I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

Here are the guesses of our entire family on where my parents would be called. As you can see, no one was right! :) Thanks to Kathy who made this awesome Google Map. You have to click on "view larger map" to get the full effect.


View Larger Map

Here is the phonecall announcing to all 6 kids/4 kids in law, and 18 grandkids where they are going. Thanks to uncle Pat and his fancy conference call system!

http://momentsinthemayhem.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/mom-and-dad-mission-call.wav

Here is a letter from the church to prepare my parents for their mission....
March 12, 2008
Dear Elder & Sister Foley,

I am very pleased to welcome you as missionaries to Misión México Este, specifically to your assignment as a supervising couple in the Centro para Visitantes del Templo de la Ciudad de México. Serving in the CV is a wonderful, testimony-building experience. You will feel the influence of the Spirit as you interact with visitors (members and nonmembers) and sister missionaries. The CV is a very special place.

We have currently 20 sister missionaries assigned to us. Each of these sisters was called under inspiration to serve in the CV. They are capable, dedicated missionaries, and I know that you will enjoy serving with them.

The CV is open about 10 hours a day, seven days a week. With the three FTM and two volunteer couples taking our turns, it works out to about five shifts apiece per week; in other words, you will have two days off each week.

The two principle responsibilities of the CV are: 1) serve those who visit the center, 2) process referrals that we receive from those visitors and from other sources. I hope that the Center will be open by the time you arrive, but I cannot guarantee it. What started out to be a 5-6 month project has ballooned into 9+ month project. Our best guess is that we will be in service by late April. Since July we have maintained a five-hour per day, six-day a week schedule processing referrals. We were provided space in the Centro de Capacitación Misional where we have an office and a referral work room. We process 1000-1500 referrals per month, the great majority from missionaries working in the four missions in Mexico City.

In an effort to continue the spirit of the CV during the period of closure, we developed a program of open houses which we have been presenting every Saturday since early August. We have been all over Mexico City, and we have many stories to tell about our experiences with stake and ward leaders, members and nonmembers. The program has been a great success in terms of the number of nonmembers who have come, and the number of referrals we have received. Last month over 600 nonmembers came to the four open houses we held. Many of these are people we have invited in from the street.

We three couples live in the “Zarahemla” building on the manzana del templo (temple square). Currently there are 4 missionary sisters and 3 other couples living in our building as wellAll of us in our apartment building (except the sister missionaries) join together every Monday for Family Home Evening, and we socialize in other ways as well.

All of the apartments are three-bedroom units. The bedrooms are not spacious, but they are certainly adequate. A small kitchen, equipped wash room, dining area and living room complete each apartment. We pay US$250 per month rent. Our food bill runs about US$250-300 per month, transportation US$20-30, depending on how far you range, eating out and other forms of entertainment US$50-60 per month. We have both wireless and cable Internet access in each apartment.

The apartments are well-furnished. You should get a listing of the equipment and furnishings in your call package. If this does not arrive, let me know. Some things you may wish to consider bringing would be your own favorite pillow, if that is a problem, 2-3 changes of casual clothes, books and DVD’s you may wish to use while here, medical items, both prescription and over-the-counter stuff like cold remedies, etc.

There is a fully stocked grocery store, La Bodega Aurora, five blocks from the manzana. A short bus ride away is a Wal-Mart and Sams. There are a number of other stores in the area. We have not found many “sterling” restaurants near the square, but we often take a bus or bus-metro trip into town for site-seeing, shopping, etc., and we usually eat in town. There are three open-air markets (tianguis) within walking distance of your apartment, where you can purchase a wide variety of fresh fruit, vegetables and other items.

If you have any questions about your responsibilities, accommodations, etc. don´t hesitate to contact me. All the best in your preparations to join us.

Warm regards,
Elder and Sister Garvin