From the Mission President's Wife

Dear Brother and Sister Denton,

Your wonderful son arrived in the GKLM (the Great Kentucky Louisville Mission) safe and sound on Monday, virtually beaming from ear to ear from the moment we saw him. We were and are so impressed by him and his enthusiasm and desire to serve. What a fine young man!

After getting the bags and loading up the GKLM trailer (Great Kentucky Louisville Mission) the missionaries hopped in the Mission van or other cars for the short ride to the Mission Home. President Woodbury began interviews while I conducted an orientation meeting and the Assistants to the President took individual pictures to be used on the Transfer Boards at the Mission Office and Mission Home. 

We were joined by the two couples from the Mission Office and sat down to a home-cooked dinner. The two couples left after the meal and the rest of us went downstairs to the Training Room (aka the family room) to have a “Welcome to the Best Two Years” skit by the Assistants, and Testimony Meeting. What a spiritual feast! Your wonderful son bore a strong and humble testimony. We're looking forward to great things with and through him...      Then, it was off to bed with chocolates on his pillow for sweet dreams.

Tuesday morning we had a hot breakfast, followed by Companionship Study and orientation regarding finances and vehicles. By 10:00 we were at the church adjacent to the Mission Office for Transfer Meeting.

After the song and prayer, the outgoing missionaries gave their departing "Words of Wisdom" and then it was time for new missionaries to be in the spotlight. 

 

Each stood as he or she was introduced, along with the name of their Trainer and their first area.  After Elder Denton stood, Elder Moorhouse, a good and dedicated missionary, hurried over to hug his new companion and take him to the area in the chapel reserved for them. "Called to Serve" was sung, GKLM style, and then President Woodbury announced the rest of the transfers. Following the meeting, the new missionaries and their Trainers met to be introduced to the new 12-week Training Program, after which they and the outgoing missionaries had lunch there at the church before having their pictures taken by the sign at the Mission Office. 

That was it - After pictures Elder Denton took off with Elder Moorhouse to his first area, charged and raring to go!

President Woodbury and I appreciate you sending your wonderful son to us. I know that you will blessed for your support and the sacrifices you are making to enable him to serve.

            Love, Sister Woodbury 

I've sent some pictures of Elder Denton's first twenty or so hours in the mission field.

Week 2 in the MTC

Date:  received Aug 20, 2012
Companion:  Elder Souza
Area:  Provo MTC

Sup everybody?

This week in the MTC has been... different? I had a cold for a couple of days and unfortunately that spread through my district like wildfire! My companion, Elder Souza, had a bad stomach flu or something of the sort so on Wednesday I believe it was he slept in to try and recover. We had made an attempt to go to class but then left shortly afterwards because he clearly wasn't able to focus anyways. Before we left I asked if he wanted a blessing and he thought that that would help so me and another member of our district, Elder Stohel, gave him one. I had the opportunity to give a blessing for my first time. I was surprised at how calm I was for the situation! 'twas a neat experience indeed.

Our teachers for class have been in and out. I believe you're only supposed to have to for your class but we've ended up switching and having substitutes and I believe we're up to 8! Either way, I have been learning a lot. Also I would like to address the fact that my district is tone deaf, aside from my companion, who is a singer!

Can I just tell you guys how much I love recieving Dear Elders? (: I do get them daily, however, I cannot respond daily so thine patients is appreciated (:

I was going to wait until I got to Kentucky to buy a journal just so I could start the day I got there but I couldn't wait another second so on Wednesday after Elder Souza was feeling a little better we went to the on-campus book store and I made the purchase. It's hard to find time every day to write so I'll probably only be using it every couple of days. Cool story, I know.

Doing the laundry actually went surprisingly well! I didn't have any issues and if I had a (dumb) question my companion knew how to do laundry and could answer it for me. I also got my flight plans on Friday which is super cool. I can't believe I leave next Monday! waking up at 3:30 in the morning to be ready seems like a daunting task but hey, I'm up for the challenge! We will have a 2 1/2 hour lay over in the Denver airport.... plenty of time to hand out a copy of the Book of Mormon ;)

I also thought that I would let everybody know that I saw a sister missionary that looked absolutely identicle to Pam... off of The Office.

This week I took some time to write everybody in my district a letter. Like, heart felt and feeling and everything; that crazy stuff. It seemed appreciated and I also believe that I will be writing the Priests in my ward. Feels like it'd be a good thing to do.

I think that's pretty much it! I don't know how next week will work as far as P-day goes based on me leaving... but I guess we'll see.

To end: I would like to share the testimony of prayer I have recieved! Isn't prayer amazing? Heavenly Father lets us talk to him and we just need to have faith that He'll reply and... then He will? I think that it is absolutely amazing. Something that I heard that brought this home for me was that He wants for us to talk with Him and He waits for us and wants to hear from us just like I wait I want to hear from all of you! (Dear Elder... *cough*) Our Heavenly Father loves us! The Gospel is true! Amen!

Love you guys!

Elder Denton III (strikes again!)

First Letter!

Date:  received Aug 10, 2012
Companion:  Elder Souza
Area:  Provo MTC

Yo!,

   First day at the MTC has come to a close and I haven't written in a while so don't judge me.  My new comp is Elder Souza (sue-zah) and he's a pretty cool cat.  He is a convert and it's been good to get to know him!  The room we're in is tight quarters...yikes!  It's clearly meant or 4 people (i.e. 4 dressers, 4 desks, etc.) but it has an extra bunk bed stuffed in here to house 6.  Dinner was okay but from what I here I'm about to get wrecked.  Anywho I'm here

wish me luck

write you next week

Love ya!

Elder Denton III (strikes again)

Off to the MTC!

Date:  Aug 8, 2012
Companion:  TBD
Area:  Provo MTC

Wednesday morning, we finished getting Elder Denton III all packed up and then headed out.  Grammy stayed at the house and Elder Denton left her some final words of wisdom, "Make sure you follow the rules!"

To which she replied through an onslaught of tears, "Why would I start now?"

We made the obligatory stop at Wal-Mart to pick up some odds and ends and then headed down south to P-Town.  We stopped for a lively (as always) meal at Olive Garden--delish.  Then we all squished into one car and headed toward the MTC.

Because of the Wal-Mart stop, there were quite a few things that hadn't made it into Elder Denton's suitcase, so we stopped at the MTC field to repack and take a few pictures...well our family certainly isn't camera shy!  You may click here for a more comprehensive collection of pictures or continue onward for the highlights.

We headed across the street and he gave a couple of hugs...

...and then he was off!

Good luck Elder Denton!  We'll see you in two years!