1. Apply for passport
2. Write Acceptance Letter.
Well round 2 of applying for passport. So we heard through the grapevine(knudsens) that the best place to apply for a passport is the Post office on Center Street and Main. The reason for that is all others (except 1 location) you have to make an appointment and this post office is all walk ins.. So we took their advice and headed to this post office. So we pull up and there are ALOT of cars. oh boy, there is going to be a line. Well we head up with our application, original birth certificate(glad i ordered lots when he was a baby because I am now down to one) and his drivers license, and 2 passport pictures. GREAT! No line. Step right up and the man in the blue uniform will be right with you. We'll 30 minutes later we are still waiting for the man in the blue uniform to show up. Interesting side note, while we are waiting a gentleman shows up who needs to get a replacement as he lost his passport in Yuma, and needs to get a replacement asap as he has a dentist appointment in Mexico in two weeks. Had a very nice chat with this man. Turns out he grew up in Mesa, knows alot of Mormons (isn't one mind you), has a great respect for boys who are willing to leave family for 2 years to serve all around the world. Nice man. Back to story, man in blue uniform shows up, give him passport, birth certificate and passport photos. Very smart man, looks at Dylan's information and already deduces that he needs his passport expedited. Anyways checks it all out and the grand total is $196.00 check or money order please. WHAT? State department clearly states that it takes credit and debit. No. So now we need to head to the bank, get a money order from then(they don't charge WF customers a fee for money orders, unlike the post office. Get money order and can pay for the post office $25 fee with a credit/debit card. (how kind of them) Come back to post office and at least the man in the uniform is still there, Pay the fees and watch him put the application in an overnight envelope to head to the state department. Note to reader: money order does not get payable to post office but to the state department. Good thing i didn't fill that out. would of had to go back to the bank. UGH! So 2-3 weeks to wait for that expedited passport.
After the passport we have a few minutes so I decided to take my new missionary to Pomeroys. Getting a little nervous. Now have a reason to go there. Anyways head in to take a gander as we have lots of time(says the salesman). Apparently the number one top quality item to have in Madagascar are good shoes. No chintzing on this one. Get ready for this $110 smack a roonies for a pair of Hush Puppies. Which for this mission the sales person recommends this over the Rockwells. Hush puppies are water resitance and the souls are better attached. (Salesperson had a good friend go the Madagascar and did agree that this mission is very hard on the shoes) WOW $110 and we need 3 pairs. Well after that shock, although glad we went, Dylan tried on a few suits, very cool, my little boy is growing up. Learned a few things about suits and their armpit sweat catching pockets they have. Everyone should at least go to Pomeroys. Just for the experience. Very nice salesman. Home for about 2 years. He also helped with the sticker shock of mission clothing setting you back 1200-1600 depending on where you go. So glad there are options when it comes to clothing. I love my boy but he doesn't need brand new everything. Especially as he is going to a third world country. Dylan did show me on the globe that they have in Pomeroys that Arizona and Madagascar are literally on the opposite sides of the world. If dylan wanted to get away he surely is. Can't get any further than the sweet island of Madagascar and King Julian. (see madagascar disney movie to find out who King Julian is). So after we get home from Pomeroys, Dylan wants to go out before his many interviews with Bishop Walker (we love you Bishop!) Well Dylan needed to write his acceptance letter to the First Presidency, and he still hadn't yet. I assumed the letter was already written and you just had to sign it. NOT. They actually have to write a letter to the First Presidency stating they will accept this mission call. The nerve of those men asking these boys to actually touch a piece of paper and pen and think about writing something. This was really hard for Dylan. Image that, not being able to use his cell phone and text the First Presidency his acceptance letter. I am glad when I found out it wasn't a preformed letter. How many times do you actually write to the First Presidency of the church. I did once. It was very cool. Even cooler to receive a letter back. Well, needless to say. Dylan wrote his letter and took it with him to the Bishop because Bishop needs to sign the letter also. bishop signed it(thanks Bishop!) and next thing i know is Dylan calling and asking about a Temple date. Oh very exciting next step
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