Our First Snail Mail!

Sat Jan 29, 2011  4:15 pm

Hello again!

I guess I just found out that I will not be able to email you all my thoughts and concerns because I can't get it out in 30 min. at least here at the MTC because things are a lil crazy.  My first four days here have been truly muito oitimo (so awesome).  I'm already, seriously, confusing some words in English with Portugese because of how much time I'm spending studying it.  I've probably spent over 40+ hours in a classroom learning Portuguese and studying how to preach and that may sound bad, but I can't get enough of it.  Time just flies by in that classroom, and probably because I have two of the most amazing teachers!  Brother Cannon and Brother Porter.  They both are returned missionaries from Brazil who speak Portuguese fluently.  In our classes they only speak Portuguese.  I'm in this thing called the "pilot program" and they say missionaries who have gone through this program are far more successful with the language on their mission.  First day meeting them was a bit overwhelming, but they were surprised that I was responding to them and understanding what they were saying.  Thank you so much again for Rosetta Stone or Eu Sou muito agradecemos por estudio isto. 

I got my first companion.  His name is Elder States.  Well I don't know if a companion at the MTC truly counts as a first, but I think it does.  I actually first met him before the MTC at the airport going there.  He's from WA and is also going to Brazil, big surprise right.  I call him Elder "Estados" and I love him like a brother because he is so awesome.  When we were eating lunch one day and we were just nonchalantly eating and I look up and he says "you want to see something cool" as he has this gigantic scar from his wrist to his elbow on the bottom of his right forearm.  I just choked on some food and said "that's cool" and he began to tell me how he was on the road to a football scholarship and everything was going his way.  Then one game he jumped up to catch a pass and a guy clipped his legs and his whole bodyweight fell onto his right forearm and just shattered his bones almost out of his skin.  He almost lost his arm. He questions himself if he would be serving a mission if that didn't happen to him.  It was such a humbling experience he said as Heavenly Father helped him get through that pain.  I call it his "testimony scar".  He has physical proof of a testimony, how cool is that.  The scar is pretty sick as it has staple marks going up the side of it.  It's so gnarly.  God works in mysterious ways. 

When I first received my "missionary package" in the bookstore on day one, I was welcomed by an awesome "shirt and tie" letter (the letter was actually shaped like a shirt with a tie).  It was from Elder McComber, Elder Black and Elder Cardon.  As the guy handed me the package he said "that's a real cute letter you go there" with a smirk on his face.  I laughed and walked away. 

The 2nd day is somewhat of a blur of Portuguese to me right now.  On the third night we met our district leaders and had a testimony meeting.  My district is comprised of 8 elders and 4 sisters, named Elder Holston, Collett, Welch, Howell, States, Gariety, Galvez, Clason and Sisters Bailey, Taylor, Jessie and Myers.  The sisters bring a real sweet spirit to our district versus our obnoxious elder behavior.  That night was really profound.  One testimony in particular really struck me and that was Elder Galvez's.  I don't want to get too specific but his mom was a drug addict and his dad's not a member and his brothers and sisters have really looked to him for strength and he has brought his family closer with the gospel and his testimony of it and I think his mom is about to be baptized and he decided that he wanted to bring more families together by serving a mission and hopefully his example will touch his father.  I really admire his strength and will to be able to leave his family which he basically took care of to serve the Lord.  To show his appreciation to the Lord.  I thought I had it hard.

Well, the food here is great and I love my roomies and I can't describe to you my love for our Church and I pray that you guys are doing as well as I am.

Until next week!

Lots of love,
Elder Howell

First Email From Andy - Jan 29, 2011

Hello Everyone!

My gosh! Holy crap! or Santo Crappo! right now as I'm sitting in the laundry room in the MTC I feel like my heart and head is going to explode! I have so many thoughts going through my head and my heart is filled with so much excitement and anxiety that I don't know where to begin! Well let me start off by saying I've recieved my first MTC letter and I'm so thankful for the shoehorn! My roomies are jealous, thanks again. Next I would like to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support. On the car ride to the MTC Dana you might recall me saying that I feel a lot of pressure to be going out on a mission, I think you misunderstood me and I should of explained myself further becuase you guys got the impression that the pressure is from you guys which is only partly true...haha but the true pressure that I feel is that I will be able to surmise enough courage and love and knowledge to be able to truly call myself and represent to the best of my ability a Missionary for our Savior Jesus Christ and to be able to spread my testimony to as many people possible in Portuguese. Im getting a some wierd looks right now haha as a write this from some guys becuase Im tearing up with the honor to be able to call myself an Elder. I know that Im in the right place at this time in my life and cant express to you how excited I am to serve! The MTC is truly an amazing place! I've never seen so many guys in suits. haha. When I arrived I felt so welcome by all the smiles and handshakes and greetings and throughout my stay so far I have felt the kindness and promptings of the spirit. I only have five min. left Im so sorry but I have to wrap this up already. I will definialty tell you more stories and more about my experiece soon. I love you all so much and I testify to you that the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives like you cant imagine. the testimonies that I have heard here...OMG Anyways I wish you all well and I miss you. Til next time. God Bless.

