"Although you are missing your son, be confident that he is being well cared for and loved while he is away from you. He is part of our mission family and we love him all ready."

Friday, 24 August 2012

Dear Brother & Sister Forshee,

I am writing to let you know that Elder Forshee arrived safely on Wednesday in Bulgaria after a long and tiring trip.  He was brought to the Mission Home where a light lunch was served to the newly arrived missionaries.  After what seemed like endless paperwork was completed, interviews with the Mission President, President Wilstead, were conducted.  Then he was taken on excursion to a local park for a brief introduction to Bulgaria and an opportunity to talk with the people.

A pair of local sisters prepared a delicious Bulgarian dinner for the new arrivals. There was a testimony meeting held for them and then they were taken to their accommodations for the night.  It will be a memorable day for him, once he recovers from jet lag.

On Thursday Elder Forshee attended orientation and training meetings then he departed after a lunching on Domino's pizza with his new companion, Elder Barber, for their assignment in Stara Zagora.

I am enclosing a picture that was taken at dinner with President and Sister Wilstead on their first evening together.  Although you are missing your son, be confident that he is being well cared for and loved while he is away from you.  He is part of our mission family and we love him all ready.

Thank you for all you do to support Elder Forshee in his service to the Lord.

With warm regards,

Sister Segeberg
Bulgaria Sofia Mission

Bulgaria Sofia Mission Contact Information

Bulgaria Sofia Mission Contact Information

Mission Office

Bulgaria Sofia Mission

yl. Marin Drinov No. 21

1504 Sofia, Bulgaria

2013053 [at] ldschurch [dot] org

"Thank you for the fast yesterday, I am feeling great!"

8/20 (6:15 am!!!)
Okay, so I can get the luggage tag here. My big black one already has one built in. I can't really think of anything else that I might need at the moment. Maybe one extra thing of deodorant? I'm on my last one. I am so excited to leave!! Sorry this email is so early, but we are doing our laundry right now, and we will be in the temple most of the rest of the day. I am hoping that my carryon won't be too bad, but I will just pay any overweight fees they want. Hopefully they won't even weigh it. How is everyone doing? I hope great. I am very excited to leave. This time tomorrow, I will be on my way to the airport. I am sending the package home today, and there is a book inside of it. You need to GATHER everyone, and then read the inside cover. (Little surprise.) Thank you for the fast yesterday, I am feeling great. It just hit me that, I don't have to be here in the MTC anymore! But now I get to go to a country where I don't understand a single word anyone is saying. Oh well, it will be a great ride. I am not even going to care about time limit today, so if I get a free spot, I will get back on to email. I love you! Wake up and email me back, and I'll talk to you tomorrow. :)

Старейшина Форши

8/20 (5:47 pm)

Sorry, it has been a CRAZY DAY!!!! Laundry at 6, Temple from 8 - 12:30 (inititories and session), then on to packing! It took me SO. LONG. I was overweight, so I sent a very heavy package home to you guys. You should be receiving it in just a couple of days. Ummmm, yeah so I leave tomorrow!! I can't believe the day is here! I am going to check for your package in just a couple of minutes, and I severely hope its there. I tried to buy luggage tags for my bags, but they were out. My big important bag has one built in, but my other one doesn't. I will either buy one at the airport, or just hope that it gets there safe and sound. I leave here at 6am, arrive at the airport by 7:30, check in and security, I will probably plan on talking to you at about 8:30 tomorrow morning, if not earlier. My flight leaves at like 9:30 i think? Then we get to DC at 3:50 DC time, so i don't know the conversion. Then our flight leaves there at like 6, and we get to Frankfurt at 8am frankfurt time, then an hour later off to sofia!!! I'm so amazingly excited. We are having a huge (and illegal) party tonight with all of your food. I wrote some letters to everybody in the big package, and it looks like I should be okay on weight. I'm prepared for any overages though.... SO! I'm so happy to be leaving, because I know that the Lord will help me through all of the challenges in my life. I can't wait to share the gospel with the people of Bulgaria. I might be able to get on again tonight, but Im not quite sure. I miss you all, and I hope that you are doing well. Peace out!!!

