QUARANTINE

 Scotland has strict rules about new arrivals having to be in quarantine for ten days after entering the country. They require a negative COVID test within 48 hours of boarding the plane to travel here, another one two days after arriving, and a third one on the eightth day.  We are on our seventh day so far! 

The flat is nice, and it's fairly big, and we have a pretty view, so it's not terrible being cooped up inside all day. However, knowing there is so much to see and do makes it kind of frustrating. We have to find creative ways to get our 10,000 steps in each day, and it's not nearly as much fun jogging in place inside as it is to walk outside! 

The weather has been pretty mild this week. The temperatures were in the 70's for the first few days, which feels warm. but the past few days have been cooler with some rain. I like this so much better than the hot summer at home!

The zone leaders who came by for a visit the other day said that most of the people they find who are interested in the church are young adults, so we will be involved in working with them and helping get them involved with the YSA's. 

Masks are still required here, except for outside, but looks like it's still going on in California too. 

We are excited to get out, and I'll have more to share when that happens!

ARRIVAL IN SCOTLAND

We left home early Thursday, July 22nd, and our friends, the Montagues, were kind enough to take us to the Ontario Airport. We were relieved when we found out we wouldn't have to depart from LAX. No one likes to drive there!

We arrived in Edinburgh at 11:30 a.m. on July 23rd, and the new mission president, President McCrudden, picked us up and brought us to our flat, so we got to see a little bit of the city on the way here. Since then, we have been confined to the apartment, quarantined for ten days. That's giving us time to get settled and adjust to the time difference. It gets light about 4:00 a.m. though, and we don't have black-out curtains yet!

One of the office sisters brought us some groceries the first day, but we will need to order groceries for the remainder of our isolation. The zone leaders came by yesterday for a visit, and we had a zone meeting by zoom this afternoon. Being a full-time missionary hasn't quite sunk in for me yet, but when I go out with the name tag on I am very conscious of it! We met some elders on our flight, sitting nearby, and I felt kind of maternal toward them, in a little different way than I did with missionaries at home. 

Our flat is very nice. It has a fairly large kitchen and dining area, living room, and three bedrooms, as well as a nice patio/deck close to the dining area. The mission provides a larger place for us so we can have the Young Adults over for meals sometimes and activities. Although most activities are held at the church, we have room for entertaining here when needed, or to have a small group over for dinner.       

Sister Harmer, who was here with her husband before us, left things very organized, with lots of helpful information for us. There is a box of recipes labeled "Feed My Sheep'", so I have an idea we'll be doing some cooking for the young people.

The weather is beautiful, so far, warmer than normal for here, but rain and cooler temperatures are expected later this week. 

We had to give ourselves COVID tests this morning, and the directions indicated that we could deliver them to the nearest mail box, so we went out for a little walk to do that. We discovered that we are situated right next to a sports complex. There were soccer games going on when we walked by today. 

We are studying some driving information with several pages of traffic signs to learn. One said "zebra crossing," but it's really just a cross walk! We will receive a little driving instruction before venturing out on our own, driving on the left side of the road. 

Mission Training at Home

For our first week of Mission Training at home, we met by zoom with our MTC teacher, a young returned missionary, and four other senior couples. We studied Preach My Gospel, mostly by group discussion, but we also paired up with other couples in break-out rooms. We had a chance to get to know each other and practice some of the skills we were learning. 

This was my first time participating in a zoom class, and I thought it was pretty effective, and a lot easier than going to the MTC in person.

We have a few more days of training this week before we leave, but with a different teacher, class members, and topic. 

Farewell

On Sunday, July 11, we were asked to speak in church, and some of our Tongan friends gave us these special leis. We felt very loved!

Our daughter, Carly, is a great cake decorator, and made us this cake desiged as the Scottish flag. Everyone who ate a piece had blue lips for awhile afterward!

Carly's and Katy's families came to Sacrament Meeting with us, so we took a few pictures. This is Carly and Katy with Katy's dauaghter, Addy.

Bella and Lilly were born just weeks apart, and they loved having a chance to see each other.

We all squeezed into the Stake President's office, where Charles and I were set apart. 

 We have some very tall grandsons! This is Hunter Ellsworth and Evan Fife.