In Chicago!!!

We finally made it to the big city.

It took about 2 hours to drive to the Mission President's home.  He lives 115 miles from our home.  We had a nice lunch and visit with him and his wife.  We found out that we cannot babysit for anyone (even the single father of four that we really wanted to serve!) and we cannot hold babies - ever.  We can help out with kids if at least one parent is home to supervise.  Sheesh.  The rules are because of lawsuits that have been filed against missionaries - founded or unfounded.

We then went to the mission office and dropped off all the accumulated junk from our apartment.  You'd have thought it was Christmas.  The six senior couples and two elders were combing through the boxes, pulling out pizza cutters, neck scarves, etc. and oooohhing and ahhhhing over everything.  We were all laughing.  The adults were laughing at themselves as well.  One of the senior elders said, "Look what we've been reduced to!"

We met with the mission "accountant".  We found out that our rent is $410 a month, the lowest in the mission.  (That's because no one wants to live in the middle of nowhere.)  When they added our average utilities, and the rent on the furnishings (which we still have not bought), our total bill that we will pay to the ward will be about $610 a month.  This is great because we are filling up on gas every other day!  Other than this expense, we have an internet bill, food, and gas.  That's it.  We had hoped the cost of our mission would be less than what we are renting our house for, and it is looking like it will be.

Then, before coming home, we visited the Chicago Temple.

It is different from the other temples (on the outside that is), but still very beautiful.  We talked with the Mission President AND the Temple President and there is a very good chance they will let us work two days a month.  We would love that, even though it is 230 miles round trip.  Like driving to Vegas every other week.  I think they are very short-handed.  When the Temple President is manning the recommend desk, you know they could use some help.  We met some workers who have a winter home in Menifee (neighbors to Murrieta).  Small world.

We took the toll road all the way home.  The senior couples get a free I pass (similar to Fast Track).  We stopped at a "rest station."  You pull off the road and there is a parking lot.  Then you go into a mall type structure built over and across the freeway.  They had pizza, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, KFC, Panda Express, Starbucks, etc.  We ate at a table overlooking the freeway, watching the cars drive under us.  Then you get right back on the expressway.  Kind of cool.  Craig was getting tired on the way home.  It had been a long day.  I reminded him that although we were nowhere, we were not yet in the MIDDLE of nowhere and he had to hang in there for another 20 miles.  Didn't get home until after 9.  

Still haven't had Chicago pizza or a famous hot dog.  Chicago is big and scary.