Entering the MTC

Jake, Reggie, and Andrew after Reggie spoke in Sacrament Meeting

What a crazy week!  It began with Reggie's Sacrament Meeting talk.  For those who were unable to attend, he did a wonderful job and had the attention of everyone in the chapel.  It was a great experience.  After that we had a little mission miracle.  After he spoke in Sacrament Meeting, it was planned to have a little lunch outside at his house, but we woke up to rain that morning.  After many prayers offered, we all walked out of the church to a beautiful sunshiney (and eventually hot) afternoon.  Everything was dry and the whole event turned out to be perfect and fun.

Reggie receiving wisdom from Grandpa Smart after being set apart

The next few days were filled with packing, shopping, labeling, and other joys of putting everything you need into a suitcase.   Tuesday evening Reggie was set apart as a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It was a beautiful and sacred event. 

The next morning the whole Roberts clan piled into the Holdstock's car to take Elder Roberts to the MTC.  He didn't report until 1:15, so we had time to run a couple errands, eat some Chinese food at Reggie's request, and just be together.  Funny side note: everyone's fortune cookies were all applied to Reggie somehow :)


With a half hour before drop off time, we stopped by the Provo temple to take some last pictures together.  As we stood there we ran into some missionaries walking from the temple to the MTC, informing us that they knew a "dude" going to Argentina as well :)  They took some pictures for us.  It was fun and comforting to see the spirit in the young men that Reggie will be associating with for the next two years.

Families are Forever

After hugs, tears, laughs, and advice, we all piled into the car for the last time.  We drove him across the street the the Missionary Training Center where he will be spending the next two months.  After a final hug each and a salute, he was swept away by a host missionary (that didn't speak English).  We are so excited for the experiences he is going to have.  Although it's hard to know we won't see him for two years, we know that he is where he is supposed to be and that he is going to be a blessing to the people of Argentina.

Elder Roberts and his awesome parents

For those of you wishing to write Elder Roberts, dearelder.com is an amazing tool.  You can go to it and using the missionary code and mailbox number on the left, you can send him a little letter that they print out and deliver daily.  Right now select "Provo MTC" when you send him a letter, but you can continue to use it when he is in Argentina as well.  Reggie's addresses will always be here on his blog.  Stay updated to hear how his first week in the MTC goes!