake to Atlanta, Atlanta to Madrid. Interesting, they seemed to know all about Bryce and us, they called Dan: President Stevenson. We only knew of their son the night before.







   I found these in the kitchen when we got home and contemplated leaving them there so that for the next two years it would feel like you had stepped out for a while or was upstairs and would be back to put them on at any moment.  








Received this picture on my iPhone at 2:34p.m.

with the message:
On our way to Madrid.
Over 50 missionaries headed to the MTC!
Love you!
 -Elder Stevenson & Elder Montague

Don't know who the kind stranger was but they made our day. We looked up the area code 318. The sweet person is from Louisiana. I'm so grateful for the kindness od strangers. So good to see him no longer tearful and looking excited about the adventures ahead! Doesn't he have the best smile?



July 24, 2013
Hola Familia
Well, I arrived in Madrid safely. I absolutely love it here! This is absolutely my place! My companion is Elder Rasmussen, he is from Utah. I haven't gotten to talk to him much because we just met like 5 minutes ago so I will let you know next week. The elder I flew with (Elder Montague) is in my room too and he speaks great Spanish. So I will have to spend time with him. He even taught me some on our 15 hours of flying!!!! I am so tired and only slept like 2 hours on the flight. Well, I have to go soon but I just wanted to say, I'm safe. I love you all very much. You are the best!  Mom can you forward this to everyone and send me their emails that may have been good info to bring with me. Time to go serve the Lord and learn some EspaƱol! Once again I love you!
P.S. The temple here is the most beautiful thing I have seen in my life.
Love
Elder Stevenson