Still more MTC pix

Here are some more Richard pix. Top: His original district. Middle: "Some seriously dedicated letter-writing....to Cecily". Bottom: "Our new room." His latest letter had some words of comfort for me, birthday greetings for his mother, and words of advice for his brother.

More MTC pics

Here are some pics Richard sent us: Top left says: "We have a message for you." Top right says: It's a Haitian pose...right?" Bottom, this is Richard and his companion Elder Birch and the picture says: The Elders and The Reason." He seems to be adjusting to MTC life just great. Notice that these pix were taken just before he was switched over to Spanish speaking.

MTC Pix 3

This is the last we will see of our Richard for two years. Mom is putting the "Dork Dot" on his name tag indicating to all of his "newbie" status.

After these pictures were taken, we went into the orientation for a brief meeting and goodbyes which I have described previously. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. But it is a far, far, better thing he does, than he has ever done.

MTC Pix 2

Here we are at the entrance...one for the new missionary, one for family.

Please note the proud parents and brother. This is a moment that every parent prays for and yet hopes it never comes at the same time!

MTC PIX

Here were are at the hotel the evening prior to Richard entering the MTC.
Mom is helping him pack, he is looking very pensive, probably pondering the magnitude of this undertaking and what's in store for him.

Finally....the day arrives: Check out Richards' expression on the picture with his brother as they take his luggage away.

...this just in...

Richard received a call from the mission and was asked to change his assignment somewhat. Instead of preaching the gospel in the Haitian Creole language, he will be speaking Spanish. He has yet to let us know what the repercussions of this will be. My thinking is that Spanish will be much more useful to him post-mission, but will this preclude him from service on the islands? We'll have to wait and see.

We received a couple of letters from Richard this week. He seems to have adopted the right attitude and sees his separation from home, family, and friends as "the refiners' fire" and will be for his good and will make him a greater tool in the Lord's hand.

He's beginning to see the magnitude of his calling and is already experiencing joy in service. He is also showing a greater appreciation for what he has left behind.

We miss him like you cannot imagine, but take solace in where he is and what he is doing. I can already see changes in him which will make him the man I know him to be.

1st week

Wow...it has been a week since Richard went into the MTC and has it been tough. Nothing really prepared us for this. You spend so much time and effort to prepare your kids to go on missions, but nothing really prepares the parents! We had no idea we would miss him this much. It is very difficult and requires a great deal of faith as well.

We just got our first letter from Richard, which was written just a few hours after we left him. He is already enjoying the spirit of the MTC. He has been assigned a companion which he seems to have hit it off with, and has been made a District Leader.

He says that it is very hard, but I can see that he has the missionary zeal and is working hard and enjoying himself.

MTC

Well...we dropped Richard off at the MTC on July 5th. What a great, yet painful experience that was. We had a good time on our road trip from California, but it was very strange coming home without him. Since we had his farewell and then the open house and then several goodbyes to his closest friends, the night before we went to the MTC, he told me he had had enough...that all these goodbyes were just too much and he really couldn't wait to get on with it already.

We are so proud of him. You should have seen the look on his face as he turned and waved just as he walked throught the exit door of the orientation room. It was a look of "I'm still young and I'm not really sure what I'm getting into, but I'm putting my faith in the Lord and going for it."

Just before that he hugged his mother and brother and told them he loves them. I hugged him goodbye and said "I love you kid", to which he replied that he did too. Them I told him to "take care of yourself out there", and he replied that he would and turned to go. Just then he turned back and said,"thanks for getting me here, Dad". I said that it had been my pleasure and he turned away and walked toward the door. He took one look back and I gave him a wave, and then I saw him go out the door. It was such a bittersweet experience.

This is how you hope your children will turn out, but it is so hard to let them go. Now it has only been two days since we left him in Provo and everywhere I look I see him. His presence is felt around our house so strongly. I keep fighting the urge to pick up the phone and call him and see what he's doing, and when he'll be home for dinner. We are so close and he used to just call to say hi and I really miss that already. I had to clean out his truck so we can sell it, and that was very difficult as well. So is putting things away in his room. But, as time goes by it will get easier and less painful, but I take solace in the fact that he is on the Lord's errand and that angels are watching over him and that this will be the greatest experience of his life.

Since he took the digital camera with him, I took MTC pictures with the other camera, so as soon as I get the film developed, I'll post some pics of our trip to the MTC and pictures of Richard as he went in.

Here's Richard with his "special friend"

Open House

You are not really supposed to have Missionary Farewells anymore, but after church on Richards' last day at home, we had a small get-together and here are some shots of some of Richard's friends and some of our ward family.

Missionary photo

Check this out...does he look like an Elder or what?