Even though it was hard to say goodbye, we did it at least three times each and also several times all together. Lots and lots of goodbye hugs. Lots.
We knew she wouldn't be taking off for a couple of hours after we left her and that it would be the middle of the night our time before she got to Brazil. Throughout the day we thought about her and where she was in her journey. Casey pulled up the flight map so we could see exactly where she was at that moment. It doesn't make you feel better when your daughter's airplane is suspended over the vast expanse of the ocean. Nor is the ground much better.
When I woke up around 5 a.m. (as I do) I wrote her a quick email from my phone to welcome her to Brazil. (They are 5 hours ahead of us there. (Only in our modern world can you welcome someone to someplace you aren't.))
Happily, they let her send an email the day she arrived so that we'd know she was safely there and when we would be able to hear from her next. Here is her letter:
Ola familia, Estou aqui! I´m here, I´m safe, I´m taking forever to write this email because the keyboards are different.
First news: Other than this letter, you won´t hear from me until next Wednesday (not this Wednesday but NEXT Wednesday!!)
The unexpected: (They always tell you to expect the unexpected, and my only question is--how?!)
...dun
...dun
...dun
...dun
...okay, the news is: I am flying solo. No other sisters came down with me, so I´ll be companionless. There are other solo sisters, but they are farther ahead than I am, so I can´t join them.
This last sentence I will keep the errorsÇ /today I saw my first cockroach/1 and they are even bigger than i thought don~t underestimate Brazil!
I love you lots and next Wednesday (not this Wednesday but next!!) I will send pictures. ]
Just me and the elders
Sister Songer
(sorry if I come across oddly, I´m tired. Thanks for your letter!)
We are so excited for her! We miss her! We can't wait to hear more!
3 comments:
Oh man, I can't imagine. The Kindergarten goodbye is tough enough. This must be so hard. But I'm also so excited for Ani!! She will be a wonderful missionary!! She'll be in our prayers every day.
And ours! She's taller than the mission president's wife. We hope and pray all those fine elders will watch over and protect Sister Songer.
Wow - That must have been so hard. But what an example she is setting for the other 4 kids! Our little Anika! It seems like it wasn't that long ago that Casey called to announce her birth... and that she looked like Quasimodo. hahaha. that pic with 9 elders and lonely little sister songer. She'll do great things!!! You done us proud Ani!
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