On Her Way (Part One)

April 17, 2013

Departure Day! 

Is there ever a more happy and sad and exciting and anxious day than the day that a missionary leaves? 

This day brought a little more anxiousness than normal. We found out what happens if a missionary misses her flight to Salt Lake and the MTC! We knew we were cutting it close getting to the airport at 5:30 a.m. but thought we still had enough time. Well, they closed the check in counter a little early so Sister Lewis couldn't check in her bags and would have just barely made it to the gate in time. We were in a little, tiny state of panic. We didn't even have enough time to say goodbye and have last hugs. We said a prayer, calmed down, pulled her out of the security line and then Reed called the missionary travel office. They said, "No problem, happens all the time". They promptly got her on the then next flight out of Fresno, the 12:30 p.m. flight. Then I called the MTC and they said, "No problem, happens all the time". Even though she would be arriving 4 hours later than the bulk of the missionaries, they would have someone to greet her and take care of her. 

So we went back home and just enjoyed her for a few more hours and then came back to the airport (way earlier than we needed to).

Second time around, getting to actually check in her bags this time!

Grandma and Grandpa Lewis

Another nice thing about going on a later flight, she was  able
to hug and say goodbye to Sister Porterfield
and Kevin and Bailey Dill (and baby :)

These two won't see each other for almost 3 years. Parker
will leave on his mission before Ashleigh gets home. 

On her way to the gate - last glimpse of her.

And just proof that Heavenly Father makes all things work for His good, in her phone call to us after she landed in Salt Lake she told us that she started being a missionary once she got to the gate before she even got on her flight! An older lady saw her coming towards the gate and cleared her things off of the seat beside her so Ashleigh would sit there. She sat down and the lady asked where she was headed and was thrilled to hear that she was a missionary. The lady was headed to Salt Lake because her grandson is also leaving on a mission. The lady is not a member of the church and was very nervous to fly and about what her grandson was doing. They ended up "coincidently" being assigned to sit next to each other on the plane. Ashleigh was able to help her not be nervous about flying AND answered all her questions about what the lady's grandson would be doing. It helped Ashleigh to get her mind off leaving her family. It was a beautiful little miracle for Ashleigh and for the lady!