Ca"cough"ony

Is this really the Salt Lake Temple?

               Sister Randall is pregnant with twins! 

The 2nd week of the MTC although enriching was not quite what we expected. Both of us were hit forcefully at the end of the first week with chills, fever and an unrelenting cough. We spent the entire weekend in bed in a state of feverish delirium. In this wretched state, we also learned of the passing of my sister Kate who's suffered with Pulmonary Fibrosis for the last few years. We were so sad to hear of her passing but comforted to know her suffering had ended.  Gratefully too, our fevers broke Sunday to allow us to attend our classes the next day but every night for the last week, we've just been coughing non-stop, unable to quell the reflex despite steel will or conscious determination. The Bookstore had run out of any kind of cold medications and the Health Clinic at the MTC is strictly for the young missionaries. Thank goodness for Sister Shramm our personal drug dealer! Our apologies to our district and teachers for putting up with us, we really weren't much fun to be around! Still we loved our wonderful teachers who taught us so much and the fun couples of our district that were all going to SYSAP (stake young single adult program) missions. We truly grew to love them all. One thing we learned in all our training was to become more adept at using the Gospel Library, doing Zoom meetings, and making Social Media posts. Slowly we are shedding our Fred and Wilma Flintstone personas and joining the high- tech generation of missionaries.

Friday after our last class, we were transported via van to our nicely furnished apartment in

 Salt Lake where once again, we had a very rough night due to our sickliness. They provided Covid tests for us and we were all glad to learn it was "just the flu". It seems that as long as we are vertical we can get through the day, but as soon as we're horizontal, we can't stop the coughing.

This morning we got up and took a walk around downtown Salt Lake to familiarize ourselves with our new surroundings. It was strange to see for ourselves the building that used to look like the temple. Temple Square will not be the usual beautiful destination for the lights this year I guess but that's okay, we know they will find somewhere for us to contribute to the building of the Lord's kingdom while we are here I'm sure.

The best thing about today was being rescued by my sister Lolly! She lives here in Salt Lake so we called her this morning in duress and she came bearing blankets, heaters, humidifiers, slippers, sweatshirts, drugs and all the creature comforts for cold weather dwelling. What an angel!! She took us shopping at Costco on her membership, (and she wouldn't allow us to pay her either) and to Smith's, and the Dollar Store Now we don't feel quite like the refugee couple who landed here yesterday. We also were visited by a darling Sister Howell in our mission to orient us in all the computer apps we're going to need while we serve here. By the looks of it, we will probably be heavily involved in Family History work. Quite by coincidence, we also ran into another Visa-waiting couple in the hallway who are going to the India New Delhi mission in a Humanitarian capacity. They've been here two weeks and were told the wait is about 60 days. 

So that's really all there is to report. Sorry, I couldn't quite get the pictures in the right order to coordinate with the narrative this time.  But we will finish with a scripture that helps us remember that there will be times of adversity even when trying to do good, we just didn't think it would hit quite so soon, but it's comforting to know the Lord is aware of us and our needs and has provided angels along the way on both sides of the veil. Jacob 3:1 "But behold, i would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look into God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions..."