Hair!

Whoa!  Jaden looks like a Marine with his first MTC haircut!

I don't think it's ever been this short!

I'm guessing he's thinking this will last him until he's ready to go to Korea!

He mentioned in his letter that he's been playing a lot of 4-square.

I loved 4-square as a child.  It was one of my favorite recess activities!

The language is coming slowly but surely.

He was sick for a few days his first week,

but his companion let him sleep on p-day which helped a lot.

Elder Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke to the missionaries last week,

and Jaden said it was a very edifying address on prayer and revelation.

He's enjoying getting to know others in his District and Zone.

Some have been there longer than Jaden, and he says

they are helping the new missionaries with Korean grammar.

So happy he's enjoying his time in the MTC!

   New Haircut!

 He's just liking his new haircut at the MTC!

The First Week

This is the first time seeing Jaden with his missionary tag!  It's kind of weird!

His e-mail this week consisted of several pictures and a few comments about them.

I didn't share them all, but thought these might be interesting.

Jaden is getting along great with his companion.

They are both planning on going into aerospace engineering at Utah State,

and have very similar interests according to Jaden.

Jaden has run into a couple of people he knows from school,

including his Madrigal partner and good friend, Rachel Call.

She left the MTC this past Monday to serve in Japan.

Jaden is gradually getting the language.  He said Sacrament meeting was all

done in Korean, so he really didn't understand it, but it was good.

Here are his Korean Scriptures.

He apologized to me and Aubree because he got to hear Jenny Oaks Baker

and some of her children perform this week.

Yes, we are HUGE fans! (me especially!)

Just one of the perks of being a missionary, I guess.

Jaden is doing great!  He's happy and he's excited about the things he is learning in the MTC!

The Farewell!

Wow!  What a week! 

 It was a week of mixed emotions

from nervous, happy, scared, melancholy...
sometimes

all felt at once!

We started the week off with Jaden speaking in Sacrament

meeting.  His assigned topic was Doctrine and Covenants 4:2.  He did an awesome job!

Then we headed over to feed the masses!  Our generous neighbors and dear friends,

Jon and Lisa Schneiter offered the clubhouse at their golf course for us to use.

What a blessing!  We probably had 120 people or so, and I don' know how we

would have fit all of them in our house!

So many of Jaden's close friends stopped by to say "farewell."

How grateful I am as a mother to have a son with such wonderful friends!

On Tuesday night, July 30th, we headed over to the Stake Center where Jaden

was set apart as a full-time missionary by President Mark Thayne.

Bishop Gary Petersen was also there and shared his testimony with us.

What a very special and sacred experience!

So glad that Jaden's grandparents were able to join us, as well as his girlfriend.

We left home a little before 10:00a.m. on Wednesday, July 31st,

to go out to lunch before dropping Jaden off at the MTC.

The above pictures are of him loading his luggage and getting ready to get into the van.

Last time he'll see home for 2 years!

 I told him the day before that he could choose where we went to lunch.

I think he was afraid to ask, but I said "name it!"

I knew before he responded that it would be the Cheesecake Factory!

We love that place!

Then it was time to head to Provo.  We stopped at the temple for one last family picture

and group hug with all of the kids!  As they were getting ready to 

climb into the van, each one of them gave Jaden a farewell hug!

The MTC was an organized madhouse!  I was not expecting to see so many vehicles!

No wonder they want you to say your goodbyes beforehand.

I gave Jaden another hug, told him I loved him, and that he would be okay.

I added that we would also be okay.

Chris hugged him as I hopped back into the van.

I figured we needed to just make it quick!

An Elder who has been called to Hong Kong helped Jaden with his luggage,

and when we looked back a few moments later, they were gone!

I honestly did not have a hard time dropping him off.

When I gave him a hug, I just felt a great feeling of peace,

and I knew that it would be alright!

So excited for the adventures that await him as he serves the Lord

and the people of Korea for the next two years!

                     So fun to see the first email, glad he is doing great.

First Email Home

Hey guys! I want more emails next week!! one from each of you! Just so you all know, my Prep day here at the MTC is Thursday. While we are doing our laundry, we are allowed to come to a computer lab and email friends, family, and our Branch President. I am part of the 28th Korean Branch, and am in District D. There are twelve of us in my district (for those of you who don't know what that is, its like my classroom buddies.) My compainion is Elder Whitehead from St. George. He is very organized, and I hope I am good enough to not get on his nerves at all. We've had a lot of learning oppurtunities already, and I hope I learned enough from them. The food is great. I've had a doughnut with breakfast for the last two days!! We get to choose soda, water, juice, or milk and can have as much as we want! Its awesome!! I've already adjusted to the hours too. My teacher's name is Brother Campbell. He served in Korea and is now going to BYU. He's cool, though I've only heard him say about ten english words. Other than that, he's only talked in Korean. I am still struggling to remember simple greetings, but I can sure say thank you and yes. Later today we have the oppourtunity to teach an "investegator" and we have to do it in Korean! Next Sunday I might even have to give a talk in Korean!! So today I'll learn how to teach a lesson and say a prayer, and see where to go from there. I have already run into a few friends, like Rachel Call and Micheal Miller. They are both in the same classroom building, and Micheal just lives down the hall from me.

 

Yesterday we watched a short Mormon Message that I would like you to watch. It is entitled "Lifting Burdens". Look it up on Youtube please. After you all watch it, I would love for you to all go into the living room and sing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" while Aubree plays the piano. For you older ones, let me know what you learn or feel after you do this. Thank you.

 

I love you all and miss you as well. I'll keep you in my prayers and hope you are all having wonderful days! I will email you all next Thursday! Bye!

 

-Elder Roskelley

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