The second and third calls came at 12:38 am and 12:50 am on Tuesday (12/28). His flight was late getting into San Francisco and it took them a while to get to the pay phones. He called the first time on his original calling card, and the first thing we did was give him the new calling card information, along with the toll free numbers he would need overseas. This time we talked for 45 minutes, maybe even an hour. He told us all about the inspirational talks they had at Thanksgiving, and some of the inspiring stories and testimonies he had heard from some of the other missionaries. We had a chance to ask him about some of the recent pictures he had sent. He told us how they did the "light saber" pictures using the fluorescent lead from one of the other Elders' Scripture pens. He talked about how when the Elders leave the MTC, they give away some of their stuff that they can't take with them (Tom wasn't able to fit his alarm clock). Tom managed to inherit a chair and a small refrigerator, which came in very handy to store the Pita he received from us and the cheese curds he received from Sister Calderwood. He told us a funny story about an ongoing argument he was having with a group of French missionaries about who has better cheese, France or Wisconsin. Tommy wasn't backing down, and when he got the cheese curds he immediately took some over to the French for them to try. Their response: "Tastes like rubber - their cheese is better!" He couldn't believe it. Then he talked about Christmas and how great it was. He was thrilled to hear Tim and I were having Katelyn and Emily over for dinner (one of the things he asked for Christmas) and sorry to hear that we had to find a nursing home for his Nana (her dementia has gotten progressively worse). It was truly an awesome conversation. He was happy to hear we had all read the Scripture readings he assigned as part of our Christmas present. We talked about how happy he was to receive the printouts of his Facebook profile and he wants me to continue to send those along. Probably the thing that excited Tommy the most about his trip from Salt Lake City to San Francisco was the opportunity he had to teach a lesson to someone he had met on the plane. Definitely just the thing he needed before getting on the plane to Hong Kong. He ended the call saying how much he loved us, and then boarded Cathay Pacific 873 for the almost 15 hour flight to Hong Kong.
Our final call was to come sometime after 4:45 pm on Tuesday (12/28). We didn't know if he was going to have to go through customs, so we had no idea when he would call, but we thought it would be before 6:45 since his next flight was leaving at 7:10. We were exhausted from staying up so late talking the previous night. I talked with my parents earlier in the day and asked if they wanted to join us for our next session of the "waiting game". They were up for it, and Tim made an awesome dinner for us to enjoy while waiting for Tom's call (spaghetti w/ homemade meat sauce). His call came at 6:17 pm, in the middle of dinner. We put the phone on speaker and he was excited to hear from his grandparents. He told us he wasn't sure he would be able to call from Singapore (and he didn't), but he told us he was a little late calling because he and his traveling companions were once again involved in teaching a lesson to an American they had run into in the Hong Kong airport. He was able to tell us about his flight. It was long, and as a missionary, he isn't allowed to watch movies or TV while on his mission. So he tried to sleep and study. Unfortunately our call was cut short because of phone problems. Tom could hear us but we could no longer hear him. It was a short call, maybe only 10 minutes, he tried to call back, but it wasn't to be.
This morning I woke up to my first E-Mail from Singapore (actually East Malaysia). He apologized for the phone problems. said he could hear us but wasn't sure why we couldn't hear him. Anyway, I imagine Tom is exhausted and overwhelmed to be in a new country. In a way, I think it's good he wasn't able to call us from Singapore. I think reality has set in and he realizes he's not in "Kansas" anymore. (Apparent from his statement, "This is nothing like the MTC.") He's not sure how to approach people, and he feels a little lost. Hard to imagine Tommy being in a situation where he didn't know how to approach someone. He said he will be in Sima East Malaysia first. I have updated this blog with his new address. For some reason, I seem to remember that we should not include the title "Elder" when sending mail to him in Singapore. His email address is still the same. Airmail postage to send a letter to him will be $0.98, and it will take something like 6-10 days. But please don't let that discourage you from sending actual letters. He still only has about 30 minutes a week for email. Oh and his new preparation day is Wednesday (which really falls more on our Tuesday.) He finished his message on an up-note and talked about how they have to eat with their hands! He also sent some pictures! I've included them below. In closing, he asked for our prayers to help him adjust to his new surroundings. If you are his friend on Facebook, please post a message occasionally to let him know you are missing him, thinking of him, or maybe something reminded you of him. If you are not his friend, send a friend request and I will accept it!!! I promised to print his wall posts on a monthly basis! His Facebook link is on the left side of this page!
From Tom's Christmas card to us..."May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of His love at Christmas and always". Have a wonderful New Year, and thanks to all of you for thinking of him!
Elder Aikens, Elder Jensen, Elder Forsyth: First Day!
Yes, they eat with their hands! Elder Aikens & Elder Jensen
