Saying Goodbye is Never Easy

Cole entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo yesterday and it was probably the hardest day of my life. He will be serving the people in the Bacalod, Philippines Mission until June 2014.  I have always hoped that he would choose to obey the Lord by serving a mission, but I never realized how hard it would be to actually send him away for two years.  It definitely takes a lot of faith knowing you are doing the right thing.  I just have to trust in the Lord that he will keep him safe.

Conner Murdock, Joey Muscolino, and Cole

One of Cole's best friends, Conner Murdock entered the MTC on the same day.  He is also going to the Philippines, but will be serving in a different mission.  It is nice to know that he will see a familiar face from home each day.

Logan, Cole & Kody

Cole & Melissa Turner

After dropping Cole off, we returned home to St. George.  We had been driving for a couple of hours when we received a call from his Uncle Mike and Aunt Denise, who had just left the MTC to begin their missionary service in Bulgaria/Turkey.  Mike will be the Mission President there for the next three years.  They told us they had the opportunity to say good-bye to Cole  before they left and had met his new companion, as well as his new mission president and wife.  They said he was doing great and had a big smile on his face.  They also sent this picture of them all together.

Elder Doane, Sister Lopez, President Lopez, Cole, Denise, & Mike