"I made it!"

Abby's first email sent to us from the England MTC on July 3, 2014

Hello everybody!!

Well, I made it! I'm here at the MTC and it is beautiful, England is just like the pictures, with all the green and the cute little cottages, but it is even more pretty in person! I miss all of you so much but its so pretty here I already dont want to come home. Everyone is so nice and there was someone waiting for us at the airport, they didnt forget about us. (I was secretly really worried we would be forgotten) Me, Elder McCumber and Elder Deaton flew out of Salt Lake together and we met up with Elder Law from Michigan in the Chicago Airport, the flight to Manchester was long, and I got some sleep, but not very much consecutively. Jet lag is gonna be rough but there are some cute sisters here that are learning german and they have taught us some tricks to help with the jet lag. After we got to the airport two other missionaries met up with us, one from ghana and one from south africa and we and about 12 other missionaries rode a big bus or "coach" as they call it here, to the MTC. We were met by the MTC mission president, his wife, and his counselors. One of his counselors, President Hansen is from Richmond, so I could tell him I was from River Heights and he actually knew what I was talking about! It was great. Today we are just doing orientation kind of stuff and then tomorrow we start learning. I still can't believe I'm actually here and that this is actually real. Also, the keyboards here and defs not the same so this is actually taking a lot longer than it should. And since I know some of you were worried, I'm doing completely fine without Instagram and I dont even miss it! ha :)

So I stink, and I'm gross, and I wanna take a shower! Which thankfully they let us in about a half hour after we get lunch. The mission presidents wife had to do a demonstration on how to make a bed when we first got here cause they said they have seen Elders manage pretty crazy things with the sheets! haha us sisters just sat there and laughed! She also had to explain what a duvae(ya i dont know how to spell that, so correct me if thats wrong) was to all the Elders haha it was actually quite funny! We got our tags too so I'm officially offical now! ;) They took our pictures individually and got our temple clothes sizes cause we get to do a sesson next wednesday! WAHOO! I'm so excited! I cant upload any pictures right now and I tried to in Chicago but I couldnt get a good wifi connection, so I will on our next p-day, except I dont know when that is so just watch your emails. And I know tomorrow is the 4th of July, so you better all better eat an extra hot dog and party a little harder since you know thats my favorite holiday. I will no doubt be wearing red, white, and blue. I will try to take a picture and send you one of that too. I will also send some pictures of the scenery cause you will die its so pretty! Like dad you better win the lottery cause we are coming back here! Actually dont gamble, but get lots of money ASAP! This is way better than California or anywhere else, I'm freezing and I still love it! Well, I should probably go but I want all of you to know that I know this is where I should be and I'm so thankful for the Lord and that he has blessed me enough that I can come here and that he has blessed me with all of you! I love and miss you all so much. I know this church is true and I cant wait to tell other people about its wonderfullness! (I dont think thats a word) I love you all and miss you all! Have a happy 4th and I'll email you again soon!

Peace out Girl Scouts.

Sister Wright

Tender Mercy 2 AND #dayhalf

Just a quick follow up on the sweet family we met while Abby was in line checking in her suitcase. Later in the afternoon while we were at D'd's house I got a text from a number I didn't recognize. I opened it and this is what I saw!!

The text read-

"She made it safe and sound to Chicago! My husband helped your daughter and 3 Elders along with a missionary couple past security and onto a shuttle and helped them get to the international terminal. They are waiting for the flight to Manchester"

What a tender mercy! It helped my aching heart feel a little better.

A couple of minutes later I got a call from Chicago!! I answered and heard Abby's sweet voice on the other end of the line. She told me the same story about the lady helping her and her husband getting them situated in the international terminal. She said she was doing great and had eaten lunch with the elders. She asked me to mail a couple of things she forgot, then she talked to Blake, Sophie and Livy (which helped heal two sisters' broken hearts.) I told her I had just realized that today, July 2nd, didn't even count toward her mission because she reports to the England MTC on the 3rd. She just laughed and said #dayhalf... she is so funny!

We LOVE her so much!! Hurry 18 months!

Is it really July 2nd already?

Is it really July 2nd? Boy the days have flown by since Abby got her mission call on April 2nd. Now the dreaded day we all knew was coming has arrived. We were supposed to leave the house by 6:30 a.m. but as usual, standard time in the Wright house, we pulled out at 7:00 a.m. in hopes of making it to  breakfast at Granny Annie's in Kaysville. You know me... one last picture or two!

Nano rode down to Salt Lake City with us so we transferred Sister Wright's luggage to Nan and Pop's car. Jen Weber rode with Nan and Pop. We caravanned to Kaysville. We met Card, Ardene, Darin, D'd, Hayden and Macy for breakfast. I was surprised that anyone had a appetite, but we ate what we could before heading to the airport.

We unloaded Sister Wright with help from Sophie and Nano and got her luggage inside the airport.

Once we got inside the airport we met up with Darin, D'd, Hayden, Macy, Livy, Card and Ardene.  Tonna and her girls met us at the airport, which made Sister Wright so happy!! It took several of us to help her get her luggage checked in.

After we got her boarding pass printed it was over to the scales. We were all so confident that both suitcases were under 50 pounds, but just in case Abby had marked each suitcase so we could take the heaviest things out. SURPRISE!!! Both suitcases were OVER the 50-pound limit by eight pounds? Interesting?! So with help from Nan, Blake, Jen, Nano and Sophie, we were able to get them to within a pound or so. Sister Wright was good with all the re-arranging that had to be done even with her carry on becoming so heavy... except she was sad to loose her shampoo and conditioner. After the suitcases were given the "heavy" tag and we were told to take them to be scanned, Nano asked for the shampoo and conditioner and unzipped each bag and put one in each bag. After that Abby took a deep breathe and was good to go! Nano saved the day! While we were adjusting the weight on her luggage a cute family asked where she was going; they had guessed she was a missionary. I told them England. The wife was so excited for Abby, then asked where she was flying to on this flight. I told her that this flight was taking Sister Wright to Chicago. She was so happy and said that that was the airport they were flying to. She said she would watch over and take care of Abby. What a tender mercy for us! Heavenly Father knows each of us individually!!

A group headed over to watch the bags be scanned to make sure they made it safe and sound to England.

After the luggage passed, we went to check on the flight to make sure it was on time. We also met up with Tonna, Clem and Busy.

We knew the time was coming to us to say goodbye. I HATE goodbye's and this was no exception. It was hard for all of us to take our turn to give her a hug and then watch as she walked through the security lines... then she was gone!

Rips your heart out!!! One last check to make sure she had all her flight info... then she was gone!

    

This was the last picture I got to take of this beautiful face for 18 months.