Pictures at the MTC

Here are some photos of the people Elder Colton spent most of his time with at the MTC. There is a picture of his district and zone. I sent him a fiesta in a box for Cinco de Mayo, which fortunately fell on his P-day. He had a pinata stuffed with full sized candy bars. Lucky pinata breaking mustaches, a big bag of tortilla chips, salsa, and apple beer. He had an awesome companion Elder Knighton-they had some great talks and experiences. They got to fly out together to Charlotte.

And He's Off!!!

One week left in the MTC...

Here is the latest news from Elder Colton:

I did get my travel plans. I will be leaving on a week from this Wednesday May 14th. We have to be up by 5 and then we will be flying out around 7ish I think. We have a layover in Cincinnati Ohio and then we fly from there to Charlotte. That does get me a little excited and that this is a reality for me. I really know I couldn't be doing this without the support and love from everyone that has written me. It helps me so much.

We are working on the 2nd lesson this week, which is the Plan of Salvation. I already have my outline finished for it, I'm just scared to actually have to go through it and try to teach it. But I'm remembering that it just needs to be simple and that finding scriptures and that kind of thing will come in time. That is one thing i just really need to work on and that is that I'm on the Lord's time all of this stuff and not mine. I know that I can do this.

I had the most sincere prayer last night telling Heavenly Father how hard this has been for me and that I cannot accomplish this without the Lord's help. I just have to keep remembering that and that I will be able to do this. Thank you so much for helping me and for giving me support when I need it. I'm so glad to have the letters from home to read over and over again to keep me excited and to help me to feel good.

A lot of my days are just spent in class. I haven't found anyone really that Ive been able to reach and talk to. I honestly feel its more for the other missionaries for them to gain confidence in talking with people and I did that a lot working at Bronson. The TRC (Teaching Resource Center) is what is really hard. I mean it does help to get things figured out and all of that, but it still makes me way nervous and I feel like I'm sweating like a pig under my suit.

We sing a lot here and I really don't like the singing that we do in class. When its devotionals and that kind of thing it reminds me of Conference and its no big deal. I don't know if I'll be singing as much when I'm out in the field. I'm sure we will in Zone Conferences and that kind of thing, but hopefully not with just me and my companion. That is really all that we do. We still go to the Referal Center (RC) which isn't too bad. I just keep going through each day and that is all that I can do.

I love you all so much and thank you so much for all of your letters and all that you do for me. Yes I miss you and it is an adjustment but it will all be for the better. This is going to make things so much better for my life and I just have to take things as they come. I look forward to your letters. I love you all and I'll write you again next week.
Love,
Elder Colton

Friday's Food For Thought...

We may not know what lies ahead of us.

We know not what the coming days will bring.

We live in a world of uncertainty.

But one thing we do know.

Like the polar star in the heavens,

regardless of what the future holds,

there stands the Redeemer of the world,

the Son of God,

certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives.

He is the rock of our salvation,

our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith."

President Gordon B. Hinckley

We just got a letter, We just got a letter!!

Actually we have received 2 letters in 2 days!

Elder Colton reports that he has met his companion Elder Knighton from Kaysville Utah. He has 3 Elder's next door to them that are headed to South Dakota. He is feeling overwhelmed, nervous, as well as homesick

His p-day is on Monday. He hopes to get letters this week from all of you. He asks for your prayers as he adjusts to mission life. We love him, so lets tell him!

How to use Dear Elder.com

Jordan has a link in his side bar for Dear Elder.com. You have probably seen Kirby Heyborne on the billboard on 1-15 just outside of Lehi. You can send letters to the MTC for free using this service. It's just like writing an e-mail.

Go to www.dearelder.com

On the right side of the page there's a drop down window to select which mission to send a letter to. The Provo MTC is at the top of the list. Click on that. Underneath is a box entitled "Write a letter." Click on that. The next screen is the envelope labeling screen. Simply fill out your return address and then Jordan's mailing address:

Elder Jordan R. Colton
MTC Mailbox #155
NC-CHAR 0514

and his estimated departure date is
May 14, 2008.

