SET APART AS A MISSIONARY

Before I got set apart as a missionary, I had friends over to say their final goodbyes.  It was emotional and hard.  I have such good friends and family to support me.

Dan Hopkins. Brooke Badger,  Chloe Bruderer, Kira Nielsen, J.Jones, Whitney Miner, Morgan Yates, Andrew Young, Tyler Wall, Emily Peterson, me, Zach Parker, Seth Fankhouser, 
McCall Christensen, Porter Criddle, Chase Omana, Brooke Johnson, Lauren Criddle, 
Reilly Caten,  Ruby Parkin, Abby Richards, Emily Alder, Olivia Crowley, Ben Perkins, 
Robb Moffitt, and Annie Warren

Friends' Sad Goodbyes for Two Years.

Tyler, Zach, me, Robb, and Porter

At 9:00 p.m. we went to the Stake Center.  Both sets of grandparents, my family, and the Stake Presidency were there.  Everyone got to bear their testimonies.  There were a lot of tears.  Then I received a blessing and was set apart as a missionary.  Afterwards, I bore my testimony --my first time as a missionary.  My family and I felt so much peace afterwards.  We came home and finished packing.  I was able to go right to sleep.

FAREWELL

My farewell was Sunday, July 28th.  I got to share the farewell with my good friend I've grown up with, Zach Ney.  My assigned talk was on obedience.  With both of us having farewells, it was a large crowd.  Bria White performed a musical number.   Afterwards I had an open house at our house, and Zach did an open house later that night.  I appreciate so much the support from friends and family.

Kristy Morrison, Jerelyn Moffitt, and Melanie Loomis

Me with Zach Parker's Dad

Tyler Wall and Olivia Crowley

Joni, Johnny, and Tedd Prokopis

Alli Fox, Kira Nielsen, Brooke Badger, Megan Moffitt

Dave Jackson, Katie Bagley, and Rachel Jackson

Spencer and Davis Grant, Heather Crofts, Mia Grant, and Hannah Stephens

Sam Ellis, Zach Parker, Porter Criddle

Stephanie, Annie, Caitlin and Colbie Eichers 

Davis, Jeremy and Cynthia Grant

Grandparents Jack and Ruth Eichers, me, and Grandparents Elaine and Gerry Goodman 

Dillon and Baby Sam

James Layton, Sage Nelson, and Jake Momberger

Me, Tyler Wall, Zach Parker, Porter Criddle, and Rob Moffitt

Lexus aka Kevin 

DRAPER TEMPLE

I felt really prepared for the temple.  I enjoy doing baptisms with my friends at the temple, and we go often.  I was going to get my endowments at the Newport Beach Temple, but instead decided to go to the Draper Temple.  (I'm glad I did because my brother in law had appendicitis while we were in Newport and we would have had to miss our appointment).

I love the Draper Temple.  It is smaller and peaceful and beautiful.    I was the only person going for their own endowments.    I went with my parents and my sister, Stephanie, and her husband, Sam.

Afterwards my family went to dinner at Market Street Restaurant, one of my favorite places to eat.

EAGLE SCOUT

I've been so close to being done with my scouting for several years, but I kept putting it off because I always seemed so busy with sports, school, and friends.  Soooo, my parents "encouraged" me to finish, and finish it fast.  I had to complete a couple of merit badges and get my Eagle Project completed.  Thanks to my scout leader, John Alder, for pushing this through and helping me all the way.

My Eagle Project was for a Ghana Children's Hospital Nursery.   I collected sheets and blankets to donate because the children, newborns, and women sleep on plastic covers or the floor.  This is cold, uncomfortable, and unclean.  The Project turned out great:  We received 63 blankets, 53 sheets, and bolts of fabric for blankets.  They were delivered to Dianne Terry, who had a shipping crate donated. 

Tyler, Zach, me, Rob, and J Jones

The Eagle Project paperwork took me almost as much time as the project.  I had everything completed and signed off at 11:20 p.m. on June 29th.  I turned 18 on June 30th, the deadline for becoming an Eagle Scout.  Whew.  I then had to have my Eagle Court of Review the week before I left on my mission.  No Eagle Court of Honor for me as I'll be on my mission -- the certificate is great!

GRADUATIONS

In June I graduated from LDS Seminary and Brighton High School.

Seminary Graduation with Sage Nelson, Zach Ney, Austin Ririe, Connor Fordam, and me.  June 2, 2013

Brighton High School Graduation - June 5, 2013

MEXICO CITY MTC

The Mexico City MTC (Missionary Training Center) opened July 1, 2013.  With so many new missionaries after lowering the missionary age, the LDS Church needed more space.   The MTC was formerly Benemerito de las Americas High School for over 50 years.  You can see the "B" on the hill.  When Elder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve broke ground for the school in 1963 he said, “Its influence will reach far beyond the valley of Mexico…. Hundreds of thousands of people will come here. Going out from here, they will help the nation build up its education, its culture and its spirituality.”  When the key was given to President Carl Pratt, Mexico MTC President, it had a scripture that said, "Behold, I will hasten my work in its time."  D&C 88:73.

Most spanish-speaking missionaries who were going to the United States and Canada were assigned to this MTC.  Also, some North Americans going to Latin America will go to this MTC.  Further, missionaries whose native language is spanish from Latin America will go to this MTC for two weeks.

MISSIONARY PREP CLASSES

Leslee Ellis organized a group of friends to have weekly classes to help us on our missions.  It was fun to get together and learn good things.  We all graduated from Brighton High School in June, 2013 (except Sam Peterson was from Skyline)  and were leaving for our missions before summer was done.  It was good to prepare and go on missions together.  One thing we learned was that when Dr. Rich Ingebretsen went over illnesses on missions, the one country that had them all was the Philippines.

Back Row:  Zach Ney (Korea), Jo Marlow (Philippines):
Middle Row:   Connor Fordham (Peru), ---- Kolton Savage (Philippines), Kaleb Schoell (Spain)
Front row:  me, Sam Ellis (Chile), Porter Criddle (Honduras), Rob Moffitt (Paris), Zach Parker (Mexico).