The Jutland Peninsula

Brian is serving in Esbjerg an old fishing harbor in the southwestern coast of Jutland. The area population is about 80,000 and Esbjerg is the fifth largest city in Denmark. They have no bikes or car, so rely on public transportation. Richard's family is from Hjorring which is at the northern tip of the Jutland peninsula.

Brian reports, "Wow, it is cold here. I thought I was going to die as we walked around Copenhagen that first day. Everything is going great here, I am so excited to be here, but I am still scared out of my mind. I don't understand much of what people are saying, so I am pretty quiet in our appointments... The hardest thing about learning Danish here is that everyone speaks English. In our ward here there is only about five people who don't speak English."

According to Brian President Andersen and his family are "the best in the world." And no wonder...Sister Andersen serves slices of chocolate on rolls for breakfast! While in Copenhagen, Brian was able to see Swedan. He said the ocean was freezing on the edges and that sometimes it freezes all the way between the two countries.

Elder Nielsen, Brian's companion, is from Iowa. He spent two years prior to his mission in Germany. He happens to have a girlfriend from before his mission who lives in the Copenhagen area, so he is banished to the Jutland peninsula.

Elder Nielsen writes about Brian, "His ambition and courage has been a very useful asset to your missionary work. He has drive and works hard and sharing testimonies that are personal and touching. His skills as a missionary have progressed leaps and bounds within a short period of time. That also goes for his language skills. His good attitude and sense of humor have already begun to win the hearts of many members."

Warms a Mother's Heart

Still don't know where Brian has been assigned for his first area. But thanks to a very nice couple who sent the following message and this picture, we know he is being fed.




Dear parents.

Yesterday we had Elder Nielsen and Elder Bailey to dinner and thought that it could be nice for you to have a photo. Elder Bailey has just arrived to Denmark. We admire the missionaries and the work they do here in Denmark. It is no always easy. They are both wonderful young men. Thank you for sending them here on mission. We have a gradson on mission in Ogden and our thoughts go to him when we see the missionaries here.

We send you our best Christmas greetings.

Tracting in Denmark

I recieved a generic e-mail along with this photo from the mission office letting me know that Brian arrived in Denmark. The photo is assurance since the e-mail just said "your missionary." We got to talk to Brian on Monday during his layover in NYC. It was good to hear his voice and his excitement, though he was pretty stressed about the travel. He has not had much flying experience and he was the travel leader.

Since Brian wasn't able to email last week he caught us up on his last week at the MTC. He got in one more trip to Costco and the Dr's office, a final Sunday devotional sitting with Matt and a memorable Thanksgiving...MTC style. Thanksgiving day begain with an "awesome" devotional with Elder Holland. They were served dinner at 11:30 a.m. (by some very nice people I might add). Then they worked on their humanitarian project all afternoon (school kits). Brain and his companion were leaders for this project and featured in the instructional video. Brian says he is going down in MTC history as this video will be used for years to come...

Brian also told us what was on the agenda after arrival in Denmark. They were met in the Copenhagen airport by the mission president and the APs. Then the APs took them downtown to tract for an hour (with their MTC companion)...with no sleep I might add, it is now Tuesday in Copenhagen. Brian was actually very excited about this. He did speak a little Danish to us over the phone...it sounded more like Tongan to me, but what do I know. Finally, they would go on to the mission home to spend their first night. Wednesday they would be picked up by their trainers and travel to their assigned areas. So right now, Brian is probably settling in for his first night in some mystery location in Denmark. I guess we will learn more next Monday (P-day).

Elder Bailey Update

Brian is in his eigth week at the MTC and has just over a week before departing for Denmark. His letters testify that he has been busy learning and preparing. He can now teach the first lesson in Danish. He reports each week on the devotional speakers...in the last four weeks he has been taught by Elder Nelson, Elder Scott, Elder Ballard and Elder Bednar.



After being in the MTC for four weeks, Brian lamented not venturing more than a 1/2 mile from his bedroom in a month (and that was a walk to the temple). Then the next week he told crazy stories about driving around Provo and Orem, past Glenwood, a detour past Janelle's place, to the Riverwoods and Costco! Apparently his companion was having headaches and they went to the Riverwoods Medical Center for an MRI then to Costco for a prescription. Brian reports, "Good news, my companion is completely normal, or so the MRI says." As many of you know Brian LOVES Costco. I will post the account of this adventure in his own words.


