MTC

Elder Patrick Grayson McBride entered the MTC Wednesday January 21st.

One thing we know about Patrick is his huge, contagious smile - and as we watched him walking in, and taking in his surroundings that smile was there. He was a bit nervous during lunch, I think he ate three bites, but we had a nice as a family, laughing, joking around and just being together.

If you have never been to the MTC, it is an experience everyone should experience at least once. Everyone is very nice, and as we were walking through the volunteers must have said "Congratulations Elder" 15 times. Which caught me off guard just a little bit. "Congratulations Elder." It was like he had won a prize, a vacation - money, something. Instead he will be serving the Lord for the next two years. He will be learning, growing and teaching the gospel. He will be building testimonies, both his and others. There is no other time in a person's life that they can do so much good in 2 years. Congratulations Elder indeed!

I watched Elder McBride put his missionary name tag on his suit, and his face was beaming, I watched as he sat in the chapel getting more and more anxious, and I watched as he listened to the MTC president. I know that he is going to be the very best missionary -

Saying good bye was difficult - everyone loves Patch, but we all know he is following the commandments. We know our family will be blessed! And we know Elder McBride is going to be a fabulous missionary!