Empty Nest?

Just so life doesn't get boring... Richard decided to have Dixie bred, and guess when these cute things were delivered? You guessed it, the day before Janelle's farewell. What better entertainment for a houseful of company?

Thanks to Kim's entrepreneurial spirit, all puppies have been sold. Now just five weeks and things should quiet down around the house again.

Missionary Cut

The last item on the list before Janelle left was to get her missionary hair cut. Not only did she get a cute short cut for a warm climate, but she was also able to donate a nice pony tail. So what do you think?

Janelle flew out this morning on the 5:35 flight. Grandma Bailey was her traveling companion. They arrived in Salt Lake at 11:35 just in time to be wisked away to the MTC.

I don't know about Janelle, but I'm exhausted! Getting a sister missionary ready to go takes a lot more effort (and $$$ Richard would add), but the shopping is a lot more fun. WE LOVE YOU JANELLE!

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.