Sunset from the MTC

First P-Day

First P-Day:

In preparation for the first P-Day, we sent at package to Elder Harding full of "P" items.  Pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, and pez candy. He thought it was cheesy, but I'm sure enjoyed the snacks.



From somewhere inside this building came the first email home.

Excerpts from email 9/25/18:

Hello!

I am doing really good today, yesterday was not the best but at the end of the day we were in 3 Nephi 11 and it really helped me get out of the ditch that I was in. My companion is Elder Clarke and he is a pretty cool guy from Cedar City. The other two elders in our room are Elder Morgan and Elder Smout. Elder Morgan is from Idaho Falls. Elder Smout is from Scottsdale, Arizona. We all are going to the Washington, Seattle mission and we all pretty bummed about Seattle being taken out of the mission area. We are a part of a district of 11. There is another 4 Elders in our district that are going to the Utah, Layton mission and there are very cool people from Texas. Elder Wells and Elder Jonses are the District Leaders and Elder Steinhour and Elder Hidalgo are the Zone Leaders. We have a Trio of Sisters who are headed to New Hampshire and one of them is headed to the Oregon, Portland mission. Sisters Callahan and Vanwagoner are going to New Hampshire and Sister Newson is going to the Oregon, Portland mission. The sisters are very nice and fun to have class with. We all have gotten pretty close in our district, we eat our meals together and spend what free time we have with each other. We are all leaving in the 3 week mark, so either Oct 9th or Oct 10th. It has been a very humbling experience so far and I have felt the spirit more here then I have felt it before. 

On another note, we have been assigned a investigator(TRC) to teach the gospel to. We had our first lesson yesterday and I felt that it went well. He is from Southern California. He doesn't have much of a religious background but he knows about the concept of God and Christ. We read with him the first vision and how Satan came out of hiding to try and stop this boy from praying. We also looked at 1 Nephi and got him intrigued by mentioning that Christ came to the Americas. We meet with him again tomorrow and then meet with someone new on Thursday. 

Fun fact, the chocolate milk is BYU Creamery' s which is amazing. They have Coke but it's caffeine free... if you would like to smuggle me in a small 8 pack of the 9oz vanilla cokes I would love you VERY MUCH! Other than that the food is pretty good. 

I really enjoy my teachers Brother Coutu is a nice guy and has a serious side which is nice, because Sister Everett is kind and very empathetic. The lessons in class have been very educational and overall helpful. I've been able to feel the spirit during class different than seminary. So all in all the training is going good. I'm happy that I'm here and the Lord has reassured me that I should be here and am doing the right thing. I miss you and everyone else, don't give Amber my phone.

Love, Elder Harding

Thanks to another mom I've connected with we got a couple of pictures of their district today.   (Her son is in the middle front on the lower picture). 

In his emails we learned that the area of his mission was changed.  He sent a picture of the close-up area showing that the actual city of Seattle is no longer in his mission boundaries.  Guess this for sure means we'll have to plan a visit after his mission back to Seattle to see the sites.


Picture: Map of new Washington, Seattle mission area.  I love how he tagged this picture, "When you find out that Seattle actually isn't in your mission area anymore..."

First pictures from the MTC

Here are the first pictures sent home from the MTC.  They came via Google Photos on Saturday.  The top one is of a majority of the elders walking outside as they all head back to their beds at night.

The three pictures sent included these:  One of the companionship that share the same room, (Elder Morgan and Elder Smout) and one of Matthew's companion (Elder Clarke) as well as the one from above.

These pictures we so wonderful to receive!  Just a little snapshot into what life at the MTC might be like.

Entering the MTC

Today Matthew entered the MTC to begin his mission service to the people of Seattle, Washington.  He was set apart as a missionary last night at our home by President Kettle.

We began the morning with some quick family pictures.  Then we took everyone to eat lunch.  When we go to the restaurant we ran into another family preparing to send off a missionary too.  This missionary is also headed to Washington, but will be in the Spokane instead of the Seattle mission.  It will be fun to see if they see each other again in Washington at zone conferences.

We ran a quick errand to get a screen protector and case for Matthew's phone, but then still had a little bit of time so we went to spend it together at the Provo Temple grounds.  There were lots of families there preparing to send off their missionaries.  We were able to get in so last minute hugs and pictures, but before we knew it, it was time to go.

At the MTC they have it organized into a drive through drop-off.  You drive into the underground parking and pull up to a "host elder" who meets your son and helps get them into the MTC.  Matthew's host elder was Elder Clark.  He was very kind and humored me in letting us get a picture of Matt with him.  Then it was time for last hugs and off he went.

Last talk at church

Today, Matthew had an opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting.  He shared the message of how he decided to serve a mission, and how his testimony is growing.  So many people commented on how wonderful his message was.

We appreciate all of the family and friends that came to support him.  Here are a couple of photos taken afterward at our home.

Ready or not...

Today was spent running last minute errands and picking up the last of the items needed for this journey.  Then we packed.  Tonight these three bags are all full and ready to go.

3 more days!  That's all that left until this new journey begins.