I hOpE tHeY cAlL mE oN a MiSsIoN!!

Well it finally happened! Elder Brian Mark Williams entered the Missionary Training Center at 1:45 pm on Wednesday, September 8th. Grandpa Chuck came up from Payson to say goodbye to Brian. Hayden was next, who had to leave to go pick up his mom from the airport. It was a very emotional moment when Hayden said goodbye to Brian. Hayden has really come to love Brian over the past 3 years that we've been together. He looks up to Brian in many ways and is going to miss him a lot.
My brother Eric and I were lucky enough to be the ones to actually drop him off. It was such a neat experience, as quick as it was. As we drove into the MTC, there were tons of missionaries, the new ones entering and the older ones helping them in, and all three of us suddenly had a big rush of adrenaline and excitement! At one point Brian said, "Wow, I'm really going to be a missionary!" There were older men dressed up in gear guiding our car down further and further to marker 25 where we could park and let Brian out. The first older man we came across said, "One of you guys must be a missionary! Where are you going, Chile?" We laughed and said no and then Brian told him where he was going, after which Eric affirmed the man that Chile was where he had served his mission. The excitement grew and grew until we finally reached our destination. Two missionaries jumped up and down and pumped their arms enthusiastically as pulled to a stop. They were there to help Brian with his luggage and guide him to the right place. I took some last minute video and pictures of Brian. When it was time for me to say goodbye, I wasn't even sad. Well, maybe a tinge. But I was just too excited for him!! We watched him walk off and then he turned and waved one last time! Eric and I drove off and talked of how happy and excited we were for Brian to begin his mission journey. I love Brian so much and know he is going to do amazing things as a servant of the Lord for the next two years.