Pre-Mission Week 1

My mission trip started on Monday, getting up early so that I could go see my dad at work and say goodbye. We talked for a bit about how I was going to miss him and about how he was proud of me before finally saying goodbye and heading back home to make sure I had everything I needed in my suitcases. A little while after I got home and finished packing my bags, my grandparents arrived, and it was time for me to leave. I said my goodbyes to my parents and brothers, telling them how much I loved them and would miss them, and then I was off on my way with my grandparents.

We spent the rest of the day driving, getting to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Raleigh temple before finding a hotel and going to bed. In the morning, we got up, went out for breakfast, and then continued driving. In Tennessee, we were able to drive by and get pictures at the Nashville and Memphis temples throughout the day. The next day, it was back on the road with us leaving Tennessee and heading into Oklahoma, where I got to see the Oklahoma City temple, Elk City, and a bunch of wind turbine farms as we headed into Texas. This was around the time I realized just how much of the lower Midwest was just open land. It was also around this time that we started listening to an audiobook about President Russell M. Nelson's life, which I was really interested in.

Around the time the sun started going down, we got to a hotel before going and seeing the Cadillac graveyard, this weird place with a couple of Cadillacs buried front down in the dirt. Thursday, we left Texas, stopping at a rest along the way for a couple of pictures and so my grandpa could teach me about some wild plants and cacti. We headed into New Mexico, seeing more empty land and more turbines before passing through Albuquerque and visiting the temple. More driving, and we are in Arizona where we pass by the Native American reserve. Later in the day, we stop and visit the Snowflake temple and spend some time inside, with it being dark by the time we come back out.

Friday morning, we woke up and saw a couple of prairie dogs hanging out in the area next to the hotel, running around and being on the lookout. After taking advantage of the complimentary breakfast, we were back to driving (you must be getting tired of reading that by now), this time going on a steep road five miles down and up both ways. We then visited the Mesa and Gilbert temples, where we spent some time doing temple work before going and staying at my great aunt's house for the rest of the day. While there, I was able to do some service by removing an old bird's nest from the roof and putting up a couple of signs on her fence.

Saturday, I got up and wished my older brother a happy birthday before preparing to go and do temple work with my grandparents and great aunt at the Phoenix temple, taking a couple of hours to enjoy the air conditioning inside. Afterwards, we all went and got lunch at Raising Cane's, a fast-food restaurant my older brother is obsessed with, and then got ingredients for dinner the next night. At night, we saw a couple of fireworks being set off at a park down the road and even went in the backyard to find some scorpions.

Sunday, we all went to my great aunt's ward for church, listening to the talks in the first hour and then going to the elders quorum for the second hour. During the second hour, I was asked to give a blessing to one of the ward members which, while very nerve-wracking for me, was also a great experience. To summarize this week, it was a lot of driving and getting used to the new scripture study schedule. I'm excited for my mission and wish you all a wonderful day.

Photos - 1-6: Week 1 temples (minus Raleigh, Mesa, and Phoenix temples).