Dyllon had to get up be at the MTC travel office at 4:00 am in the morning. I thought that this would put him to the airport around 5:00 am and checked thru by 5:30 am. I was hoping to get a call around 5:30 am so we could talk for an hour before his plan left. I was WRONG. Does this surprise anyone? Time kept ticking down and still no call. At 6:34 am I burst into tears because I was sure that he was not going to be able to call. Right at that time the doorbell rang and it was Cassie. Poor girl, probably thought that she did something wrong. Right after I opened the door the phone rang. It was Elder Brown! We were able to talk for a blissful 11 minutes and 34 seconds. Not the hour or so that I had hoped for. But I was grateful for anytime that We had to speak with him.
This is what he had to say:
He had just got thought checking in and to his terminal and had a hard time finding a phone. (apparently there is a shortage of payphones in the airport) He was doing good. Excited to get to Tennessee and find out his assignment. They did not feed them that morning or give them a sack lunch to take. (what? apparently the all you can eat stops at the cafeteria) He said that it was hard to see the 106th South turn off and know that he was so close to home, but farther away then he had ever been from it in all his life. He felt like the MTC had prepared him well for his mission and that his scriptures had never been so marked up. He was ready! He wondered how everyone was doing at home. To be truthful it is hard for me to remember all that we talked about because I was crying the whole time. (seriously, I thought that I was done with the tears!) Dyllon said that he had to go because they were calling his flight. He loved us and would call from Atlanta during his layover if he could.
I had his flight number and decided to track the flight. I saw when the plane took off and ran outside to watch it as it flew past the house. I waved like a idiot. Hopefully none of the neighbors saw me. I was too late to remember to get a picture with my camera because it was in my bedroom. Kendall did take a picture of the plane with his Ipad and if I figure how to get it posted here I will put it up. I tracked his flight all across America and 3 1/2 hours later he arrived. About 30 minutes later we got another call from him. YES!
He had a good flight, still had not had anything to eat, but would have lunch when he got to the mission home. Only a 49 minute flight to Tennessee. (it was only 11:30 our time) It was fun to see the first time fliers when they landed, because they had better reactions then the take off. I asked him if he needed anything and he said he would like a few more ties to add to the rotation. We only go to talk for 5 minutes because there were not very many phones and they were boarding soon and others wanted to make a quick call home. It is not easy in situations like this to agree, but it is the right thing to do. We said our good-byes and said talk to you on Christmas. I started to cry again! Surprise! Dang it I was doing so good too! (By the way did you know it is only 124 days until Christmas? Yikes! Have you started shopping yet?)
Of course I was tracking the second flight. They loaded up the plane and then it was delayed for 84 minutes! Dang it! Why did the not left them off the plane so were could talk longer! I bet that Dyllon and the other Elders were starving by the time they arrived in Tennessee. I know the plane landed, but that is the last I could track him.
Hoping for a letter or Email soon!
Here is a link to one of Dyllon's favorite songs about Tennessee. He watched it so many times before his mission and would crack up each time he watched it. Enjoy!
Glad he's off and serving! He will come thoroughly hillbillified!!!! (Is that a word) He will love it there and have a new appreciation for our kind of country music out here. At least you know the plane landed in Tennessee!!! Hang in there Mindy!!!
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