Week 1: Chris Reporting from the MTC

Hello Family,

How are you guys? I'm glad to hear that you're trying to reading the BOM as a family. It's such a great book. So many blessings can come from studying that book but we can't forget that the Bible is there too. We're you able to pass out all my letters? Also, you can send me letters anytime through dearelder.com. I'll get those right away. My mailbox number is #158.

So my p-day is tuesdays so I'll be sending emails only on Tuesdays

Elders on their P-day

. Please tell Jonathan or Pres Kaufman to tell him that my temple trips are tuesdays at 6:50 am. So officially, this is my first full week. I thought I'd be struggling in the language considering I'm a week behind. Fortunately for me, I was blessed with a kasama, Elder del Rosario, who is fluent in the language.

 I have a great district. We're 12 missionaries all going to the Philippines. 10 of us are going to Laoag and the 2 sisters are going to Quezon City. 

The District all going to Philippines

So far its been pretty fun here. Its a really cool experience being at the MTC. I guess i didn't have to worry too much about eating lots back home to gain weight cause I've been eating like crazy over here. I've been having 2 meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We have devotionals twice a week. Apparently a few weeks ago, Elder Holland was here. But I would've missed that anyways. But my companion actually got to see him cause he came early. Tonight were having another one but I don't know who's going to be here. We had one on Sunday, and it was amazing. The speaker talked about what it means to be successful. Basically he said that its how well we fulfilled our purpose and if our efforts were pleasing unto the Lord. After the devotional, my district watched the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration movie. It was amazing! I really suggest you all watch it. The spirit is so strong in it.

So if you're wondering what the MTC is like, basically we have classes all day. And we got workshops. And we eat. And we sleep. That's basically the cycle. Oh! And we also teach investigators. Well pretend investigators. And we teach them purely in Tagalog. My second day here, I had to teach someone already and I was so behind on the language study. Fortunately we had this pocket book of phrases for the PMG lessons so that came in really handy. Theres really not much exciting things happening at the MTC besides all those. We really just do a lot of studying like personal, companionship and language study. It's pretty much like being back in school but different education.

Beat Boxing in class

Sis Wilson and her spoons

Anyways, I really love being here. I can't wait to go to the Philippines! I love and miss you all! Alam ko po na totoo ang ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo. Alam ko po na pagbabayad-sala ni Jesucristo. Alam ko po na tumatawag ang Diyos ng mga propetas. That's my Tagalog for you. Love you all!

Reporting to the MTC at 1:30pm (part 4 , Final GOODBYES!)

Well.... enough trying to postpone the inevitable!

This was it and 10 mins to the time, we headed back from our alfajore hunt towards the MTC.
So Joe offered a quick prayer for Chris ( he choked with tears) and we were all in tears. But I was so happy to have Jon and Cherie with us to soften the blow otherwise I would've been a mess :)

Jonathan counting down the minutes!

the very busy entrance of the MTC

Welome Crew!

Lots of missionary hosts

Add caption

ok let's do this!

"So unfortunately,  families can no longer go in the building you'll have to say your goodbyes here!"

"You might as well get started because he needs to go in soon"

Come here!

Group hug

2 mins later

5 mins later

10 mins.... "awwww Mom I gotta go!"

"Ok..ok break it up, it's my turn!"

"That's my Bud! Now get yourself outta here and see you in two years!"

And he was off and our car ride back to Jon's home was pretty silent.

So yes...
this beginning part of Chris blog was me speaking....
 now Joe will do the rest and post up Chris's letters only once a week so
 that way we don't make you guys yawn...hehe.

Reporting to the MTC (part 3 , The Alfajore Hunt)

We had time to kill and it was about an hour left after the temple pics.

So we decided to go for an
"Alfajore Hunt"

Remember the cookies Chris left behind in Montreal and wanted badly to go back for?

Well, somehow during the ride towards Jonathan's apt. Chris managed to spot a sign 'Alfajore'

but couldn't remember the street.

We checked online but no luck so we decided to retrace our tracks.

We drove around and all our eyes were on the signs.

Chris was never happier, it was comfort food for his anxiety :)

After much driving and with Cheri's navigational skills.....

We FOUND it!!!!

Spelt Alfajor (a chilean cookie or argentinian)

Excited to see what it is!

Only to find out that someone had bought the 'whole stock' a few days ago!!!
What luck!

The Hunt continued the NEXT Day after reporting to the MTC. 

Joe and I planned on looking for that mysterious cookie just so we could surprise Chris by sending it to him at the MTC. 

So we headed out early to look for it as soon as the bakery opened. There was one establishment we found online and we couldn't wait to surprise him with it.

Opening hours: 10am
So we rushed out there just before we headed for Salt Lake City again.

So happy to see the bakery

Until we looked in and it was empty except for a gumball stand. It looked as if they just recently closed!
How terribly SAD!!!



