First Pictures

We got a letter in the mail today with Kolton's SD card!  Super Excited for pictures.  He is really enjoying his time in the MTC  and is learning the language even though right now it seems to be really difficult to communicate.  He was labeled "package" from the other Elders because he has received 4 in the week and a half since he has been there and a letter everyday.  (He probably did not mention to his district that 2 of the packages were things he forgot).  We have made sure he gets a letter daily and we know many of you have written him. THANKS!! I know he loves hearing from you. 

 Elder Freason, Elder Stokes, and Elder Williams

first email

This Was Kolton's First Email.  We received it Saturday July 9th.  so good to hear from him.  We also received a letter in the mail on Monday.  We have sent him many letters through www.dearelder.com  he gets those daily and enjoys hearing from everyone. 

I NEED SHIRTS! just shirts to wear around, darker shirts mostly, I want to keep my laundry down to darks and whites. Also, I forgot my watch (but you probably knew that already.) I also need some church pants, I only have one pair. I'll send a letter today, the bookstore opens at 10:00 so i can buy stamps then and send a letter. So far, this place is awesome. The language classes are a little overwhelming, my teachers won't speak a word of English to us. But we've had two and a half days of language classes and already I can say good morning, evening, etc. and ask how people are doing.  Today we're going to practice bearing our testimonies in Tagalog.

They take good care of us here, and I love both my roommates (For some reason there is three of us, nobody can seem to answer why.) Elder Stokes is from Ogden, UT and Elder Frearson is from New Zealand. He has an accent thicker than a Jamba Juice smoothie. Some people he talks to ask if he's speaking English.

We get 50 minutes of gym time each day, usually we play volleyball, tonight we might play soccer. Every morning so far I've woken up and thought "Ugh... Another day of the MTC" but the days go by at an incredible rate. I think the mountains have some sort of pull on the speed of time in Provo. I also think when the world ends, everyone who is going to be saved will come to Provo. Well, I got your letters, and the DearElder program can only take so much on each page, so the second letter you sent turned out to be three individual letters, and everyone in my district thought I had a fan club. Masarap ang pangaik! (The food is delicious!)

I love you,

    Elder Williams

Address

This Address is for the MTC.  We found that www.dearelder.com is a great service to use!  It is FREE but we ask if you use it often to please donate.  You can use it for the MTC and once he is on his mission. Kolton would love to hear from you.  As most of you know his time is limited so be aware he will not have as much time to write you back. 


Elder Kolton Williams
Philippines Angeles Mission
Box 182
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo UT 84604



Elder Kolton Williams
Philippines Angeles Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150

This address is only for postcards and letters.  You can also write a letter on www.dearelder.com and they will get it into the pouch system.

MTC Pictures and Memories

I feel like I need to start off by saying a few things about this blog.  I am not going to make this blog private as long as I feel like it is safe.  We have so many family members and friends around the world I want them to be able to hear and see the experiences Elder Williams is having.  Some of these posts may have personal experiences and emotions from our family or from Elder Williams.  Please be respectful of our lives and our feelings along this journey.  For those of you that may be reading this who are not LDS understand these are our beliefs and our intentions are not to offend you and we hope you will not make light of our beliefs.  We want to turn this blog into a book when Kolton returns home so please feel free to comment.

Yesterday was a very difficult but spiritual experience.  The drive from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City was quiet.  From Salt Lake to Provo felt like minutes it went by so fast.   We arrived in Provo Utah at 11:00 AM.and knew soon we would have to leave him at the MTC.  We spent time together as a family walking around the Provo temple grounds and the botanical gardens at BYU and taking final pictures.  We got the chance to talk to a few families who were also sending off missionaries. It was interesting to hear the different stories.  It made us realize every mission experience is unique.  These moments were very precious to us and we will never forget them.  Our time to arrive at the MTC was 12:30. As we pulled in you could feel the spirit coming from the MTC.  The sidewalks are lined with missionaries waving and making you feel welcome. Kelly commented that at least all the Elders and Sisters look happy. The 3 missionaries that greeted us were so very nice and understanding, we were thankful for their patience with us.  It is very difficult to send your only son down the sidewalk with tears in his eyes knowing he will miss us as much as we miss him.  Nothing more needs to be said about this experience the pictures tell the story.

 Sorry it is upside down.

MTC

Just a quick post.  Elder Williams entered the MTC today at 12:20 today.  Many tears were shed and it was hard to let him go because we knew we were sending our Boy who will return a man.  I know he was sad to leave us but excited to start this new life.  I will post more of the experience and pictures in a few days. 

Farewell

What an amazing weekend.  Kolton ran his last race and give his mission talk in the same weekend.  Saturday June 25th were able to run the to Bone and Back relay race together as a family. On Sunday June 26th Kolton gave his mission farewell talk.  We then had lunch at our home and served about 150 people.  It was awesome to see everyone and feel the love from those who could not attend.

I just want to thank all our Family and Friends for the great support and love you have shown Kolton and us over the last few months.  It has been such a spiritual journey for our entire family.
Love the Williams Family.