May 28th I received the following email from Kyle...he's so funny!
Mom,
Tomorrow morning we depart from the MTC and will be heading to the airport in Salt Lake City. While we are at the airport waiting for our flight to take off, they have given us permission to make a phone call home (preferably before the plane takes off). We leave the MTC around 5:00 AM (yuck) and will be at the airport a while later. They have given us phone cards, and have told us that starting around 7:00 AM we will be able to call home. They let us send this email quickly today so that you are aware that we will be calling. Talk to you soon!
Best Wishes,
Elder Kyle William Andrews
May 29, 2013
We received a wonderful phone call from Kyle before his flight left. He is happy and well – and anxious to get to Minneapolis! We all got to speak to him—but of course, I monopolized the phone call ☺ Love. That. Boy.
And this is the quick email we received shortly after he arrived in Minneapolis yesterday☺ He had to be quick because there were 33 new missionaries yesterday! WOW! They average 7-12.
He wrote:
I can’t write a lot, because all of the new missionaries need to send a brief email home, but I am here :) I will update you on all of the happenings later, I’m sure I will have a lot of things to share with you. The flight went well, and we all got here safely. It is super green here, and flat. You can see clouds EVERYWHERE! It was super hot and humid earlier (awesome!) but now it is raining and cold. Kind of reminds me of Utah. Anyways, I have to go now, but I will talk to you soon, love you!
Best Wishes,
Elder Kyle William Andrews
And…I also received a small note in the mail with a little message that really touched my heart!
Kyle wrote---Since it is Memorial Day on Monday you probably won’t receive this letter in time, but I came across something that made me think about Wayne, and others who have passed away in our family. In the Book of Mormon--Mosiah 16:8 reads “But there is a resurrection therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.”
Thank you Kyle---I know this to be true! The sting of death is swallowed up in Christ! Families are Forever! I will see my beloved brother Wayne, my grandparents, my Uncle Bill, my Auntie Anne, my cousin Nate and all other family members who have gone before us. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Go teach the world this truth!
What a great day Wednesday May 29th was! A phone call, an email and a note all in one day! Can’t wait to get his next email telling me where his first area is, who his companion is etc. That may not be until Monday ---his preparation day. Will keep you posted. I am hoping that Kyle will serve in Canada sometime in the next two years. Thunder Bay, Ontario is part of his mission boundaries and after all, he was born to a VERY PROUD Canadian Mama!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
First Email from the Missionary Training Center (MTC)
I can't believe I have officially been here for a week! I kind of had a rough start, but things are beginning to get better. Turns out, when they assign you a time to arrive at the MTC, they actually expect you to be here. Weird concept. Well, when I arrived at the MTC around 2:00ish (even though I was supposed to have been here at 12:30) my class had already left. They have a schedule that they follow very strictly here, so I was by myself. I think that this opportunity was a heaven send though, I was by myself at the MTC (which never happens) until about 5:30. AWESOME! And then after all of the orientations and such, a teacher saw me by myself and took me to the front desk when I explained my situation. I was perfectly happy, but she was very concerned that I didn't have a companion. At this time everyone was at dinner, so my zone leaders picked me up, and we ate dinner and hung out for a while until everyone came back to the residence.
For those of you that were wondering, the dork dot, or "welcome dot" as they refer to it here, is still alive and well! As we arrived we each received our name tag complete with a bright orange sticker. Everyone said hello in their respective languages and welcomed us to the MTC. I absolutely LOVE attention, but not this kind of attention. We were the noobs. The dork dot does come with some benefits though, like people holding the door open for you ;) When you are new to the MTC, you are by no means capable of opening the door by yourself, so everyone does it for you! That was nice.
I have truly been shocked at how seemingly few people are here. I was expecting that it was going to be overflowing with missionaries, but there is hardly anyone here! My companion and I have a room to ourselves, so we both get to sleep on the bottom bunk. Our district is super tiny also, we have 5 elders, and 6 sisters. In our branch, we have 2 districts, so in total we have 9 elders and 12 sisters in our sacrament meeting. Kind of crazy!
The classes here are great! They are long, but they are full of really great lessons for us. We are a "chosen district" participating in an MTC pilot program, so our training is different then anyone elses. We began teaching our second day at the MTC, and the other missionaries don't begin teaching until their second week here. Instead of having one teacher like the others, we have 4. Brother Lee Hale, Brother Jake Reis, Sister De Artin, and Brother Daryl (Cough Cough... Something) I can't remember haha! It's great though, because of this pilot program, the MTC experience is apparently a lot more enjoyable. We don't really know the difference, but I like it!
The other day I saw Sister Nelson, and I have seen a lot of people that I know from different conferences and from high school. It's pretty great!
The cafeteria food is quite gross, and some people go through the lines here multiple times. Even for breakfast. Crazy! During orientation, they told us that some people have gained up to 40 pounds while in the MTC. That's disgusting! They serve doughnuts for breakfast, and some people in our district eat 4+ in one sitting! I just have oatmeal, because it's about the only thing for breakfast that I have found to be edible. Luckily, I will be out of the MTC in soon time, and will be able to make my own food! Some people here go crazy over the vending machines though. We get $6 a week for supplies and vending, and one guy spent that and then $68 of his own money buying snacks and sodas. It's like they have been set free from their parents, and they are doing everything they have been taught not to do. Weirdos haha!
On Sunday Night, we had probably the best devotional I have ever heard. It was from Mary Ellen Edmunds, an LDS author. She was hilarious! It was great being able to hear from her, and to be uplifted and amused by her message.
