We are official

Even though my blogs are out of sync, this was a meaningful day for us and I want to record it.

We arrived at the MTC in the morning.  The instructions said between 10-11 am.   Paige and Eric and family drove us to Provo.  When we drove up the kind gentlemen took us into the main lobby where the first thing we did was get our missionary name tags.  I started crying, of course.  It was a great moment.  Then back to the car and a short ride to the senior entrance.  After a quick goodbye to  Paige and family, we were whisked into missionary life.  Our senior accommodations at the MTC are excellent.  My bed here is better than my bed at home.  The meals are carb-packed, and I am glad that I am leaving soon so I won't gain the Freshman Fifteen, but honestly I can see how it happens.  That is all for tonight.  We are so tired.  We get up very early, work all day, go to bed too late, and start all over again the next day.  I love it.

Claremont reunion in Kaysville

Paige and Eric hosted a reunion and farewell for us at their home in Kaysville. Our family and many friends who used to live in Claremont came to wish us well.  My only regret was that I kept forgetting to take pictures, so this represents but a few.

Where in the World?

The map at the MTC is huge.  It is fun to watch all the excitement as missionaries take their  pictures pointing to their assigned missions, just like we are doing.  There are about 35 couples and single sisters in our senior missionary group.  Some are going to the states, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, England, Germany and Hungary.  The lady going to Hungary signed up to go on a visitor's center mission, but they called her and asked if she would go to Hungary instead to take the place of a lady who is coming home due to illness.  She doesn't speak Hungarian, but it happens that all of her mother's family comes from there.  She is about 70 years old and spunky.  Another lady in our district went to the same high school that I did in Long Beach, and took from the same piano teacher!  Small, wonderful world.

Largest Wave

Maybe someday Ron and I will have to time to go to Nazare and see the big surf.  Largest Wave

Our Villa

We will live in this home which is called a villa (what??? a villa?, wow) ten minutes from the center of town.  Our new missionary friends, Larry and Paula Rose from Bountiful, Utah, have spent hours searching for apartments for us.  They happened onto this beautiful single family home which is in our price range.  We think that we will be VERY happy here.  Thank you Larry and Paula!

Location, location

Map of Olhao and regions round about.

Olhao, Portugal

On a Mission

We are Ron and Shanon Sommer and we are serving a mission in Portugal for 23 months for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Our first .area is  the Algarve, which is located along the southern coast of the country.  There are 6 branches in this district. We will be living in a city called Olhao.  We are excited for this experience and hope that we will be instruments in the hands of the Lord in furthering the work.  Our mission officially begins on February 18 when we check into the MTC in Provo.  We will be in Portugal on March 1, 2013.