"It was awesome, we just chilled at Costco for like fifteen minutes...it was amazing how excited we were for it and how jealous everyone else was when we told them we had gone. I don't think Costco has had such good samples as they did on Monday. All the sample ladies would be like, 'Take as many as you want Elders.' Everyone wanted to know where we were going and where we were from. Going on a mission to Utah would be a completely different experience. Nick you told me about the first day you realized you were on your mission, you said you were eating breakfast one day and it just hit you. Well, I had an experience like that at Costco. As we were leaving the store a mom with her two little girls said, 'Say Hi to the missionaries girls.' It took me a minute to realize she was talking to me. It was fun to say 'Hi' and have everyone so interested in us. It was wierd being outside of the MTC, you have to be really cafeful of what you say and do. There are more than just missionaries that will hear your conversation. Oh yeah, and I held the door open for this lady and I am pretty sure she is going to get baptized..."


Brian has also told us a little more about his mission. There are 7 missionaries in the MTC going to the Denmark Copenhagen Mission. Brian is one of the four missionaries actually going to Denmark and learning Danish, the other three are going to Iceland and learning Icelandic! Brian is thrilled with the Denmark assignment. Brian reports that Cheetos are illegal in Denmark but that "smoking weed is generally accepted." I'm not suggesting what you should send in packages...but I thought you should be informed. According to the MTC rummormill, Denmark is the second most expensive mission...the first being Norway. Brian thanked his sibblings for "helping pay for his mission."



Brian has had the opportunity to see many familiar faces while in the MTC. Most notably his cousin Matt who is learning Spanish and is going to the Arizona Tucson Mission. Brian tries to sit by Matt during the Sunday evening devotionals and says it is "almost like being back home for a couple of hours." Brian has also seen Jared Martin, a good buddy from nursery through cubs. Jared is going to Brazil.


Brian will be leaving for Denmark just after Thanksgiving. His mission address is:


Elder Brian Richard Bailey
Denmark Copenhagen Mission
Borupes Alle 128, 1 tv
2000 Fredricksburg
Denmark

Our Other Missionary

Sis. Bailey will be leaving for the Brazil Sao Paulo East mission on January 26th. She graduates from BYU in December, and then will spend a few weeks with us! Janelle is speaking in K Falls on January 16th, we'd love to have you join us for the weekend.

Hvordan gor det?

Brian began his email this week with a little proof that he is learning the language. He adds, "The language is going good but it can be so frustrating, sometimes I feel like I am so far behind." When I typed "Hvordan gor det?" into Google, I got "How are you? in Norwegian." Maybe someone should tell Brian he is attending the wrong language classes!

Brian has now been in the MTC two weeks. He says, "It is so wierd it feels like I have been here forever especially because we are zone leaders. All then new missionaries ask us questions like we know everything. As you can imagine, I'm pretty good at acting like I know everything."

It seems that Brian is still enjoying his time at the MTC. He writes, "This week's Tuesday devotional was given by Bishop Edgley, it was very good. I also got to watch a past devotional of Elder Holland, it was so cool and made me pumped about being on a mission."

We Got Mail!

Our first message from Brian arrived yesterday, oh happy day!

He writes...

"I LOVE THE MTC! I can't believe it has only been one week, I feel like I have been here for a year. I have already grown so much, my companion and I have been called as the zone leaders. I feel like we are already the old missionaries on the block."

"The food is really good here and yes we did get to eat spaghetti one night (it wasn't as good as home)."

"It is wierd I still can't eat as much as I used to, I think that is so the MTC can save money."

I'm not surprised that Brian loves the MTC. It's his kind of place...well organized, lots of great people and everything you need right there for you (including lots of food).

I will continue to post excerpts from his weekly letters here. Brian's address while in the MTC is:

Elder Brian Richard Bailey
MTC Mailbox # 122
DEN-COP 1130
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

WANTED: New Hunting Partner

Richard has been mourning the loss of his hunting buddies for over a year now. Finally, I decided to apply for the position. Last weekend he agreed to a trial, since he had no other applicants for the dear hunt in the Steens Mountains in Eastern Oregon (just north of Denio).


