Dad had the opportunity to place Mike's missionary name tag on his jacket, "Elder Alder". The name tag says, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". This was an emotional day for our family. After we watched the call to serve movie, tears started to flow as we gave Mike big hugs for the last time for two years. As Mike left the MTC room, we knew Mike was in the right place. Mike will be an awesome missionary. Elder Alder we are proud of you!
The whole family was there to bid farewell to Mike on his mission. The MTC is a great place. Happiness, tears, and excitement were felt. Good Luck Mike! We will miss you, but know you are where you are suppose to be.
Mom and Dad gave Michael his spanish missionary scriptures. Also, Uncle Francis gave Mike a missionary spanish kit that he gave to his missionaries as a mission president in Chile. Reading the Book of Mormon is spanish is awesome.
Mike, Monica, Chelsea, and Burke, look through Burke's mission scrap book.
Mike's farewell talk was awesome. Mike talked on faith in Jesus Christ. He touched on these three areas: 1. Faith, we need to know that our Father in Heaven has a plan for us. 2. Faith that through God miracles do happen. 3. Faith that we can be forgiven of our sins through Jesus Christ. It was great to see all the family support for Mike's talk. Afterward, everyone came over to the house for a Texas style dinner.
Mike preparing his Missionary Farewell talk. As always, Mike best friend Lucy is right by his side.
Mike and all his friends serving missions wear this tie during their farewell talk. Mike is signing the back of the tie, Mike will wear it during his talk, and will then pass it on to Jace Wardell.
We decided to go bowling as a family the night before Mike's farewell. We always have a fun time when we get together as a family. Family is what matters most and our family rocks!
Mike and Monica, bowling champions!
This is a pic of Anson striking a pose and getting a strike. Anson strikes this pose after each bowl.
We went to Cancun, Mexico two weeks before Mike left on his mission. Spanish training, diving, holding sharks, and eating Mexican food we thought would prep Mike for his Spanish speaking mission in Texas.
Mike holding a shark at the Islas Mujeres.
Diving off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico was a blast. Our dive master took a picture of us 60 feet under the ocean.
Here is Mike 60 feet under the ocean diving the paraiso reef in Cozumel.
