Call home, Arrival to Mississippi and First Assignment

February 10, 2015

(Written by mom)

McKenna called home Monday morning at 5:50 am from the Salt Lake City Airport. They got up at 2:30 am to get ready and meet their bus/van for the airport at 3:30 am. She is so excited to get to Mississippi. It was great to hear her voice. She sounded so good and happy. Of course I had lots of questions. She said the food in the MTC was good the first few days and then it was the same as college dining food. She had the same teachers while she was there and loved them. She said that her testimony has grown so much in the short time she was there. The other two sisters in her room were going to California, Spanish speaking. She enjoyed seeing friends from school in the MTC. Her favorite part about being there was learning and understanding her missionary purpose. The night before they left the MTC Mission President (uncle to Sister Burgess in her district) at dinner with them. She said that was great. We talked for 28 minutes and then she wanted to get off the phone so the others could call home. She was ready, confident and happy to get to the mission field so she could start the work that her Heavenly Father called her to do. Surprisingly there were no tears...not even from mom. How could I be sad when she is in the right place teaching and serving God's children. Mothers Day is only 89 days away and we can talk again.

There was 8 missionaries on her flight and 9 on the another flight. She flew to Atlanta for a 2 hour lay over before flying and arriving in Jackson, Mississippi at about 3:00 pm. President and Sister McDonough, the Assistants to the President and the Sister Trainers were there to meet them and take them to the Mission Home. 

Sister Alexis Kendall from St. Louis, Missouri and McKenna

on the flight to Mississippi. (Photo thanks to Alexis's roommate

dad who happened to be on the same flight for business)

February 10, 2015

Hey Mom,

I love it here. To answer your questions, I sat by Kimi on both flights and she is a cutie. She is so nice. Yea we spent the night at the Mission home and it is such a cute house. For dinner we had Chicken Alfredo and it was amazing to have a home cooked meal. The Mission President and his wife are so cute. They picked us up at the airport and they are so kind. I got my assignment this morning. I'll be in Brandon, Jackson Stake and my companions are Sister Todd and Sister Ridge (three some). I'm super excited. Love you all!!!!!

Sister O'Connor 

Pictures are coming. Sorry!

Sister McKenna O’Connor with other sisters in the MTC Provo

On a Sunday afternoon walk to the Provo Temple.

Sister O’Connor with President and Sister McDonough on

Her first day in Mississippi Jackson Mission.

Sister O’Connor with her new companions. Sister Ridge &

Sister Todd. Her first area in the mission field will be

Brandon, Mississippi in the Jackson Stake. She is so excited!!!

Thanks to the Mississippi Jackson Mission Moms facebook page, I found out that McKenna's companion Sister Ridge is from Highland, Utah (15 minutes from us). She goes home in 12 weeks. Her sister in law was in Mikes class at Lehi HS and her brother and his wife moved into the house across the street from our old house on Apache Lane.  We also found out that two of the Westlake band kids that performed with McKenna lived in Brandon, MS for 8 years. Talk about a small world. So grateful for these connections. 

We also got a message from a sister who lives in the Brandon Ward:

Hi Laura,

My name is Tammy Whidden, I am in the Brandon Ward and a Ward Missionary so I will be working with your daughter and am looking forward to getting to know and meet her tomorrow. If you ever need anything while she is here you can contact me as well as President and Sister McDonough who are awesome with the missionaries. Thank You for letting her serve the Lord as we do his work, we have some really great missionaries here and of course will come home a true southerner. We will love her and take good care of her, hopefully someday I will get to meet you in person. I have met a lot of our missionary’s parents and love to meet them. Living here in a place that is not a big LDS area but the most people are very true or try to be. If you ever need to check on her my ph. # is and I  would love to help her. Just remember she will be very loved here.    Tammy

(Thank you Tammy and we are so grateful for the members in the mission who help teach, feed, love and help the missionaries)