The Best Two Years: Day 1

Tyler is now a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We dropped him off yesterday, September 2, 2009. They have recently changed the way new missionaries are dropped off. They used to have family bring the new Elder (or Sister) inside the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and everyone would attend a meeting together with speakers and singing. At the end of the meeting the missionaries and parents would part through different doors. They have now done away with the meeting with parents and you drop off the new missionary outside.

We parked across the street where we were instructed to leave his luggage in the car and we could then cross the street and get pictures in front of the sign. It was pretty crowded as every Wednesday appox. 400 - 600 new missionaries enter the MTC. We got our pictures at the sign and started talking to two Elders who were standing there directing new Elders on where to go. We got to talking to them and found out they both of them are also going to the Phoenix Spanish speaking Miission. They had both been in the MTC for 6 weeks and practiced their Spanish on us. I didn't get their names but one was from Wisconsin and the other from Missouri. I thought it was neat that the first 2 Elders we met there were also going to the same mission as Tyler.



After the pictures at the sign we could either go back and get the luggage and walk back across the street and say good bye or get in the car, drive across the street and go through the long parking lot of the MTC to drop Tyler off. We ended up deciding to do the latter. As you drive through the parking lot at the MTC they have Elders working the parking lot directing traffic. They flag you into the next available spot along the sidewalk where you pull over and there are Elders waiting. The waiting Elder greets the new Elder and helps them with their luggage. There is just a minute for goodbye and then it's time for them to go. As Tyler walked off I got this shot:

We are looking forward to hearing from Tyler and learning about his first week, companion and other experiences. I think his P-Day will be Tuesday but won't know for sure until he lets us know.

Elder Holden's address is:
Elder Tyler James Holden
MTC Mailbox # 109
AZ-PHX 1103
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

I also found out about a cool service offered through DearElder.com This is a free service and they take the letter you write to missionaries via their web site over to the MTC the same day. If you would like to drop him a line using this service you'll need the address provided above as well as the date he is leaving the MTC which is 11/4/2009