It was great to talk with Elder Jake for 30 minutes by phone. It is always good for me as a mom to hear my missionary's voice, to hear how he is really doing. He sounded good, a bit subdued because so few were heading to Brazil that day.
He was one of three missionaries leaving from the Provo MTC. The other two missionaries had time to finish in the Provo MTC, so Elder J is the only one headed straight to the mission field. They may have been a few more brand new missionaries that met up with them in Dallas. He thinks one of the reasons his visa came through faster was because it went through the SF consulate, which is supposedly faster.
For those missionaries remaining in the MTC, if they haven't received their visa, at 11 weeks, they receive alternative flight plans to a stateside mission temporarily. At 12 weeks, they leave for that mission. If they receive their visa after their flight plans have been arranged, they will still go to their stateside assignment for one transfer (six weeks), then head to Brazil.