It started off great. Friday afternoon we drove the four hours from Klamath then backpacked in four miles, arriving at our destination just in time to set up camp in the dark. It was a lovely evening...unseasonably warm. The wide open spaces perfect for star gazing. I actually wondered aloud why I'd stayed home all these years.


It wasn't hard to rise before dawn since we had both rotated all night long trying to find a comfortable position. There was no time for breakfast...just a granola bar as we headed up the trail in the dark! We must be in position before dawn rises over the east mountains. Our best chance is at first light, I am told. With well placed steps, I followed up the sagebrush covered mount. Each time I stopped to catch my breath, I was told to "glass those hills!" Apparently, that was part of my job description as carrier of the binoculars...the spotter.


First light came and went uneventfully. Now it was time to do some tracking. It went something like this..."Hike up to that stand of aspens, then go across the ridge to that juniper over there." I reply, "Okay, and what are you going to do?" "Wait for you by that juniper." Apparently when your role is to carry the weapon, you get to "wait." My job was to "flush the deer." So up the mountain I trudged to the ever elusive aspen stand in my Elmer Fudd orange cap and flagger vest. Eventually I find the correct juniper and my hunting partner, but no deer.

The new plan is to hike over the next ridge to a spring and follow the creek down into the valley (still farther away from camp), deer need water on a hot day after all. By this time I was starting to get a bit tired of the cross country hiking...through brush, around rocks and over one ridge after another. To add to my weariness, I was sneezing and sniffling...apparently my nasal passages had detected juniper pollen in the air. The hunting partner complained, "If you don't stop sniffling and sneezing we won't see a deer all day!" I didn't, and Richard was right...we didn't!

I don't quite know how it happened. One ridge turned into a dozen. "Let's try over there." "I wonder if there is water down in that valley." "There must be deer with all that nice grass over there." On we trudged...or I should say, I trudged. Richard seemed to have endless energy. Could this be the man who was DNF in the first annual Bailey triathlon? That's when I decided that I'm a hiker who needs a destination...a waterfall, a mountain peak, a glacier fed lake, a finish line. After twelve hours of wandering there was no destination in sight, an no motivation on my part to carry on...until I heard the words, "let's head back to camp." You should have seen me hike..."stay behind me, you'll scare away the deer."


At the end of the day, I had come to the conclusion that there was no such thing as a good hunting partner of the female variety. I had really given it my all, I tried not to complain, though I must admit my enthusiasm wained as the day drug on. But then...I met her on the hike out the next morning. She was a cute young thing all decked out in camo with a hand knit hunter orange scarf around her neck (seriously...where do you buy that color of yarn? Not at my JoAnn's). Her hair was slicked back in a neat ponytail under her camo cap and her smile wasn't pasted on. She whispered when she spoke like a "real hunter" would...no sniffling or sneezing here. But, most important of all...she carried her own G.U.N. I wanted to pull her partner aside and tell him what a gem he had. I'm sure they saw deer that day.

So when it's said and done...I've learned a few things. I'm not giving up; I'll be more prepared next time. I won't leave home without:

1. Claritin
2. My own day pack with food and water
3. A handkerchief (you can't bring enough toilet paper)
4. A good paperback
5. A spork (do you think the eating utensils would be part of packing the food or cooking equipment?...just curious).

I'm hoping my trial period will be extended and I can enjoy many outdoor experiences. I'm just grateful that the hunt was "unsuccessful" and the only hind quarter I had to pack out was my own!

And he's off!

Only the most dedicated fans made it to the KFalls airport at 4:30 a.m. to see Brian off. But for those who showed it was well worth it watching him navigate security like a pro. Janelle picked Brian up in SLC on Monday. She and Kim gave him a whirl wind tour seeing family and friends before dropping him off at the MTC today. Last night we Skyped with Brian and he told me to take a mental picture...I'm not so good at that so I took this video snap shot. Farewell Brian!

What was I thinking?

So we have spent the last five months helping Brian prepare for his mission. This included a lot of thought and careful planning. We even packed all his luggage early so we could send it out to Provo with Kim and avoid the airline baggage charges. So all he took with him was a nice little carry on...full of contraband. What was his mother thinking? Poor Brian was so flustered as the airport securty officers dug between packages of gummy worms and underwear pulling out one bottle after another. Funny thing, when you are in the KFalls airport they don't throw your stash away. They just bring it out to your mom. "Are you with the gentleman in the suit?" I collected them all...one bottle at a time!