Elder Moore's Email Address

This is just a quick post to let you know Elder Moore received his email address. It is: bdmoore313@myldsmail.net

His p-day is Friday so if anyone can send him off a quick email I think he would love to see some waiting for him. He is technically only suppose to email back to family and write letters to everyone else, so don't be disappointed if he follows this rule!

I have received a couple of more letters from him. He is picking up the Spanish language fast. They were able to answer phone calls from people calling in to learn more about the church or request Books of Mormon. He said this really made him feel like a missionary. Also, they have members who pose as investigators and ask them questions to give them better preparation. He said that made him a little nervous but all went well. He continues to stay very busy with 10 hours a day spent in class - and for an active boy like Brandon, this is hard! Being a District Leader also carries additional responsibilities like conducting meetings, doing interviews, and of course picking up the mail for the nine other elders.

One of his best friends, Eric Lee, enters the MTC tomorrow (December 17) and I am excited they will be there for Christmas together. I am sure Christmas in the MTC will be very spiritual but also quite different.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and will remember all the missionaries throughout the world as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, of whom they testify daily.

The Elder is doing great!

I received a second letter from Elder Moore today. He said he can now say simple prayers and bear his testimony in Spanish. His letter was written in "Spanglish"...a spanish word thrown in here and there. It was great to see!

The missionaries are suppose to wake up at 6:30 each morning, but he says his district gets up at 6:03 for group prayer and then beat all the other missionaries to the showers. That's my boy; always racing through life.

As a district leader he is the one that picks up the mail for the missionaries in his district. In the letter I received today he said he was the only one who hadn't received anything. He said that's okay he knows we are thinking of him...now isn't that boo-hoo sad! I know it can't be okay for him, so that might have been meant to be taken sarcastically. I know a few letters have been sent to him already, so they should begin rolling in anytime.

For those of you new to this missionary thing, there is a website called dearelder.com. It allows you to set up an account for free, type a letter, and then they will print it, address the envelope and get it to the MTC by 5:00 pm that day if you have sent it before noon. This is a free service to elders in the MTC. The good thing about it is you don't even have to type in his address each time. It is very simple and easy to use. I highly recommend you check it out. The info you have to type in the first time can be taken from his address... you just have to know it is the Nebraska Omaha mission and know his departure date from the MTC is 0203 (Feb 3).

Well, that is the good news for the day. The mailbox has been treating me well, now I want his mailbox to treat him well!

Yay! The first letter has arrived...

On Saturday we received our first letter from Elder Moore. As a mom I only really wanted to know that he was well and happy. He wrote the letter his first night there and he was pooped! He is in a district of ten elders and he was asked to be the District Leader; a calling he willingly accepted.

He said he got all of his things unpacked and has a desk full of Spanish books of all kinds, from religious to grammatical. And so he is off!

His companion is 6 ft 3 and about 230 lbs. A big boy compared to Brandon's 5 ft 9 and 137 lbs. He says he will be sure to be nice to him...and nice to himself since he took the top bunk! Because he is going Spanish speaking in the States, the Elders are going to different places. His companion will be going to Atlanta, and the other two elders in his room to New Jersey.

And what does my little boy miss? He says, hugs from his mom. I miss those, too, Brandon, but we know there will come a day when we can hug each other as we always have. Remember when the Mission President's wife said the Savior will encircle you in the arms of His love. We will all have to rely on those hugs for the next two years.

Elder Moore's Address

Here is Brandon's address at the MTC:

Elder Brandon Dean Moore
MTC Mailbox # 195
NE-OMA 0203
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Be sure and let this boy know he may be gone, but is not forgotten!

Today Was The Day!!!!

Today, December 3, 2008, was the day Elder Brandon Dean Moore entered the MTC. I thought he might want to go have breakfast or lunch somewhere, but he wanted his last meal to be one made by his mama. So, we started the day with a hearty breakfast. Brooklyn set the table with the "You Are Special" plate and cup and the fork and spoon with his name on it from when he was little.
We left for Provo at 11 am after having a family prayer and pictures. He was scheduled to check in at 12:30 pm. We arrived and followed the rest of the line to drop off the luggage and then the separation began! At the front door of the MTC the missionaries are sent one way and the family the other. This is because they want to give the missionary their tag and meal card. We then joined up for pictures. The first picture we took was of me, the missionary mom, putting his missionary tag on him.

I must say it was emotional for me. This was the time, when I knew for sure, that he was a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was so proud of him. We then took more pictures. We headed for the chapel, first grabbing a handful of much needed kleenexes. We had a mini-devotional and instructions (such as: don't arrange a chance meeting with your missionary at the Provo temple, don't write with chalk to your missionary on the sidewalk outside, and the killer....they won't be calling home for Christmas because there are just too many of them here at the MTC). The entire time of the meeting I couldn't help but keep glancing at the two bright yellow signs at the front of the chapel. One side said, "Family Exit" and the other side said, "Missionary Exit". The MTC president said it is best goodbyes are said quickly, like pulling off a bandaid - the quicker the less painful it is. We each said our goodbyes, wanting one last hug, one last touch, one last glance as he disappeared into his new life. I cried many tears, but they were more of excitement for him at this wonderful new opportunity. I have always thought Brandon was a special boy and I know this mission is going to make him an even better man. I love you Brandon!

And so do all your friends!