On June 22,2009 after spending a lovely weekend with our family we flew to Utah to start looking for a home. We were invited by our good friends the Spannaus family from Argentina. Bill served with Alin in the Bishopric for 2 years while we were there. Andrea was a good friend of mine also. Sophia was in the young women program with me also. We met with them on the 23rd of June at the church office buildings to be apart of their setting aparts and blessing by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. It was so exciting, we were on a special guest list to enter the parking lot where the prophet and church leaders offices are. We then waited in the waiting room and while there we met with others like the Hinckley family who Gordon B. Hinckleys son was going to be set apart by Thomas S. Monson to serve as a mission president in Barcelona Spain. We visited with his wife sister Hinckley, then they were called into the prophets office. Then after all the Spannaus friends and family gathered then they called us back to go to Elder Hollands office. The sec. invited us in, I remember the whole experience was a reverent one in deed. Elder Holland welcomed all of us as if we were old friends and gave us each a hug. He proceeded to get acquainted with each of us. Alin introduced his relationship with each one us as Elder Holland asked us questions. He asked Bill and I how we liked Argentina and what we were doing there? He was very sweet and personal with each of us. He gave Alin Spannaus his blessing and set him apart to be a mission president in the Cuernavaca Mexico. I asked Elder Holland if it was appropriate to take notes he said "yes". Then Andrea had her blessing by a seventy who spoke spanish and he gave it to her in spanish. After, we asked Elder Holland if we could take pictures. He said "of, course please do-but make sure I am in them...ha ha". After pictures I asked him if he knew my uncle Roger Reid and he said of course I do... I told him I was his niece and that my mom was Rogers sister. I also told him how much my mom love him and he was her favorite. He said " sister Cook you tell your mom I love her too." We found him to be warm, personal and very loving just like I would imagine the Savior to be with each of us. This was truly one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had. This is a man of God and a true apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am humbled to have had this experience in my life.
