We're here in Oregon!

Helloo! 

Long time no computer!  Mark just told me if I type this, he will post it on his office computer, so here goes…
Well, we got here to Oregon with the help of Bro. Shull, Bro. Hart and Bro. Ferrin – plus Dana, my aide and friend.  She stayed after packing and loading on Mon., August 11th  and helped Mark hook up the car to the back of the U-Haul.  That took them an hour, because the chain was too tight to unfasten and use.
Then we went to Melinda and Danny’s to pick something up, and their back door key was gone!  So it took about an hour of trying to locate it before Bishop Wheatley showed up with a key – which was pure luck.
So we got on the road late Monday afternoon.  The trip went smoothly, and Leto spent most of it in the car because he liked that better than the crowded truck cab.  We arrived in La Grande at about 1 a.m.  We didn’t know where motels were here, so we stayed at the first one that had a vacancy, a little old place with the strangest room.  The tv was about 10” square, but that was okay.  Mark collapsed on the bed and I soon followed.  We woke up early the next day (the time change made everything seem early), and found the storage place that Mark had contacted.  They were so nice!
They called the missionaries and four of them came right over and helped Mark unload.  Whew, that was a relief!  After that we drove over to the beautiful building and met Kathy, the Marketing Director.  She was enthusiastic and welcoming as she showed us our cute 1-bedroom temporary apt. 
The apt. is on the 3rd floor, with a view of the mountains.  It’s furnished and comes with beautiful bedding and towel sets, and it smells so fresh and clean.  It’s decorated, and has a set of dishes and a little tv.  Really darling!
The best part is what the staff put together for us: in the refrigerator was a bottle of sparkling cider (with 2 jelly bean-filled  and be-ribboned goblets),  and a gift basket that held Hershey Nuggets, packets of honey-roasted mixed nuts, a wheel of French cream cheeses and baby bell cheeses, fancy crackers, and fruit!  Wasn’t that sweet of them?
Besides those things, there was a 6-pack of ice-cold water in the fridge, and in the bathroom was another basket, filled with Caress body washes, lotions and shampoos!  Can you imagine?  That was so thoughtful of them and made us feel so welcome!
Mark started work the very next day, which he spent with Ron, the Regional Director.  They met the dept. heads and went over things in general.  Mark has training the end of this month and next month, in Portland.  Isn’t that great?  A real company!
Anyway, everyone is sooooo nice here!  We have gotten forms from the DMV (so friendly there, and no wait), a library card, we went to government offices, a restaurant downtown, looked at some apts. (bathroom too small for me) (plus, we don’t know if we’ll need one yet), and taken pictures of the views and the quaint little houses here – like on the numbered sts. In I.F.
And, of course, we’ve been to Wal Mart, lol.
There are all kinds of residences in town, pretty much mixed throughout, and most of them are older, traditional homes.  Lots of little cottages.  Some messy yards, lots of pretty ones.  All emcompassed by forested mountains.  I really love it here so far!
I need to close this for now, so Mark can post it.  We love and miss you all.  Mark even talks about going on campouts with you (!).  Crazy!
So, take care of yourselves.  Can’t wait to be able to read your posts!
xoxoxo
Mommy and Doc (pictures asap!)