June 29, 2010 - Ryan leaves for Brazil

The day started off with a call from Missionary Travel in Salt Lake City saying that they had accidentally refunded Ryan's ticket.  They rebooked him on a flight to Atlanta, instead of Dallas, that left an hour earlier.  Then he was going to take a later flight to Sao Paulo.  Luckily we were pretty much packed and had everything together.

These are a couple of quick pictures we took before we left for the airport.  This is the Brazil flag.

 This one is really light, but I had to take it quickly and didn't get a chance for another take.  It seems like we packed a lot more stuff for Pehrson and Tyson when they left.  Hope we didn't forget anything.

We get to the airport and Joel and Ryan go inside to get him checked in while Rachel and I go park the car.  Joel isn't scowling.  I just caught him by surprise.

Waiting in the airport to say goodbye.  

Time to say goodbye.

He got to Atlanta as scheduled and gave us a call.  There was another missionary and  the Temple President and his wife from the Sao Paulo Brazil Temple on his flight to Brazil.

He called a little while later to say that the flight to Sao Paulo was delayed.  Come to find out, they ended up delaying the flight until 8:00 am Wednesday, June 30. The airlines did give them a voucher for a hotel, but it was so late at night and since they would have to be back early in the morning, they all decided to just stay at the airport for the night.

He called in the morning saying that he didn't get much sleep but finally were boarding  the plane.  It left around 8:20 am, Wednesday morning.  

What a day!!!!

June 28, 2010 - Ryan becomes a missionary

Monday, June 28, 2010, Ryan was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by our Stake President, Gordon Bean.  The blessing he gave Ryan truly came from the Lord.  It was such a wonderful evening.

June 23, 2010 - VISA!!!!!!

We have been waiting to hear whether or not Ryan would get his Visa or if he would have to go to Provo, Utah MTC until his Visa came through.  Well, the call came from Salt Lake saying that his Visa was in and that they would overnight it to us.

The next day, June 23rd, it came!!!  Yeah!!!  Now he can go as scheduled.

The coolest thing that came with the Visa is his missionary name tag!!!  He was so excited to get it.

June 20, 2010 - Ryan's Sacrament Talk

On Father's Day, June 20, 2010, Ryan gave his "farewell" talk in Sacrament meeting.  He spoke about "Putting on the Whole Armor of God".  He did a wonderful job. The Spirit was so strong while he spoke.  Kelli and the kids were able to fly in on the Friday before.  Grandma and Grandpa Allen were finally able to fly in on Saturday night.  They tried Friday afternoon and evening, but were not able to get on a flight.  Luckily they were able to come in on Saturday.  Sunday night, Steve flew in.  It was so nice to have family here with us.

Pehrson and Kate weren't able to be there.  Tyson couldn't be there either, but he was able to fly in the week before and spend a few days at home with us.

March 18, 2010 - Draper Temple

On Thursday, March 18, 2010, Ryan went through the Draper, Utah Temple.  He was so excited to be able to go.  Mom, Dad, and Rachel came to Utah for Spring Break.  We had visited with Kenneth and Edee for a little bit and were now at Grandma and Grandpa Allen's home.  Pehrson and Kate drove the night before and were able to be there with all of us.

Ryan and Dad went to the temple early to get everything done before the rest of us came.

Those who were able to be there were Mom, Dad, Pehrson, Kate, Tyson, Grandpa and Grandma Allen, Edee Raines, Lauren and Jake Roundy, Lisa and Phil Davis, Pyper and David Monte, and Joe Anderson.  It was so nice to have so much of our family there.  It was a very special evening.

March 3, 2010 - Ryan got his call!!

On Wednesday, March 3, 2010, Ryan received his white envelope in the mail.  He held on to until that evening.  He went to Grandma and Grandpa Allen's house to open it.  

Kenneth, Edee, Lauren, Jake, Scott, Caroline and Margaret were there.  Tyson and his roommate, Joe, were there.  Ryan's roommate, Josh, and Elina, Annie LeSueur and Jason Kimball were there, too.  It was a big assembly!  haha  We set up the webcam with Pehrson and Kate in California and Mom and Dad and Rachel in Oklahoma so that we could all see and be there with everyone.

Ryan opened his envelope and he is called to the Brazil Ribeirao Preto Mission.  He reports to the Brazil MTC (or CTM) on June 30, 2010.  He will be speaking the Portuguese language.