But just to see how an Alfajores cookies look like...
I took a picture of the cookie Chris left behind in Montreal
the minute we got back on Saturday.

Alfajores

Here's the famous alfajores!

Unfortunately with the gooey center, it doesn't keep long enough for us to send to Chris. I guess he will have to wait until he gets back home for fresh ones.

Reporting to the MTC (part 2 )

Temple Visit

The Missionary Training Center (MTC) was just before the Provo Temple. It's exciting to see that because it meant they can attend the temple as often as possible while at the MTC.

Beautiful mountains surrounding the MTC and Temple

Missionary work is a great goal... but the temple is the higher goal. After all, doing missionary work is to help others attain the highest goal and it can only be done in the Temples. So I thought it was perfect to have the buildings so close together. It gives one an eternal perspective while training to be a missionary.

Chris gained another buddy Cheri :)

My two Taurus sons....no more little boys :(

Reporting to the MTC (part 1 )

Okay so the tears started flowing again.....

 I didn't realize it was going to be so hard to let him go.
It's not so much of the letting go.
 I have been preparing and hoping for him to go on a mission since he was young and I can't describe the joy I felt when he finally decided it on his own.
So the emotional roller-coaster is not only because I will miss him.
Yes I admit I'm a little nervous for him.
I didn't realize he would be going to Philippines. I felt like a bad mother not teaching him the language. I tried a little by buying a Tagalog CD and teaching the kids when they were young but failed to implement it.

I guess, it's the feelings that all missionary mothers go through and it's not something easy to describe.
 There's something sacred about the feeling. It's a glimpse of an eternal joy.



We still managed to squeeze in some more shopping at the Deseret Books and then passed by the Missionary Mall to order more pants.

By shopping at the Missionary Mall, he had a free meal at this Smokehouse restaurant.
Their sauces is to die for!

It was a cute little restaurant

Then we headed out to pick up Jonathan and Cherie at their place

The newlyweds are so cute with their matching jackets :)

Went to BYU, passed by their Stadium

They toured the University while I tried to catch some zzzzz in the car

The famous BYU Creamery

It was a CHRIS-Kris-Chris-Chriss-Chris Day!

This day was surprising. 

This is what I call the CHRIS phenomena!

Chris reading his brother's letter :)

It was a Tuesday when we had the chance to go visit friends.

 It was hard a really tight day and it was the only day we had to visit friends and still try to fit in some more sightseeing before Chris reported to the MTC the next day.

Our day started with the Cheesecake Factory disappointment because it was closed for Breakfast so we headed out to Salt-Lake City and went to our next destination early.

We visited the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

 It was GRAND! 

Such beautiful architecture and rich. 

The history behind it was quite interesting and we were told that celebrities often come and go.

Well the only person I was hoping to bump into was Pres. Uchtdorf (he's my star!)

Chris #1

Well we have to include our Chris. After all, this blog is about him 

(I have to try to remember that ahemm)

The following itineraries all included a Chris in all of them. 

NOT at all PLANNED!

This was at the JSM Memorial Building

Pay attention to the lady behind us, she was the one who approached us

Kris #2

Our tour guide's name was Kris and she was such a lovely, helpful guide. We were sorry to be in such a rush because she was very informative.

The lady who approached us and her name was Kris and had been to Philippines

This is the famous spot where people like to take photos 

CHRIS #3

We stormed out of  the JSM Building and met up with Chris Bernier (who just came home to Utah from his mission in Montreal) for lunch. We were happy to see him. Now the tables changed, the two Chris swapped places. One a missionary, one not! (well he was done but forever a missionary) 

So glad we weren't far from BYU , Provo so he can join us for lunch

Chriss #4

Here we are at one of the beautiful temples in Utah. It was the closest one to the Johnson home where we were heading for dinner so this was the one! And it was beautiful.

The temple worker's name in front was Chriss (spelled with double S)

But it might have been the next temple or this one, can't remember. 

Chris #5

Last Chris of the day

We were excited to see the Johnson Family. They had just moved into this neighborhood 

with the beautiful scenic view of the mountains and not far from the temple.

Here we are in front of their lovely home

And here comes Chris Johnson (Our former bishop in Montreal)

Brother and Sister Johnson were delighted to see Chris go on his mission.

Heather prepared such a wonderful meal. Joe was ecstatic to see rice! He missed his rice lol!

And of course, I was as giddy wit the kids to have our yummy dessert! 

Never met kids who loved posing as much as me hehe!

The kids loved smiling for the photos, Joe found his models :)

After dinner entertainment. Chris played a masterpiece while Gideon danced in circles :)

More photos!

Oh oh... what's Hannah up to ?

Heather is so good with her kids.

Hannah pleads with me:  "Sis Morales, you can't leave!!!"

"Not until you've read me a story Sis. Morales!"
I guess some things are hard to forget. I used to read to Hanna in Nursery class when she was 2 yrs old.