November 8, 2002

Nov. 8. 2002
Dear Family,
We are enjoying our stay in Provo. We will be here another month. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were here going to school. We try to walk between the Sr. MTC and the main MTC and back each day. It is about 2 1/2 miles round trip. Even though it is cold the days stay quite nice and we enjoy the exercise. Walking back and forth to the MTC, we have got in on the BYU Band’s marching practices each day for the football games. They practice in the parking lot just north of the Marriott Center. They have a good marching band consisting of 14 big basses and equal amounts of other instruments. It is interesting how they have to rely on the old songs (50’ and 60’s , etc.) to make a good half-time show.
We were sorry to hear about Gary Sandberg passing away, and his daughter-in-law dying the very same day. (We didn’t hear what she died of, and she must have left a young family.) That has to be difficult for the ones who are left. The Sandbergs moved into the 8th Ward about the same time we did and their family was about the age of ours. We sold our lot up on Leigh Hill to one of their daughters and her husband.
Afton, that was interesting about the association you had with the Richards’ in Hong Kong. I imagine they were really good people to work around. If I had known about your connection, I would have gone up after and talked to them. Sunday morning we had a missionary conference up at the main MTC. (They have them every Fast Sunday.) Anyway two of the speakers were Pres. and Sis. Farnsworth. They said they had spent the last three years in Hong Kong heading up the CES there. Did you guys know them? Now he is one of the counselors here in the MTC presidency.
We got word from Marlene that Andrew’s uncle Robert and his wife have been called on a Mission to Japan. He is a psychiatrist and he and his wife have just completed a mission in Germany. He will work under the direction of the Area President with headquarters in Tokyo. We were excited to hear about that. Today one of our Japanese teacher’s commented that he was starting to train a new couple starting today.. And you guessed it, Elder and Sis. Smith. They came today and we had a little visit. They are leaving on their mission in about three weeks and will come over from Lehi, three times a week for training until they go. Our teacher said he would spend most of the time teaching them about the culture and the people rather than concentrating on the language. When I taught in Lehi, Elder Smith’s first wife (JoAnn) taught kindergarten in my school. She died a few years ago with cancer. He has remarried and seems to have a good wife. They are really up in the air, not knowing what to do next to get ready on such short notice.
The other day when we were in the Temple, I was waiting in line to get my new name and overheard a conversation between an older guy introducing himself to a new missionary he was standing by. When he said his name, Waldo Jacobson and he lives in Springville, I knew it was Uncle Evan Jacobson’s son. So I struck up a conversation with him. He talked allot about Dad and experiences they had had together. That was pretty interesting. I imagine he is in his 80’s or older. He also talked about Vernon Roper and his family that lived near them when they were in Springville.
We hope all of you are staying well. All of Marie’s kids have had a bout with the flu and we have been exposed; so a day or two ago we went to County Health Center and got flue shots. We appreciate all of your e-mails to Marie. We get them from her. We also appreciate Marie keeping our correspondence going. Until next week -Love, Gary & Shirley