First area...Sevierville, TN - March 12, 2013

Jordann left the MTC March 12 bound for Knoxville, TN, but not before calling us from the airport. We got to talk to her and hear how excited she was to go to the mission field and meet her new mission president and his wife. She had lots of thoughts, where was her first area, who would her companion be, what is it going to be like there...etc. There was not a doubt in her mind she was doing the right thing by serving Heavenly Father. She had learned a lot in the MTC and was now ready to go and teach.

Arriving at the airport she was greeted by President and Sister Irion who are from Salt Lake. They went to the mission home for dinner and the first night stay.

There was excitement as they filled out paperwork, had a little devotional, and found out who their companion was and where their "birth area" was going to be. She is serving in the Seviereville ward. The area is by Dollywood and Dolly Parton is portrayed all over, even a statue by city hall. It also covers Pigeon Forge and Smokey Mountain National Forest. Her companion is Sister Malloy who was a roommate at the MTC. They have a trainer who is Sister Hollis, and also from California.

They left their things at their first apartment and started right off tracting. The first door they knocked on got no answer. The second door was shut in their face after they explained who they were. The trainer insisted they go back and walked in. Much to the new sisters' surprise after hearing yelling inside they were introduced to the young men president and his wife. Just a a little initiation, and enjoyed their first dinner there. Because of the number of Spanish speaking people in the area and in the ward, Jordann was encouraged to learn Spanish so she will get to learn a language after all, along with the way they speak English there. They are working with six investigators already and when a newly baptized older woman, who she described as stubborn, found out Jordann loves to sing she insisted Jordann sing the hymns to her every time they are Her talents will come in handy as she is able to break the ice and make others comfortable around them.

In Jordann's words from her last letter, "Every moment I am here I am learning more. The Doctrine is different every time in how I teach it because each day and each person brings out something different. I have noticed that trusting in the Lord is essential because I not only need my two companions in the flesh but the companionship of the spirit. This requires faith which does not seem to be in short supply in the south but I have been truly humbled. Alma 32:21 "And now as I said concerning faith- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

It's time to go...February 27, 2013

The long awaited time has finally come. It was a shorter wait than some have, but the excitement made it seem longer. Everything was packed...well almost everything, and so we started down the road. A lot of thoughts were going on in all of our heads as we were wondering what was in store. Who was Jordann's companion going to be, was she going to eat well, etc. After a stop at Wendy's so Jordann could have a bacon cheeseburger and chili cheese fries, although I'm not sure why she chose that combination, we finished our trek to the MTC. We shortly arrived and what an amazing site to see! The sidewalk was full of elders saying hello in all different languages waving as we drove down the driveway to the designated stop. As we got out of the car to get Jordann's suitcases, we were told we had about two minutes. WOW that was a quick two minutes! Just enough time to snap a few pictures and give hugs to all. The elders took her bags, and she followed them up to the doors but not without turning around to give one last wave with a great smile on her face that the time was finally here to start her next journey.