-- .
Старейшина Форши

"We will have a kick butt party on Monday night!!"

8/18

Hey! So we just got the huge package. Thank you so very much. It really lifts spirits around here. I love you all so much! Tell everyone thank you for contributing, and we will have a kick butt party on Monday night!! Everyone says thank you so much for the gum and the card. We really do appreciate it. I love you so much!

 

I'll think of anything else that I may need in the next little while, and send it off to you. Love you so much!

Старейшина Форши

"Countless times he has told us how numbers do not matter to him, and if he is simply doing his best, he knows our Heavenly Father will be proud of him."

8/13/12

Dear Forshees,

My name is Elder Spencer Hoy. I am from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and I have been called to serve in the Bulgaria, Sofia mission. Here at the MTC, I have been blessed to have had your son, Elder Nick Forshee, as one of my companions.

I am writing this letter to thank you for raising a son like Nick, I mean, Elder Forshee. He is a great role model to all of us. Thank you especially for encouraging him to develop his musical talents! He has a beautiful voice, and our entire district loves to hear him sing.

He has a great knowledge of the scriptures, and his ability to apply them to life has been a huge benefit for us as we have taught our investigators.

But above all else, thank you for raising him to be an optimist. Countless times he has told us how numbers do not matter to him, and if he is simply doing his best, he knows our Heavenly Father will be proud of him. I am trying to develop that same optimism in my own life.

In short, thank you for being awesome, for I know for Elder Forshee to have turned out this way his parents must have been amazing!

I wish you the best of luck with whatever your future may hold!

Your fellow missionary,

Elder Hoy

Ps: Elder Forshee does not know I have sent this letter. I don’t plan on telling him, but you may tell him if you wish.

"Can you believe that I leave in a week! That is crazy!!"

8/13/12

How are you? How was Bear Lake and you are going to California? I won't be needing an international calling card, because I will not have any time in the layover in Frankfurt. Can you believe that I leave in a week! That is crazy!! I am seriously ready to get out of here. I don't want to be at the MTC anymore, I want to be away from here. My 30 minutes starts now, so write back!!

Also, I am going to be sending a package home the monday before I leave. I am out. of. room. I am actually having to sacrifice a couple of things to get it on the plane. I am flying Lufthansa from DC to Frankfurt, and also from Frankfurt to Germany. I NEED someone to research carryon specifications, because the paper I was given only said 18 pounds. I can't do 18 pounds. No clothes, I will be sending stuff home. My companions are still Elders Hoy and Stratton. My entire district is going that day unless our visas don't come. We still haven't heard anything. And no family emails. I haven't taken any other pictures, so there won't be another card. I will email anything I get to you right away in bulgaria.

The airline. I need you to research their carryon policy. The paper I was given says that I can only have 18 pounds. Also, I need at least $500 in my checking. I will be reimbursed in Bulgaria, but luggage will be expensive.

OH and in answer to your question, yes I will be calling you, not the day before, but the day in the airport. I leave the MTC at 6:30ish in the morning, probably getting to the airport at 7"30. I need to check my bags, do security and whatnot, so I will probably be able to call you in Salt Lake around 8:30 8:45ish. Will you and Dad be together?

K I think I know what this is. We just got 700 new missionaries this week. The servers are completely overjammed. I have to go start laundry now, but if there is an open computer, I will go and take it. Love you both!

"So, I got my travel plans!!"

8/12

Hello family,

I hope you are all doing well! I haven’t heard from you in a long time!! Either dearelder is screwing up or something is going wrong because I haven’t gotten anything in like a week! But oh well, email is fun! So I got my travel plans!! I leave the 21^st at 6:00 am. I get to SLC and leave SLC at 9:41 am to Washington DC. I have about a 2 hour layover there and leave at 5:55 pm (DC time). I have to be at the gate at 5 though. I should have about 20-30 minutes for a phone call. My flight over the Atlantic gets to Frankfurt, Germany at 8:05 am (Frankfurt time). Another layover then at 9:40 we go to Sofia, arriving at 12:50 pm (Sofia time). I will be exhausted but excited! I’ll talk to ya Monday with more info. Love you!!!

~Nick