After you fill that out you start typing the in box under the "terms and conditions." It's that simple. After you've composed your letter you click "send letter." It will ask you if you want to send. Click OK and your letter is sent. You can have a copy sent to your own e-mail.

Jordan would love to hear from you and until May14 this is a free and easy way to send him a quick note.

Dear Elder. Com. What a great service!!

Whew that Band Aid hurt!!!

The title to this post is in reference to something that was shared with the families during our visit to the MTC yesterday. More about that later.... President Pratt Alan Colton(dad) Elder Jordan Colton John Hendrix(Papa)

Jordan was set apart Tuesday night, by President Pratt. He is being released in 2 weeks at Stake Conference, so Jordan was his last Elder to send out. Jordan was honored-you know what they say-last the best of all the game! His blessing was very nice, Alan and Papa were able to assist. Jordan was nervous, but a feeling of calm came over him, and he said later it was almost like he could feel all of the prayers of everyone covering him with strength.

Jordan, true to his nature has had suitcases packed and organized well ahead of time, like 2 weeks ago. I was relieved that we didn't have any last minute scrambling to do yesterday. All we had to do is put them in the van.



One last check of the list and suitcases



We got to the MTC around 11:30, his scheduled time to enter. Matt and Courtney, and Paul and Mary Ann were waiting for us. We took pictures in the sunny spring weather. It was fun to see all of the missionaries and their families coming into the building. You could sense that anticipation of what was just around the corner and through the doorway.






We were able to watch Jordan go into the "new missionary" door. We waited in the lobby as Alan pinned on Jordan's name badge(I let him have that honor, because I had cried enough previously). We took more pictures, and then went down the hallway to the chapel. We sat on the second row, the closest we had ever been in there. In the past we had always near the back. We watched the Family-Its about time...commercials that the Church produces. It helped to ease that feeling of dread when we would be saying goodbye. The program began with singing "Called to Serve"-I had told myself "I will not cry, I will not cry during this song" because if I started I wouldn't stop. I gulped out a few words and then had to take a breath to get my composure back. Then the prayer was said, and the talks began. The MTC president said "if you pull a band aid off quickly, it won't hurt so bad. So make your good bye quick". Soon the talks and closing prayer were said. Emotions were running high in the room. The other mothers around me started crying, and that did me in, my tears were falling too. Jordan hugged Papa goodbye first, and then went on down the row giving hugs and "I love you's" to everyone. He hugged me last, I took in one more breath of his essence(he always smells so good) and kissed his cheek and said "Go, its your time". He didn't look back and walked out the "Missionary" door. We sniffled out the "Family" door and into the bright sunshine. We decided to not go home right away. We were hungry so we went to our favorite El Azteca for chimis and Carne Asada nachos.

Brynley started asking where Jordan was, the concept of him being on a mission will be hard for her to totally understand. I blinked back some tears on that one. We ate and then went home, I was so drained, I took a little nap. We all were kind of shell shocked that he really was gone. Later on around 9 pm, Christian had come home from Colby's and shut the front door. This was the usual time that Jordan would come home from work. Brynley heard the door and said " Jordy's home!!!" I had to say "not yet, he is on his mission." We had family prayer later on, and she didn't want to start without him. When we got home from school today, his truck is still in the driveway and she got all excited and said "Jordy's back!!" Its going to take a few weeks for both she and I to remember he's not here when we see his truck.

We sent off a young man; and a man will return who will never really be all mine again. That's the hardest part, knowing that life must go on despite the fact that a part of me doesn't want it to. I think that it just part of being a mom to feel like this. I am excited for the growth he will have in ways he wouldn't have if he didn't get to serve. He has waited so long for this, and many miracles happened for him to go. I have the trust in Heavenly Father to let him go.

This is bittersweet:/adj. ˌbɪtərˈswit, ˈbɪtərˌswit; n. ˈbɪtərˌswit/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[adj. bit-er-sweet, bit-er-sweet; n. bit-er-sweet]both pleasant and painful or regretful: a bittersweet memory.