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, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia

June 4 - 12, 2013

Mariah and Mitchell took part in their final get together before they both depart on their missions.  They traveled over 4000 miles, visiting the Church history sites in Kirkland, Ohio and Palmyra, New York.  They also took the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls, New York City, as well as Hershey, PA.

On the way...

LDS Church Historic Site - Kirkland, OH 

Amish Area - Ohio

Smith Farm House - Palmyra, NY

Sacred Grove - Palmyra, NY

Grandin Building, Downtown Palmyra, NY; Where 1st Edition of Book of Mormon was published in 1830.

Times Square, New York City, NY

Lego Store, Manhattan,  New York City, NY

Hershey Factory, Hershey, PA

Pre-Mission, Salt Lake City, UT

Mariah and mom went to Utah to pick Mitchell up from BYU-Provo at the end of his last semester before they start their missions.  While there, the three of them went to the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple to participate in a live endowment.  The Salt Lake City, Utah is the only remaining LDS temple where the temple endowment ceremony is provided by live performers.  And on their way home, Mariah, Mitchell and mom visited the Church history sites in Liberty and Independence, MO.  Now they can tell their investigators in the far Ukraine and Brazil,where they will be serving their missions, what these sacred sites are like.

Pre-Mission, Salt Lake City, UT

Mariah and Mitchell had the chance to go to Salt Lake City, UT to go to the temple with their cousin Chantelle McCrea, as she was receiving her endowment for the first time.  She too has received a full time mission call to the Georgia Atlanta Mission.  The next two days, the three of them attended General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Pre-Mission, San Antonio, TX

Mitchell and his family spent 3 days in San Antonio so that Mitchell could receive his own endowment and then experience and participate in the different ordinances of a Latter-day Saint temple.  Thursday night he received his personal endowment.  Friday evening saw him performing baptisms for some of his ancestors as well as doing some initiatory ordinances.  And Saturday saw him and his family back at the temple doing endowments and sealings for some of his diseased ancestors.  All together it was a memorable three days that we will all remember.

Pre-Mission, Provo

Thursday, March 7, 2013, 9:00 PM MST

And the answer is.......Well, you'll have to watch the video to find out..

Pre-Mission, Provo, UT

Thursday, March 7, 2013

The day and time has arrived.  Mitchell's mission call arrived in the mail today.  And look at his face.  No idea what to think...just a face of plain nervousness...The envelope will be opened at 9:00 PM MST tonight.

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Pre-Mission, Provo, UT

Monday, February 25, 2013

Mitchell has started a Facebook page entitled "Mitchell McCrea is going on a LDS Mission!  Guess Where?"  He sent in his paperwork to LDS Church headquarters the previous Wednesday, February 20, 2013.  Usually mission calls (assignments) are returned within two weeks.  Guesses on the Facebook site as to where people think Mitchell will be called are numerous...Idaho, Pakistan, North Dakota, Honduras, Nebraska, Iowa, New York City, Texas, Scotland, Ireland, Missouri, Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile, North Carolina, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Japan, India, Portugal, Montana, Peru, California, Oregon, Finland, Germany, The Congo, Ukraine, England, Argentina, Virginia, Oklahoma...and even the Moon.  And a couple of people suggested Brazil....

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!