Jake Leaving and first e-mail...

Well Jake is now at the MTC in Argentina learning Spanish. It was an emotional day taking him to the airport and sending him on his way. It was his first real time flying so he was indoctrinated really good. It was around 4 hours to Dallas with a 3 hour plus lay over. Then it was an 11 plus flight to the Argentina airport. We found Dan Winterbottom (Sheila's husband) just before reaching the counter. He was in his bright blue uniform looking all official. He is very willing to help us out so that was great. Both of his check in luggage was under 50 lbs so that luggage scale Shay purchased was a great investment. They didn't charge us for the second checked luggage so that was awesome and they really didn't look at the weight. There was no line at the check in so that was smooth and fast. When we gave his luggage to the TSA agents one of them served in the same mission as Jake so they chatted for a while and I think that helped. He told Jake it was the best time and he will love it. After that because everything went so smooth we had about an hour to hang out before he had to get in line. Not to long after sitting around another Elder showed up going to the same Mission. His name was Elder Duke from Eagle Mountain. His family was very large and he was their first missionary out of their family. They were very friendly and we took pictures together. I think that helped Jake too meeting someone who was going to the same mission. They told us there was a third missionary but she was having issues at check in because her luggage was to heavy. She was Tongan and her family was huge. They were all crying and she was crying through the first part of the line. We didn't chat with her nor her family because we barely had time to get a picture with all three before they got in line. The Duke family we had a while to chat with. Steve, Janeel and my Mother were also at the airport wishing Jake on his way. That was very nice of them. On a side note my Mother's eye surgery went very well and she can now see out of both eyes.

Just after checking his luggage...

Jake walking away to get in line...

Dan took this picture for us on his phone to let us know that Jake made it to the gate since we could not go back there. That is Elder Duke sitting in the back ground.

This is our first care package to him and we hope it makes it to him.

We were concerned that he made it okay and this is Jake's e-mail to us letting us know everything was okay. We can tell he is really tired when he wrote this. We would like to thank everyone for their support in the many ways they have shown it. Jake was also very thankful to everyone who gave their support and wished him well.

"hey! i found out that p day is on thursday so i can write you. i love you all! the plane ride waws so long it was like 3 hours to dallas then another 11 to argentina. and because im so big i was jammed in so tight. and its hot here too!i keep sweating and cant stop and it refuses to dry. one sister missionary lost all of her documents in the dallas airport, and she was about to be in for some trouble but at the lat moment someone came aboard the plane and gave it to her. its just been a long day. but they say missions are like toliet paper at first its slow but then it starts to go faster. how are things back home. have you cried yet? everything is so scary and strang here. i dont knoow what to do yet and everybody speaks spanish even the other misionaries who are from america. and bunos aires is beautiful. the capitol city is all tres and so green. it was beautiful. i forgot to take pictures though sorry. i just had my interview with the president and his wife. they just wanted to get to know me. did i mention i love you all. and i dont have a companion yet he was suppost to come with our group, which there were seven, but he didnt and i overheard one of the assistants say he had medical problems. oh and the presidents wife who is sister george said NO BOXES make it to the MTC but she said that padded envelopes do. so that is how you can send things if you want. and i think my 30 minuets are about to be up so keep me in your prayers. i love you all!!

love jake."