San Diego Airport pictures and Arrival email from the President of the Santiago MTC

January 28, 2014

Getting ready to leave for Chile

KK feeling emotional

Had to take bottle of shampoo out of suitcase....too heavy

heading through security

last view of our missionary

Sister Doll and I are writing to let you know that your missionary arrived as the Chile MTC today (Thursday, 5:30p).  It has been quite an ordeal for them.  They’ll have some interesting stories to share with you of their adventures since they last saw you on Tuesday.  They arrived very worn out but excited to tell about what had happened.  We immediately got them checked in, took them to the MTC cafeteria for lots of good Chilean food, and most have now hit the showers and bed.  Most elected to not e-mail home until Friday so be patient.  I’m sure they’ll give you details.  In couple of cases some luggage has not yet arrived but the travel office people are working on it.
 

I can assure you that the MTC here was in constant contact with Missionary Travel throughout the ordeal.  The flights out of Atlanta were so backed up that the airlines just had trouble getting everyone to their destinations and they didn’t give us much information.  It’s interesting how just three inches of snow in the wrong place and at the wrong time can create so many problems. 
 

This has been a bit of an adventure for Sister Doll and me.  We only arrived in Santiago eight days ago to begin our two-year assignment at the MTC.  This was our first group of new missionaries.  So, nothing went according to what we’d planned for and expected.  Fortunately, the office staff tells us this has rarely happened before and probably won’t happen again.
 

We want to let you know that we’re excited to help your missionary get a fantastic start on his or her experience in Chile.  This is truly one of the best MTCs in the world and I know you’re going to get wonderful reports over the next six weeks.  There are 68 missionaries here right now – a mixture of Latinos and North Americans.  We love them each, and we’ll love your missionary.
 

Let me know if you have questions.

………………………….

President Sherman L. Doll

Chile Missionary Training Center