Post-MTC--July 24 to September 3, 2015

We so enjoyed the Mission Training Center experience--each day was filled with uplifting training and spiritual highs. We loved the Sunday and Tuesday night devotionals, mingling with the young Elders and Sisters, as well as the training and our camaraderie 
with the other senior missionaries. We met some amazing people and learned a lot about our calling and potential as missionaries.

We left the MTC on July 24th with heavy hearts--we knew that our visas to India had been delayed and that we had been reassigned to the Ogden Mission to serve in the Ogden Employment Resource Center for an undetermined period.

When we entered the MTC on July 13th we had already rented our house in Morgan, so when we were told that we were going to be "live at home" missionaries until our visas were approved, we did not know where we would live. We were essentially homeless senior missionaries!

While having lunch at the MTC one day, a senior couple--Elder and Sister Larson, who were on their way to central California as office missionaries--sat beside us and we talked about the usual stuff: where were we from, where were we going, our children and grandchildren. They asked if someone was living in our house and asked when we were flying out to India. We told them that we had rented our home and did not know when we were flying out because of the delay in our visa approval process and that we had been assigned as live at home missionaries until the visas were approved.  Elder Larson said, well, you are homeless! What are you going to do?  We said we don't know. Sister Larson said that her mom and dad lived in Harrisville and had a room we might be able to stay in.  We said, that's nice and thought it was small talk and that she was just being nice. The next day Elder Larson found us in the hallway and said "You're in!  Ken and Elaine Judd are expecting you to call them and make arrangements to come stay at their house!" 

Ken and Elaine Judd with Sister Newton

Brother and Sister Judd--both 91 years old--welcomed us with open arms.  We stayed with them for the next three weeks while we worked in the Ogden Employment Resource Center and Bishops' Storehouse. 

Bishops' Storehouse and Employment Resource Center

On Friday, August 14th we decided to do some work in the Pleasant View Church Peach Orchard. 


At 9:43 a.m.--while picking peaches--Larry's cell phone rang. It was from Jamie Steele at Church Travel. 

Larry hesitated 
answering 
it because he thought it was bad news 
regarding our visa approval. It turned out OUR VISAS WERE APPROVED--AND FOR TWO YEARS DURATION!!

Email from Church Travel to the Ogden Employment Center and President Berrett at the India Bangalore Mission notifying them "Visa Received! The Newton couple is booked on the next available date that the mission has available housing." That travel date turned out to be Friday, September 4, 2015. We left Salt Lake City at 6:05 a.m. and arrived in Bangalore at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

We gave thanks to our Heavenly Father right there in the orchard. Oh, happy day! We left the orchard, changed our clothes, and headed for Church Headquarters to pick up our passports with approved visas.

Elder Newton visiting with Elder Nathan Huggins at the Ogden Bishops' Storehouse.

Elder Steve Shaw, Sister Ellie Hitchcliff, Sister Newton and Elder Newton at the Ogden Bishops' Storehouse

On Saturday, August 15, 2015 we moved to the home of Keith and Theresa Wheatley in Clinton. We met Keith and Theresa at the Bishops' Storehouse when we worked with them as service missionaries one day per week. 
They took us in for the last three weeks before we left for India. 

We are so thankful for the support and love we have from our family.  Without it this mission would not have been possible. 

We love you!

Our goodbye dinner with the family.
Thursday night, September 3, 2015