October 19th, MTC Arrival

Sister Jenna Mae Swainston was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Oct. 18th.   President Dax Keller, using the power of the Melchezedik Priesthood, performed the setting apart and a blessing on her.  I have never heard a more beautiful blessing.  This mother knows that Jenna will be protected during her missionary service.  

October 19th she reported to the MTC.  Her father (Dee) and I, along with her sister (Stephanie) piled in the car to make the 3 hour drive to Provo.  We stopped for a quick lunch at Zuppas, and then it was time to say our goodbyes.  

Dee, Cindy, Jenna, Stephanie

We stopped at the Provo temple for a few quick photos, and then drove to the entrance of the MTC.  I have no idea the number of new missionaries arriving at the training center each week, but there are many!  Vehicles are directed to go two directions--elders to the right, sisters to the left. 

 We were then directed to pull up to the curb, and instructed to keep it to 2 minutes.  A cute little sister missionary was there waiting for Jenna.  Dee pulled the luggage from the trunk of our car, we each gave a quick hug, posed for a photo, and then she was off.   

Jenna in the pretty flowers at the temple grounds

Saying goodbye is hard!

Keeping things light--funny faces always works!

So, please indulge me for another minute, and we will go back to the curbside. The man at the curb was obviously very experienced in diverting our attention while she walked away, and I missed it!  I missed that moment that she turned her around and walked away.  Uh, that just wasn't what I had in mind!   I wanted a photo as she walked away with her luggage.  It was all planned out in my mind, and I was going to get that photo!  We had previously been instructed that we were not to leave the curbside or approach the entrance to the buildings.

 I was 'Oh so bad!'  I mean, I'm not the one who had to obey the strict mission rules, right?  So I took after them!  People probably wondered if the crazy mother was going to grab her daughter, drag her back to the car, screaming "noooo, you can't stay!  As I chased after Jenna, dodging through other girls with their luggage, I wondered if I would not catch up.  Those girls were walking dang fast!  Sprinting I would say.  But finally, with my Nikon in hand I got close enough to get the picture that will mean something to Jenna.

Tears flowed as the rest of us drove away from the MTC.  But all is well. Sending a missionary off is difficult, but her family knows that our Sister Swainston is doing what the Lord wants of her.  Spreading God's plan of happiness to the Philippines is what she should be doing.  I know that she will grow tremendously from the experiences she has during her mission.  She will strengthen her own testimony, and she will rely on our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Summer 2016

 Jenna had a fantastic summer before beginning her missionary service.  She was determined to get as much play in as she could before embarking on her 18 month mission for the Lord.

A few highlights:
Her first trip was to Zions National Park with a great group of friends.  I call this photo living on the edge.   This was taken at Angel's Landing Peak in Zions.

Another highlight of the summer was a trip to Bear Lake.  She and Vanessa had a great time lounging in the water.  This is her quote:
"There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but you have to bring your own to the lake. "



Jenna tried to pack in as many things as she could into her summer.  She worked hard and played hard too. What I loved about Jenna this summer is she was so happy.  Her group of friends is quite adventurous, and they decided a trip to the Wind Rivers was on their must-do list.  This is a photo of Jenna and her friends during the trip, in a location called Cirque of the Towers.

The mission call came!  After weeks of waiting (and waiting) along with checking the mailbox multiple times for it, Jenna's official mission call arrived on a Monday.  She opened it that night at Adam's park in Logan, with friends and family there in anticipation to see where she would be going. Jenna Mae was officially called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and assigned to the Philippines Baguio mission.    From that day on, she has been excited to learn about the people of the Philippines, and she can't wait to teach them about our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Jenna continued to find exciting things to do.  A Grand Tetons trip, many shopping trips to buy missionary attire, days filled with fun and laughter with friends--the list could go on.  She packed as much into those last weeks before leaving, including camping, hiking, and of course--music.  One concert she attended was Blink 182.  She loved it, even in the rain.

The summer was perfect, and now she is ready to be a missionary for the next 18 months.  Jenna will strengthen in her own testimony, will grow from the challenges of living in a third world country, and she will be teaching the Filipino people the most important message of the world, that Jesus Christ lives, that he died for us, and that we can have eternal life through him.