On Tuesday Night, we heard from Elder and Sister Nash from the 70. He was good, but the most powerful part were the hymns we sang. I have been praying to know that missionary work really is for me, and when we sang "Called To Serve" in the devotional, my prayer was answered, and I felt the spirit really strongly. I don't know why I was chosen to freeze my butt off in Minnesota, but I know now that it is where I am needed to serve.
My companion is from Utah and served a 3 month trial mission in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is great at playing basketball during our gym time, and has taught me some interesting lessons.
I have been drinking Fresca everyday, Steve would be impressed. They only have caffeine free diet coke here because it is a "BYU campus". I also have the diet coke that I packed, and some that I found in my suitcase, and Sandra was SO nice to send me diet coke and a bunch of granola bars and what not.
Thank you all so much for your love and support! I couldn't have done this without you. I am excited to see what the future holds, and where I will be serving in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission (MMM). Until then, I wish you all the best! This is my only Preparation Day in the MTC, so I am not sure when I will be emailing next. Thanks again!
Best Wishes,
Elder Kyle William Andrews
kyle.andrews@myldsmail.net
For those of you that were wondering, the dork dot, or "welcome dot" as they refer to it here, is still alive and well! As we arrived we each received our name tag complete with a bright orange sticker. Everyone said hello in their respective languages and welcomed us to the MTC. I absolutely LOVE attention, but not this kind of attention. We were the noobs. The dork dot does come with some benefits though, like people holding the door open for you ;) When you are new to the MTC, you are by no means capable of opening the door by yourself, so everyone does it for you! That was nice.
I have truly been shocked at how seemingly few people are here. I was expecting that it was going to be overflowing with missionaries, but there is hardly anyone here! My companion and I have a room to ourselves, so we both get to sleep on the bottom bunk. Our district is super tiny also, we have 5 elders, and 6 sisters. In our branch, we have 2 districts, so in total we have 9 elders and 12 sisters in our sacrament meeting. Kind of crazy!
The classes here are great! They are long, but they are full of really great lessons for us. We are a "chosen district" participating in an MTC pilot program, so our training is different then anyone elses. We began teaching our second day at the MTC, and the other missionaries don't begin teaching until their second week here. Instead of having one teacher like the others, we have 4. Brother Lee Hale, Brother Jake Reis, Sister De Artin, and Brother Daryl (Cough Cough... Something) I can't remember haha! It's great though, because of this pilot program, the MTC experience is apparently a lot more enjoyable. We don't really know the difference, but I like it!
The other day I saw Sister Nelson, and I have seen a lot of people that I know from different conferences and from high school. It's pretty great!
The cafeteria food is quite gross, and some people go through the lines here multiple times. Even for breakfast. Crazy! During orientation, they told us that some people have gained up to 40 pounds while in the MTC. That's disgusting! They serve doughnuts for breakfast, and some people in our district eat 4+ in one sitting! I just have oatmeal, because it's about the only thing for breakfast that I have found to be edible. Luckily, I will be out of the MTC in soon time, and will be able to make my own food! Some people here go crazy over the vending machines though. We get $6 a week for supplies and vending, and one guy spent that and then $68 of his own money buying snacks and sodas. It's like they have been set free from their parents, and they are doing everything they have been taught not to do. Weirdos haha!
On Sunday Night, we had probably the best devotional I have ever heard. It was from Mary Ellen Edmunds, an LDS author. She was hilarious! It was great being able to hear from her, and to be uplifted and amused by her message.
On Tuesday Night, we heard from Elder and Sister Nash from the 70. He was good, but the most powerful part were the hymns we sang. I have been praying to know that missionary work really is for me, and when we sang "Called To Serve" in the devotional, my prayer was answered, and I felt the spirit really strongly. I don't know why I was chosen to freeze my butt off in Minnesota, but I know now that it is where I am needed to serve.
My companion is from Utah and served a 3 month trial mission in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is great at playing basketball during our gym time, and has taught me some interesting lessons.
I have been drinking Fresca everyday, Steve would be impressed. They only have caffeine free diet coke here because it is a "BYU campus". I also have the diet coke that I packed, and some that I found in my suitcase, and Sandra was SO nice to send me diet coke and a bunch of granola bars and what not.
Thank you all so much for your love and support! I couldn't have done this without you. I am excited to see what the future holds, and where I will be serving in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission (MMM). Until then, I wish you all the best! This is my only Preparation Day in the MTC, so I am not sure when I will be emailing next. Thanks again!
Best Wishes,
Elder Kyle William Andrews
kyle.andrews@myldsmail.net
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Kyle Andrews' Mission Farewell
I have been called to the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission (MMM) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on May 15, 2013.
My farewell is at the Grandview Stake Center (1600 North 1880 West Provo, UT 84604), near Westridge Elementary School. The Grandview 6th Ward meets at 11:00 AM, but sacrament meeting is last, which is why the farewell is at such an odd time.
Please join us afterwards at our home (1675 North 1670 West Provo, UT 84604) for food and great company. Make sure to tell your Mom that you love her, as my farewell happens to land on Mothers Day! Hope to see you there :)
You can RSVP on the Facebook invitation at https://www.facebook.com/events/463356013743224
My farewell is at the Grandview Stake Center (1600 North 1880 West Provo, UT 84604), near Westridge Elementary School. The Grandview 6th Ward meets at 11:00 AM, but sacrament meeting is last, which is why the farewell is at such an odd time.
Please join us afterwards at our home (1675 North 1670 West Provo, UT 84604) for food and great company. Make sure to tell your Mom that you love her, as my farewell happens to land on Mothers Day! Hope to see you there :)
You can RSVP on the Facebook invitation at https://www.facebook.com/events/463356013743224
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