On the way! Peru get ready for Hermana Garner

Time to become a Missionary!

February 11, 2013
Bad weather in Atlanta, Georgia caused Samantha's flights from Phoenix to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Peru to be cancelled!  Ugh!  It was like knowing that Christmas was in the morning, after waiting for 5 months for it to come, then at the last minute...bam, Christmas has been postponed until Saturday!  We were able to call the stake president and postpone her setting apart until Friday evening.  It was a little bit awkward to run into people, having already said goodbye, but you are still around.  Samantha made the most of the extra days and we were just glad that she wasn't stranded at the airport either in Atlanta (or somewhere else) for that time!  We got to enjoy her company for a few more days, though I do think it made it harder to say goodbye when she really did leave.


Samantha was set apart on February 14, 2014 in our home. It was a wonderful experience!  President Merrill, Bishop Kingsford, and Sister Alison Beecroft (her YW president) all came.

President Merrill shared some scriptures and thoughts, then he had me (her mom), dad & the Bishop also share our thoughts and testimonies.

President Merrill then set Samantha apart as a missionary.  It was a beautiful prayer with many blessings and promises.  Hermana Garner was now ready to get to work!

Getting ready to check in!

Early on February 15, 2014 the whole family left to take Samantha to the airport.  Everything went fairly smoothly.  I wanted to spend a little more time with Samantha before she went through security, but the line seemed long and Hermana Garner was anxious to get on her way.  So we walked with her through security until the very last moment and then stepped out of line.
 

Dad, Samantha, Lindsay before getting in line to go through security.

Paige gives Samantha one last hug!

This is where the tears start! It is REAL, she is really leaving!

This is her plane!  We stayed until it taxied out to the runway.  Savoring every moment!

Now we wait until she emails us that she has arrived safely in Peru!  Can't wait for the first email from Hermana Garner!