Biggest Journey of Her Life

On Tuesday last week, Carley and her new companion Sestra W. traveled to their area called Žabovřesky in the city of Brno.  It is approximately 2 ½ hours away from Prague by bus, in the SE of the Czech Republic.

Altogether there are 6 Elders, 2 Sisters and 1 Couple in that district serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Her two fellow sestri from the MTC and the mission president's wife.

Her district from the MTC, now they all go their separate ways.

Carley's first companion, Sestra W.

Now for a flashback to the events of last Monday. Carley wanted me to share this story, and I have to actually type it because she isn't going to write it out herself. (That is because she already told the story personally to me on the phone and my family in person)

Monday morning: Carley woke up at 3 a.m. so she could board the shuttle bus to get her to the airport for their early morning flight. It's about an hour drive from the MTC to the SLC airport, so Carley said she made an effort to fall asleep on her back row seat of the bus, right next to the noisy air conditioner. She managed to shut her eyes for a while.

Upon arriving at the SLC airport, she and her district were in line about to go through the security check, when she went to pull out her wallet and...no wallet. She frantically searched her purse, where she knew FOR SURE her wallet last was...to no avail. She told Sestra J. the trouble she was in (she was missing her ID, her passport, her credit card, everything). Sestra J. didn't know what to do, so they turned to Elder W., and Carley said his response was priceless. He looked at her while she explained that she thought her wallet was still on the shuttle bus. he stared at her with a deer-in-the-headlights look, then turned back around. Like he knew what to do!

Carley said she and some of the members of her district ran outside to the unloading zone, where they saw another shuttle bus from the MTC. They asked the MTC workers on board if they had heard of a missing wallet turned it in. They said no, but asked if they knew the name of the driver of their bus. They didn't. Carley and her companions made an effort to describe the blonde, female driver with 7 kids, but they couldn't remember much else about her or the shuttle bus number. After all, it was pitch black during the pickup/drive/drop-off. Now there was nothing left to do but pray and have the MTC workers radio the shuttle service. The MTC workers started telling Carley that she might have to immediately begin coordinating efforts for IDs, credit card cancellations and more. Oh man, what a bummer and not a good way to start off her first day out of the MTC.

Well, right about that time, Carley sees a shuttle pulling up. A fellow sestra said, "hey, that looks like our shuttle, maybe!?" then Carley sort of jogged a few steps toward the bus and stared down the driver, hoping, praying it was the blonde lady she vaguely remembered. Well, the bus pulled right up and the doors opened and there was the bus driver, looking right at Carley. And Carley was gazing in at the bus driver, who was holding Carley's wallet and already leaping out of her seat to pass it off.

"I heard something clink when y'all unloaded, so I decided to check and see what it was," she said. Carley knows it was more than just irony, it was a miracle. Carley recalled the AC being so loud in the bus, there is no way that lady could have heard her wallet slip out of her purse, just no way. Heavenly Father was definitely watching out for her.

Phew! That was a close one! Then she arrived in DFW to her fan club waiting for her. Yep, after all the inner turmoil she originally felt, Carley decided it wasn't just "ironic" she had a 4-hour layover in Dallas. She knew she was supposed to see family. She got permission and my parents got approval from their stake president
(since Dad is on the high council, he ran it by the Stake President just to make sure).

So, my amazing cousin who works at the airport helped my family get through the airport so they could take Carley and her district to lunch at TGI Fridays.

If you ask Cassidy or Dallas, they'll tell you it was such a highlight to not only see Carley, but to get that experience with a a whole slew of righteous missionaries. Dallas was especially pumped because he is only 2 months away from being in the same shoes as all the elders in Carley's district. So neat!

Side note: My mom said the funniest thing (aside from Carley leaving her purse in a bathroom stall....yes, only a few hours after her wallet incident) was that Carley could hear music over the speakers in the restaurant at the airport and, while they were in the restroom, Carley just started dancing. "I haven't heard music in so long. I can't help it!" You can take the girl away from the dances, but you can't take the dance out of the girl.