Day One

(I'm debating whether or not to fix up Josh's spelling errors and capitalization laziness.  If I start now, I will have to do it for two years, and I know that will be time consuming.  So I think I'm going to leave his emails as is.  That's just how Josh types.)

Hola mi familia! I only have 5 minutes so this wont be very detailed. Well im here all safe and sound and its been going great!  I really like my district!  theyre all fantastic guys.  my companions name is elder Fuller.  He's very nice and we get along very well.  My district all ready feels like family.  So far i like the provo mtc.  Our spanish teacher hardly spoke any english at all so i understood very little.  but it was a very good experience and i cant wait to learn more.  well i think im just about out of time so ill talk to you later! oh and im pretty sure my p day is on thursdays. 

love josh

The MTC Drop-Off

Due to visa problems, Josh and his group were not able to travel to the Mexico City MTC for training.  They were asked to report to the Provo MTC on Wednesday, August 27th around noon.  Emma went to school (it was her second day of this school year), so Josh was taken to Provo by me and Matt.  We took a few pictures in front of the Provo Temple and then drove around for a little while.  Finally, the time came for the drop-off.  We knew it would be quick, but we aren't ones to stretch things out...especially emotional times.  We were met by a handful of handsome elders who were full of excitement.  They helped get the luggage out of the car, took a picture of us with my phone, got a quick hug from Josh, and he was off!  I snapped a few more as he walked away.  Matt and I got in the car and began to drive off, watching him enter the MTC doors and the hand of God.  The tears began to flow.  We miss that boy already.  He will be a man when he returns.

Adios, Elder Eastman!  God be with you!

He's A Missionary Now!

Josh was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Tuesday, August 26th around 8:30 pm at our home by our stake president, President John McCorquindale.   He received a beautiful blessing to go along with that setting apart.  He will be a great missionary!

Here's a picture of our family (obviously missing our other missionary, Hermana Chelsea Eastman).  We won't have him in pictures with us for two more years.

Now introducing.... Elder Eastman.

Missionary Pics

Josh needed a picture for his plaque that will hang in the foyer at church.  The scripture that he chose to go on it is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  That is a very meaningful scripture to Josh.

So the Sunday before he entered the MTC, his dad took some photographs of him at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple which is right behind our house. This is the one that was chosen for his plaque.

Here is another one.  The location and angle were Josh's idea.   It turned out really nice... and it was taken with an iPhone by Matt.

Temple

Josh received his endowment at the Jordan River Temple on the evening of Thursday, August 14th.  His cousin, Alex Wright who is called to serve in Mexico City, also received his endowment at the same time.  It was a very special day.

Called To Serve

Josh's mission call was mailed to our family's new home in Utah.  He stayed in Idaho for an extra week, so we drove back up to Meridian and hand delivered the big envelope to Josh.  We wanted him to have the experience of discovering where the Lord is sending him in front of his friends.  He opened it up on the morning of Saturday, June 14th at his friend Christian Larsen's home.

When he read his calling, everyone thought he was joking because Christian had also been called to Quito, Ecuador!  Pretty cool for those best buds.  But Christian is in the Quito North Mission and left at the end of July.  Josh will be going to the Mexico City MTC on Wednesday, August 27th.