The Time to Travel is Here

I feel like it has been such a long time since I have written. Things have been going very well for Craig and his 13 Greece Athens Mission buddies. They have been working incredibly hard to continue to perfect their Greek and their teaching style. Six of the fourteen were stricken with Influenza A two weeks ago and were quarantined from the remainder of the MTC. Craig was unfortunately one of those who was ill. If you have never had true influenza you cannot appreciate how terrible it makes one feel. Total body aches, fever, cough, congestion, headaches, the whole nine yards. Craig said they were all on medications and symptomatic treatment to be well for travel. Thankfully all have now recuperated and are ready for the trip.

The day of departure is Tuesday, October 16. They are expected to arrive in Atlanta on Tuesday at 2:10pm from Salt Lake City and they depart at 4:50pm on a direct flight to Athens. They will arrive in Athens at 10:50am local time on Wednesday, October 17, which will be 3:50am here. The truly wonderful part abut all of this is that Craig may be allowed to call home while waiting around in the airport on Tuesday! I cannot tell you how excited I am to talk with him and hear his voice! I am planning to be here at home anxiously waiting for the phone to ring. He cannot be sure until that day if he will be permitted to call but all indications are that he should be allowed.

I cannot tell you the peace that I feel about his mission and the journey he is about to take. His love of God and his love of the Church just radiates from him. Craig is so anxious to share his testimony with the people of Greece and I know that the Lord is preparing someone, or perhaps many people, to receive the message of His love. I tell Craig all the time what a wonderful missionary he is going to be, and I know this not only in my heart, but in the reassurances that I get every time I pray. The peace that comes over me, it just can't be described, it is beautiful.

I promise not to wait so long in between posts from this point forward. I know there will be many new and exciting stories to tell about life in Greece, the people, the country, his new companion, and I can't wait to share it all with each of you! I have posted Craig's new address, which is the main mission address and they will forward his mail. Once he is settled in an area, he may have a local address that can be used also, but that will change each time he is transferred, so I will keep updating as necessary! Thank you again for all of the wonderful letters and e-mails of support you have sent Craig, and for your prayers of love, comfort, and support. They mean more than you will every know!

Love from here!
Craig's Family