Hannah reported to the Provo MTC last Wednesday. This is something I wrote on Richard's missionary site about how they were able to see each other at the Phoenix airport.

Before going into the story, keep in mind Hannah left for the Provo MTC this morning flying to Phoenix for a short layover before leaving for Salt Lake. Richard and Hannah would miss each other by a day as he travels to Oregon on Tuesday and she on Wednesday. We often thought how nice it would be for him to get diverted to Salt Lake or her to Portland so they could meet up. With that in mind, read the rest.

Richard's original flight was leaving Mexico City for Dallas, TX at 1:15 CT then onto Portland after a short layover. I monitored his trip itinerary and saw that his flight was getting delayed because of storms in Mexico and Texas. His flight was to be delayed till 8:30 PM. For reasons I'm not sure of (I know but will let you guess), American Airlines switched he and his companion to a different flight at the last minute. This flight was going to Phoenix then onto Portland after a very short layover. He arrived too late to catch the connecting flight to Portland so AA put he and his companion up in a hotel, gave them food vouchers, and booked them on an early morning flight for Portland. Of all the things they could have eaten, they ordered pizza and felt like they were eating like kings.

Richard called us at 1 AM to let us know of the change. While on the call, we started comparing his new flight and Hannah's. He was leaving out of Terminal 4, concourse A. She arrives in Terminal 4, concourse B. I wasn't sure how far apart their gates would be but thought if he got the airport early to find her arriving gate, they could see each other for 5-10 minutes before they'd have to go to their departing gates. They both cried with the thought of seeing each other again before starting their missions. I really hoped it would happen. The complication was Hannah was leaving for Salt Lake 25 minutes before Richard. I was concerned they'd get to see each other but one or both would miss their flights.

As it turns out, Hannah's arriving gate, her departing gate, and Richard's departing gate were very close to each other. Hannah's flight was on time so they were able to see each other for 5 minutes!!!!! They hugged each other and cried. It was exactly what both needed. Hannah said later that she needed to see him and he said that he needed to see her. Although it was only 5 minutes, it's exactly what both needed.

Hannah didn't know at the time that her gate had been changed so she had a longer walk. The gate door had just closed before she got there. In a panic, she went to the customer service to plead to let her on the plane. They said she was in luck because they just called for maintenance to look at something so they'd be delayed at least 5 minutes. They let her on the plane (I've never heard of an airline letting a passenger on after the gate door closes). They also upgraded her seat to business class. Hannah's plan was delayed 26 minutes which is a minutes off Richard's flight. They lifted off 2 minutes apart.

It's no coincidence Richard's flight was diverted to Phoenix just late enough to miss the connecting flight, their gates were close together, her plane was delayed 26 minutes, their flights left Phoenix at the same time; all so they could spend 5 minutes together. Heavenly Father knew how close they are and how much they missed each other. He blessed them not only with the ability to see each other again but both as full time missionaries. Laura and I feel like we've witnessed a miracle.

Life is good.