Training at the Mission Home

Elder Panter went through a day of training yesterday in the Mission Home. Today he will be headed to his new apartment to meet his new companion. We should hear from him on his pday, which is Monday, and know his address then. I'm excited to see where he will be!

Made it to Colorado!

Elder Panter made it to the mission home in Colorado! They were welcomed by a spring blizzard! President and Sister Gifford were there to greet them. 

Headed to Colorado!

An amazing mom at the airport took this picture and texted it out to all of us "missionary mommas". So glad she thought to do that!

And they're off! All of these wonderful missionaries are headed to Denver! We got to talk briefly on the phone with Elder Panter and he sounded great! He said the three weeks at the MTC flew by and he's excited to get out in the field. He has made some great friends at the MTC and plans on keeping in touch with them. Happy he's doing so well.

Last email in the MTC

We got our last email from Elder Panter while he's in the MTC. He said that it has been a really fast week and it seems like it has only been a couple of days since last Saturday! His days in the MTC usually consist of 6 hours of class, 2 hours of teaching investigators, 2 hours of meals, getting ready and district meetings. He has 6 total elders in his room and it’s all the elders of his district. The food is good for how much they are serving every meal. Braxton said his favorite thing he learned this week was the story’s of Elijah in 1st and 2nd kings. He says he is one of the weird but funny prophets in the Bible. 

Elder Renlund of the quorum of the 12 spoke to them on Tuesday and Brax said it was awesome! He sent some pictures of the murals around the MTC campus. His favorite is Moses parting the Red Sea.

Next week he will be going to the airport to fly to Colorado! These have been the quickest longest three weeks of my life. Lol

Art piece at the MTC

View from the MTC

The following are all murals in the MTC

Conference Package

We got Braxton's new Alabama driver's license in the mail finally, so we decided to send it to him with a package of goodies that he can have for conference weekend or to take with him on his plane ride to Colorado. We were pretty fond of the collaged box Camry helped me with. We sent some conference journals for Brax and his companion, some jerky, junior mints, sour patch kids, licorice, propel powder for water bottles, granola bars and some letters. Hope he likes it! We wanted to get it there quickly because when he went through security at the airport to get to Utah, he only had his paper copy of his license (his temporary license). Well, they didn't like that at the airport very much, so he got pulled aside and had to be patted down and searched. They searched his bags also. We don't want him to have to go through all of that in Salt Lake, so we are trying to get it to him before he leaves for Colorado. 

2nd Pday

I was looking forward to Saturday this whole week! I love hearing from my missionary! He is doing very well. He is getting compliments from the teachers at the MTC for being in tune with the spirit. He's teaching two people right now and feels like they are making progress. Their names are Kainoa and Pamala. I learned that it took about five days for him to get his package I sent from Alabama. So I need to get one sent tomorrow if I want it to get to him before he flies out! I can't even believe that! Elder Panter said to tell everyone hi. He is loving the work. 

Elder Panter and his MTC district

Elder Panter, Elder Kreischer, and Kainoa (someone they are teaching)

Happy St Patty's Day

Happy St Patty's Day! This is just a fun package we sent to Elder Panter last week so he and his companion could have a treat on St Patty's Day. We love him and we are looking forward to hearing from him again tomorrow!

First P-day

Braxton sent an email today and he is doing great. He was doing laundry and sending emails. He's been able to teach someone as well. I didn't realize they taught people while they were in the MTC. He says his companion is Elder Kreischer and he is a stud at scripture history. Here are the pictures he included. It was so good to hear from him and hear that he is doing so well.

Braxton and his first companion, Elder Kreischer

Braxton's MTC District
From Left to Right:
Elder Panter, Elder Kreischer, Elder plumber, Elder sheets, Sister Bostock, Sister Blazer, Elder Bateman, Elder Hague.

Elder Kreischer and Elder Panter

First email! And map of CDS

So I just got my first email from Elder Panter! Here's what he said...

Hey mom, it has been a crazy past two days but i got to the mtc! they are letting us email our family to let them know that we got here and are doing well. our p day why im here at the mtc is Saturday. 

Then he explained that the sweet sister at the airport that took his picture started talking to him because she saw that he was reading Preach My Gospel. :)  

Here's a map of Elder Panter's Mission Boundaries in the Colorado Denver South Mission. 

At the MTC!!!

Finally at the MTC! This is a day that we have been looking forward to for over 18 years, and yet it is still so hard. I'm so thankful that he is serving the Lord and being a representative of Jesus Christ. I know he will be blessed and grow so much. God be with you 'til we meet again, Elder Panter!

Heading to the MTC

Braxton and Gramps

Bubba

Going to eat

Lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Andreasen

Grandma and Grandpa Andreasen took Braxton to eat at Chuck-A-Rama before taking him to the MTC. Braxton was glad to get to spend time with them before he left. 

Saying bye to Grandma Gee

Braxton stayed at Grandma and Grandpa Andreasen's last night. This morning they got up and went over to say goodbye to Grandma Gee and Arlo. Braxton is her oldest great grandchild. We love our Grandma Gee. So happy he got to see her before he left. 

Seeing friends

Grandma and Grandpa were nice enough that they let Brax stop in Pleasant Grove and say goodbye to some of his friends. This is the Radcliffes, well, some of them. He and Rachel are great friends. 

Landed in Utah!

He mad it to Utah! Grandma and Grandpa Panter picked him up at the Salt Lake Airport and drive him to Nephi. Braxton was so grateful to get to spend some time with them before he went to the MTC. 

Text from a Sister

I just got the sweetest text from a Sister in the Atlanta airport. It included this picture.

"Hi! My name is Carrie and I'm a recent RM. I met this charming young man in the Atlanta Airport today. He says hi. :)" 

This made my afternoon. It is so wonderful to know that there are members watching out for the elders all over the world. And look how happy Brax looks!

Sending Elder Panter on a plane

Siblings

Our fam

Elder Panter

Excited to go!

Hardest and sweetest goodbye I've ever said

Me and my bubba

My two men

Today was a bitter sweet day. We said "see ya later" to our missionary! We woke up this morning, had breakfast, had family prayer, Clint gave Braxton a father's blessing, and then Braxton gave me a blessing. It was such a spiritual morning. This kid is ready. He flies to Salt Lake City, Utah tonight where his Grandma and Grandpa Panter are picking him up. They are taking him to see a couple of friends and then taking him to his Grandpa and Grandma Andreasen's house. In the morning, Grandpa and Grandma Andreasen will take him to the MTC. So thankful we have such wonderful and supportive family!