Bethany has been in the MTC in Provo since April 24th. She has LOVED it! It has been challenging and yet the Spirit that she feels there has been great. She is working hard to learn Portuguese and getting to know the Sisters and Elders in her District. She has seen her brother Sean quite a bit as he works at the MTC. Last Thursday she was able to have lunch with him and he gave her some great advice on being a good missionary and working hard to do all she could to learn the language and work with her companions. I have been S L O W at getting this blog updated. I wanted to add some photos that were taken in the past few months. A couple that were taken in March while she lived in Salt Lake as well as the night she was set apart and the most recent photo she sent while in the MTC, the first day to be exact :) . I loved these pictures and how well they turned out! The night she was set apart was special. Good friends Vickie and OJ Hansen were there for it. I have known the Hansen family since 1973 when I first met OJ. I later met Vickie in 1975 and Vickie was the one that introduced Wes and I. Bethany and OJ became good buddies when she was 12, they have been good friends ever since. It only made sense for them to be there when she was set apart. We had a family photo taken, minus Becky and Sean who are in Utah, but Becky was able to pick up Bethany at the airport the day she flew in and they were able to spend some time with Sean that day. Our Stake President, former Bishop and family friend, Jeff Wight set Bethany apart as a missionary on Sunday, April 21st. It was great to get a photo taken of the two of them.Bethany has always felt close to her brother Robbie, Robbie gave her some awesome advice. He told her, 18 months go by fast, he reminded her that while she had "the mantle of a missionary" to learn to listen and follow the Spirit. He told her this would be great for her as she serves her mission and even after her mission. Early on the morning of April 24th, I think Bethany and I had only slept 2 hours if that! She was busy packing and calling everyone she possibly could before she left! This reminds me of what Robbie did before he entered the MTC as well. Wes, Bryan and I took Bethany to the airport where we saw other missionaries, also heading to Brazil.:) There were a total of 12 on her plane heading to Salt Lake. How cool is that. Her most recent photo she emailed to me yesterday. This was taken the day she entered the MTC. You can't see her tag very well, yet notice the other Sisters tags and the orange "dork dot". The orange sticker is put on tags of all new missionaries for the first day they are in the MTC. I am so proud of Bethany's decision to serve a mission. It wasn't one that came easy and yet once she made the decision, she knew with certainity that this was the course she needed to follow. She will meet people in Brazil and be able to touch their hearts and change their lives forever. She will also have a chance to be a great influence with those she serves with. I know she'll be awesome! I wanted to write and share how and what brought Bethany to the point to serve a mission. Last Fall she began school at LDS Business School She was in love with a young man and planned to marry him. She knew with all her heart that that is what she wanted. Little did she know that Heavenly Father had a different plan for her. On the morning of October 6th she would hear something that would change her life forever. President Monson announced at the beginning of October conference that all young men could now begin missionary service at age 18, he then followed with a even more dramatic announcement. All Sisters who had the desire to serve a mission could now go at age 19 instead of age 21! Wow, what an amazing change of policy and how this change has influenced SO many young women. Bethany was one of those young women who was struck by this. It took her 2 weeks to come to and recognize that this is what she needed to do. She literally fought against it. However, once she finally knew it was what she was supposed to do, she felt a peace and calm come to her that she had not yet felt. She felt an excitement and a happiness as she quickly prepared. She began her medical and dental procedures while still in Utah as she felt the "need" to go! She told us on the October 21st of her plans to serve a mission. A month later, on November 21st, she had received her call. She was going to Brazil. A month later she was able to go to the Portland Temple and receive her Endowment. She loved the Temple. She always has but even more now. She went back to LDS Business in January, studied Preach my Gospel as well as study and learn more about preparing to teach and serve in Brazil. She met with the Sister missionaries on Temple Square in Salt Lake and talked with the Sisters from Brazil often. They were great to her. They told her many things about Brazil and the area in which she would be serving. She became more and more excited as she considered the course her life was taking. Who would have known a year ago that her life would change so much? AND that her life would change in such a dramatic fashion? It has been truly a wonderful thing to witness her growth and her love and desire to serve for 18 months. Giving up all of her own personal desires to serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. She will be profoundly blessed for this righteous desire. As her Mom, I can only say how much I too admire her and am thankful for her example to so many of making a tough choice and with that choice taking the leap of faith and doing what Heavenly Father wants her to do instead of what she wanted to do.