A Letter....Finally!

It has been one week today that Elder Andrew Schwartz left home and flew to Utah to enter the Missionary Training Center in preparation for going to Brazil.  We posted the pictures in the last post of his that show him with his escorts in front of the MTC.  We assume he entered....  We sent him messages via email and DearElder.com and patiently waited for his P-day (preparation day) to get an email from him to hear that he was in there, and doing fine.  Friday and Saturday passed, and no email. Monday and Tuesday passed with no email.  I was sure we would hear something.  We thought, maybe  his P-day is Wednesday and for sure we will hear from him today.....we checked email every twenty minutes today, certain that it was finally coming today, one week after he entered.   By six this evening, still nothing.....

Well, guess what?  I checked the mailbox on my way home from work and there it was....a regular letter, handwritten by Elder Schwartz.  Whew!  Finally we hear from him...

We want to share his short letter:

Dear Family,

I made it!  Are you proud of me?!?  Your third son is a missionary, wow!  I honestly am thankful that you guys raised me right and that I have the opportunity to do the Lord's work.  So, Devin picked me up from the airport and everything went well.    He took me to his apartment, I said goodbye to some people, we went out to eat at Tucano's with family and friends, and he took me to the MTC with cousin Cindy.  They were my "surrogate parent," you can say.

The MTC is fantastic.  It's so cool to be surrounded by other elders and sisters!  When you first arrive, you have an orange sticker on your tag so everyone know it's your first day and they are all super friendly, and say, "Welcome to the MTC" in their different languages.  It's awesome!  So, I'm already in a district and a companionship.  My companion's name is......Bond......Elder Bond (Sorry, but I had to make that joke), and he's from Texas.  He was home schooled and went to BYU-Idaho for a semester before coming on his mission.  Even though is just the second day here, I'm already pretty close with my companion and my district.  I'm writing this letter because my branch president, President Brough, knows how much families worry about their kids, and I know that you guys especially worry! Ugh!  I want to write more, but it is lights out, and I'll write you guys Tuesday because that's when I have P-day!  Let everyone know, because I can write anyone, not just family!

I love you and I can't wait to write you on Tuesday with all the details of my experience here.  The Church is true; I know it!  Our Heavenly Father loves us and has a plan for us!  I love you.

Love,

Elder Schwartz

P.S.  I saw Elder Wilson.  We'll get a picture soon!


From Elder Schwartz's letter, I'm not sure if he is doing email or not, but here is his snail mail address at the MTC:


Elder Andrew Schwartz
MTC Box 127
BRA-SPS 0603
2005 N.  900 E.
Provo, UT
84604

Write him if you get a chance, or send him a message thru DearElder.com (it's free!).