Mitchell, Pre-MIssion, Laredo

Elder McCrea departing the Laredo International Airport the day before he is to report to the Provo MTC.  Earlier in the day he was set apart as a missionary by the Texas McAllen Mission President.  He is no longer Mitchell but has the title of Elder and most if not all will address him as Elder McCrea.  His Brazilian visa unfortunately has still not arrived.

Mariah, Pre-Mission, Laredo

7:00 AM - Sis. McCrea departing Laredo International Airport on her way to reporting to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, UT.  We will not physically see her again until December 2014.

Mariah, Pre-Mission, Laredo

Mariah becomes Sister McCrea, as she is set apart as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Pre-Mission, Laredo

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Mariah goes to the San Antonio Temple with her mom and dad, to receive her personal endowment.  The next day, Mariah departs to McAllen, Texas for a mini-mission in the Texas McAllen Mission.

Pre-Mission, Laredo

February 2, 2013

The envelope containing her mission call arrives in the mail.  Less than 2 weeks since her mission papers were submitted advising all that she wanted to serve an 18 month full time mission.  But the big question is...Where has Mariah been called to?  Many guesses are out there. Some say Cleveland...or Michigan...or South America or someplace where Spanish is spoken.  Mariah is playing it coy...trying to control her emotions...but deep down inside she wants to serve someplace where she can further learn the Russian language.  And the answer is?  Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission, Russian speaking.   "Dne.... what?" is the refrain..."how do you pronounce that name?"  But ol Mariah to the rescue..."it is pronounced 'Dnepropetrovsk'" is her reply.  But where is it located?  A quick search finds this town at the confluence of two rivers, the Dnieper and Samara, close to the Black Sea, on the southern coast of Ukraine.  And then all is silent and all gasp....wow!