One Week and Counting

Cole has been in the MTC for one week now.  When he arrived, he was told that instead of learning Tagalog, he would be one of the first missionaries to learn Hiligaynon.

His companion is Elder Doane from Mesa, Arizona.  He threw the shot put for BYU Track & Field this past year.  Cole said he is a big teddy bear.  Elder Doane and he were called to be Zone Leaders yesterday, which puts them in charge of about 48 missionaries.

He has been feeling homesick, but Sunday they had a fireside that really helped.  Here is part of an email that he sent.

"Last night we had a fireside about the life of Joseph Smith and all the things he went through to bring forth this gospel.  Then the spirit hit me as strong as it ever has before and it was kinda like, 'how dare you pity yourself when Joseph went through the things he went through.  This is your time to do your part in this work and you can leave those things for two years.'  Needless to say, I was very humbled and apologetic in my prayers.  It was an experience that in about a year from now I will look back and say, wow, that changed everything!"

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