Friday, September 22, 2017 – We have arrived!

Today’s drive was again so beautiful.  The countryside was covered with leafy deciduous trees all bunched together and interrupted now and then by green meadows and small tidy farms.  Fall officially began about 4:02 this afternoon, and Mother Nature’s pallet is already spreading its autumn glory through the foliage.

We arrived in Washington DC about 2:30 p.m. after only one freeway construction hold-up where we advanced two miles in about 45 minutes.  Our prayers for the proper functioning of our car were answered and it experienced no other incidences since our prayers yesterday.  We feel very blessed and recognize many tender mercies on our behalf since we left home.  There is a feeling that comes over you when you are set apart as a missionary and you can see the Lord’s hand in your life and feel at peace. 

We were met in the parking lot by sweet missionary couples who helped us unload our car.  Luckily, our apartment is on the bottom floor so it wasn’t too taxing for these kind seniors.  People just kept coming and when they finished, several said, “Is that all?”  I said that we had been encouraged not to bring too much “stuff.”  So, we complied!  I think we have enough for six months, however.  Our winter trips to St. George initiated us as to how little it takes to live.  I did manage to bring my sewing machine, a three foot by two foot cutting mat, a large acrylic sewing machine accessory, a bag full of Fall fabric, and all the usual tools and notions. 😊

The apartment building is old but spacious (except for the small bathroom) and stocked with necessities.  We have Internet service and air conditioning so we are set!!  The view from our large living room windows/patio doors looks out on a pretty green yard with trees and plants that will soon be changing colors and dropping leaves.

View out our back windows and patio doors. 

The front of our apartment building

Our host couple had put fresh fruit in a bowl in the kitchen, clean linen on the beds, groceries on the counter, and milk and sandwich meat in the fridge.   They brought us a meal of chili and cornbread and then showed us how to get to the Safeway grocery store, the stake center where we will attend church, and the temple.  The temple—the 3^rd largest in the world—is spectacular and the grounds are beautiful.  Its appearance is stunning!

We put a few things away and were just starting some laundry after our ninth day away from home, when there was another knock on our door with an invitation to a surprise birthday party for one of the missionaries.  Glade went in his Star Wars PJ bottoms, but it was a fairly casual get-together and we met lots of people including a couple from Jeff and Emi’s ward in Salem.  It was a delightful, welcoming, and very friendly group.  It has been a great beginning!