Set Apart and Off He Goes!

Well, it's now Wednesday evening and Andy has officially spent about 7 hours in the Provo MTC at this point!   Some notes from Dana about the last couple days...

Tuesday evening, President Tanner and Bishop Johns came to our house to set Andy apart.  It was a very special experience for everyone, but Andy was especially touched...he said on Wednesday that it was the most amazing experience of his life. 

President Tanner said a few words, had the rest of us say a few words and by the the time everyone had said what they wanted, Andy was just totally overwhelmed and asked if we could pause in the proceedings for a minute to have a group hug.  It was definitely one of the most significant events we've ever experienced as a family.  After the group hug and a couple more words of counsel from President Tanner, Andy was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (this point was emphasized to him...he's representing the Church...not just serving in our ward, our stake, etc.)

It was really just an amazing night...

On Wednesday, we were all up at 4 to head to the airport...after a last minute change of plans due to some unrelated events, I ended up travelling with Andy to SLC...so at about 5:30 in the morning, Mark and  Andy shared their last love, hugs and kisses, Andy gave Madison a hug and a note to read later on, and Andy and I headed to the gate.  As we went through security, one of the security officers complimented Andy on how sharp and clean cut he looked...we explained to him what Andy was about to go do and the man was so nice and said the world needs more people like Andy!

At the gate, Andy found 3 more missionaries - all of whom were called to Joao Pessoa too!  They also had not received their visas and were travelling to Provo.  Andy got to sit by one of them...an Elder Hutchinson.  It was good to see more young men going on this big adventure!  The guys weren't wearing their missionary badges yet since they would get them at the MTC, but the man who took our boarding passes recognized them as missionaries anyway and asked the four guys where their badges were!

In SLC, Grandpa and Grandma Howell met us at the airport and drove us to Provo where we picked up Marcus and went to Red Robin for lunch...Andy and I shared a bunch of the experiences from the past few days with everyone while we ate.  Andy was just so happy and was pretty much glowing.

After lunch we went to the Provo temple for just a quick sec of photos and hugs and last words...then we pulled into the MTC where they literally direct you to a spot on the curb...at each spot, there were two "HOST" missionaries waiting for new arrivals.  We pulled up, Andy's two hosts came over, one grabbed his bags from the car and the other spoke with Andy and Grandma and everyone...then after one or two more hugs and a quick pic, one of the hosts turned with Andy and headed inside...it was like summer camp...everyone was happy and smiling...very welcoming...very friendly and Andy immediately had arms wrapped around him welcoming him in...for those of us that were tense and dreading the big good-bye, this was a peaceful, happy, joyful experience and we left Andy in great spirits! 

Can't wait to hear from him for the first time!

Andy and new pal Elder Hutchinson



A post from Dana...

So, we've had a great couple nights! Andy got his temple recommend signed by the Stake Pres on Sunday...we hadn't made any definite plans to go to the temple but the Stake Pres encouraged him to go this week and we also knew our ward's YW/YM were doing baptisms today (Wed.), so, he was all excited and we decided we'd get him through for his own endowment on Tues so he could baptize people on Wed. Tuesday afternoon I took Andy shopping at the distribution center (it's a small one ) for all the temple gear, white pants, a few different pairs of garments so he can decide what he likes, etc.  He had done a temple prep class and had told me on the way to shopping that he was just excited and wasn't nervous, but after the lady helping us get his stuff at the dist center was rambling on about robes, aprons, etc...Andy had become a bit more puzzled Still, he was amazingly prepared/composed/engaged through the whole endowment thing...I've really never seen anyone take it all in with such awe compared to such "what the heck is all this?" that you often hear about.  We had the two nicest men escorting him all over...after the session, they took him on a tour of areas he hadn't seen in the process of getting his instruction and to the session (like, they bypass the chapel and he hadn't seen the sealing rooms)...it was all really great. The parents of two of his best pals came with us which was very nice...especially since one of the dad's had already done a session early that morning!  Afterwards I asked him if he had any thoughts and he just said he was feeling very humbled.  So then today, the YW/YM go to do baptism...Andy coming along as one of the grown up men (I went too just to help out and Mark met us there too)...a member of our bishopric baptized the first three girls while Andy was a witness and got used to the whole idea, then Andy went into the font and guess who his first baptism was??!!  Madison !  It was all rather sweet in my opinion!  They all did family names submitted by our ward members...in all Andy had to have done at least a hundred baptisms...he would alternate with the bishopric guy and the YM pres...Andy was excited to baptize one of his best pals in our ward that's a senior this year...after they were done, this young man, Dylan just gave Andy a big huge "we're too cool for normal handshakes" gigantic handshake...sort of ghetto style or whatever is cool...while they're standing there in the water! So, Andy  is happily wearing his garments  and we're all happy because...D & C 109:22 (the kids are making fun of me because I keep quoting it  ): And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy aname may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine bangels have charge over them. What more can I say?!?!