I'm leaving on a jet plane...

"I got my flight plans last Friday. I am scheduled to leave on the 14th of April at 10:00AM from the MTC. I then leave SLC airport at 1:15PM and will fly into the Dallas/Ft. Worth aiport and will have a three hour layover. At about 7:30 PM I will leave and will fly straight to Buenos Aires and will arrive at about 8:05 AM on the 15th. They made me travel leader to, so I am in charge of getting 10 missionaries safely down to Mendoza...scarey huh? Its really cool because 6 of the 10 of from my district, so I already know them so it makes things alot easier. I will be getting some more information later on in the week about travel information that they give to travel leaders."

District 32-B

A day in the life of District 32-B...

Reflections

"Our district is now officially the oldest district within our zone. Speaking of which, we will be getting our flight plans in about a week and a half! I can't believe that I am almost done with my MTC experience! As I look back on it I realize that I could not have be able to do what I have done without the help of the Lord. I have gone in one month from no Spanish to being able to form sentences and speak to people in a completely different language, which I know can only happen through the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. The spirit is so strong here and I have never been so involved in such a highly rewarding work. I have seen the changes in the missionaries in the Zone as the grow stronger in the gospel and can already see the changes within myself. I see these new missionaries come in and see how concerned about the world they have left, but as time goes by I see them grow within the gospel and begin to focus on the world of the Lord and progressing it. I feel like a proud father watching my children grow up right before my eyes, and it is such a rewarding experience."

MTC Referral Center

"Also, I had a great time at the RC (Referral Center), which is where real people call into the church to talk about any questions they had and request more information on our beliefs. I had the privilege of talking to a Joyce who sounded like she was from the deep south. I had trouble understanding her from her thick southern accent, but to say the least, she was hilarious and a breath of fresh air. I talked to her for about 20 minutes about our beliefs and she was very excited to hear all of it. Its funny because I have never met this lady Joyce, but yet I feel so close to her on a whole different level. The spirit once again was so strong and as I shared my testimony to her, I could feel that the spirit was taking the message to her heart. With a shaky, southern voice, she said, "Thank you, I think that the Lord had me call you today because He knew that I needed to talk to you, thank you for taking the time and answering my personal questions." I have never met Joyce, but I love her. That experience has only made me want to get out into the field even more. This work is so rewarding, and I am not able to believe that I almost gave up this experience. I know that this church is true, and that by its teachings a person can come closer to God. Joseph Smith was and is a prophet and by the power of God translated the Book of Mormon. That through the spirit of God, we can learn all things for ourselves."

Life at the MTC

"Well I have made it here two weeks now and I have a lot to tell you. First of all, I have been unofficially called to become the new Zone Leader once the current zone leaders leave for their respective missions. As zone leaders, we are going to be in charge of about 50 to 60 missionaries and we have to conduct zone meetings and help organize sacrament meetings. We also have leadership training as well, which will really help not only in the mission, but in the rest of my life as well. It is truly a humbling experience to be called to perform as a zone leader. Elder Swainston and I were a little overwhelmed at the calling, so I suggested that we pray to have the spirit of the Lord to help us magnify this calling. It was such a beautiful experience..."

Valentines Day at the MTC

Someone is loved!

Families Are Forever

"Families are like Quilts--Lives pieced together, Stitched with Smiles and Tears, Colored with Memories, And Bound by Love."

January 12, 2008, was a special day for our family. On that beautiful, cold, January afternoon, Christian took out his endowments in the Bountiful Temple. "Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family, and the Lord has shown me how I can."

In The Beginning...

On November 25, 2007, surrounded by family and friends, Christian opened his mission call. He received a call to the Argentina Mendoza mission. We all made our predictions, but Sarina Thomas had made the correct call. Christian would report to the Provo MTC on February 13, 2008. Christian has always had the knack for missing Valentine's Day celebrations. This year would be no different. His champsionship swim meets usually fell over Valentines, so reporting to the MTC the day before Valentines seemed to be par for the course.