Breinholt's...Mission to Kentucky: Learning The Ropes...

Well...as of Thursday we've been "on our own". We said goodbye to the Boettchers who had been in the GKLM for 18 months. Sister Boettcher was the mission nurse and Elder Boettcher was helping with the cars. I was concerned about losing my safety net but have found there are a lot of resources to call on if I need to.

Don is learning all about the cars in the mission. They each have what is called a TIWI (which he keeps calling a kiwi) that keeps track of mileage, any accidents, speeding (like the one missionary who decided it would be "fun" to get the car up to 90, and no longer has driving privileges!), etc. We are also getting 16 new cars that he needs to trade out with the higher mileage ones in use now. By "higher mileage", I mean about 50,000 miles. Then the church makes sure they're in excellent condition and sells them.

We serve from 8-5 Monday-Friday. Although I have a phone with me and get calls all hours. I've been driving everywhere because Don still has his "small-town So. Utah" driving mentality...but he's learning. Actually drove some last night and to church today
The Boettchers

Speaking of church, our ward is more like a branch. Don and I go to the Gospel Principles class with the new members and investigators. We have one set of Elders and One set of Sisters in this ward, as of now. That could change with transfers on Apr.1. There were two investigators today, a man from the Congo, and another man, and one newly baptized sister, names Kansas, who is 20. I think I counted about 4 primary-aged children and maybe 6 young men and women. Quite a difference from our ward in Utah! We are speaking in church in 2 weeks.

Our apartment is comfortable. We have two bedrooms and they are getting us a king-sized bed to replace the queen-size one we have. We will put that one in the second bedroom for guests (hint)! and I am also using that for my "sewing room" although I haven't gotten the machine out yet.

Our P-Day is on Saturday. We do our grocery shopping on that day and anything else we need, or want, to do. President Brough said, "I want you to go, and see as much as you want while you're here". So...yesterday we went to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum, P.S. Mike and Angie the standing-room only center section of the track is only $60 per person!! It was really interesting...even if I did get 3 phone calls while there. Then, since today is our anniversary, we went to dinner last night.

We get to see the missionaries quite often as they stop by the mission office. Their enthusiasm is infectious and we love being around them, getting to know them, and taking their pictures to post for their mothers. What a great cross-section of the Lord's finest! I am looking forward to the next 17 months (can't believe one month has come and gone already!).