Fun in the MTC?

This post is going to show all of the "fun" Randy's having in the MTC. It's not necessarily in order of when they occurred, but it looks like there were some good times.

Have you ever heard of the "Perfect Push-Up"? While this is not the exact same product, it does make push-ups much harder to do (or at least it looks like it does). Well, Randy and his companion decided to try their hand. Here are the results:

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!


Maybe it will help if I hold my breath...

Keep it up and you'll have pecs and abs of steel when you get home:)

Laundry. A must no matter where you are in life. For some of these guys (Randy included) this is the first time doing their laundry all on their own. Yeah, they might have done a few loads here and there. But now it's all them...Doesn't look like it's bothering them too much!


Can you say Ninja?! We won't even ask, Elder Booth...


Maybe Elder Booth could shed some light on the point of these next two pics...

It looks like someone got a hold of Randy's (Elder Booth's) camera here...


Ready to make some fight scenes for some action movies? Let's get right to work (in our suits too)...


Hopefully no one was hurt!

Life in the MTC...

So... getting used to life in the MTC. Randy entered the MTC on Oct. 22nd and his first letter home was an email he sent on October 27th. Mondays were P-Days in the MTC. Here's a little of what he had to say:

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:25:06 Ok, this is going to have to be a short letter. I don't have much time because we are still getting used to finding a place where we can email. The first couple of days have been really good here. I am learning more than I ever have when it comes to the gospel (accept for those late nights when dad would pull me aside and try and teach me some pretty deep stuff, of course). You were definitely right though there really is no reason to be nervous. My only concern is my concentration. I am still getting adjusted to the whole studying for the whole day. This really will help me in college with my study skills. Oh and just so you know i think I am the only elder in my discrict that hasn't gotten and mail yet. I wanted you to know that because I feel a little left out : ). Umm, I'm actually out of time and have to continue studying so I will write you next week and I promise I will spend more time on it.

So the Booths (and Andersons and Rawsons) have to get on the ball and send letters and packages. Well, Randy can agree with me in saying that after that he was spoiled. He received lots of packages in the MTC and we hope to keep sending them (not as often as it costs A LOT more to send them to the Philippines).

Just a little preface to the rest of this post (and all others, actually). As Randy's sister, I am trying to figure out who people are and what is going on in these pictures. I am going to post all of the pictures I recieve, but I'm not sure that all of them will be explained. I'm also not sure that they will be labeled either...

To get started, here's some of the layout of Randy's world in the MTC:

His Desk (where he spent a lot of time - new for Randy :)...


His bed (where we hope he spent more time)...


His Closet (where he probably spent no time at all, although with Randy, one can never be sure...J/K)...


Here's a few outdoor shots of the grounds:


Here's Randy's companion, Elder Wade, in the MTC (he's in the yellow in the first picture):


This is one of Randy's roommates, I think Elder Jackson, from Australia:


This is some hallway fun with some of the other elders who were rooming nearby. I have to be honest and admit that I don't know who any of them are ( I just know that they like to brush their teeth in the hallway)...







Looks like lots of fun! Good luck Randy!

Here's a quick video. It's the second of two, but the first one is about 13 minutes (way too long to upload)! Let me (Michele) know if you would like to see it and I'll get it to you...

Randy Entering the MTC

It's off to the MTC for Randy! It's October 22, 2008 and Mom and Dad are dropping him off... for 2 years! Here he is with his new "very short" haircut (thanks Tosha) and new suit. Of course his brother-in-law (Ryan) had to call right when they pulled up. Now we have a lot of "phone call" pictures to deal with :)


Here's Randy with Mom right before entering the MTC. There wasn't much time for pictures...


Now it's Dad's turn. And Randy's still on the phone...


As you can see from the signs, they make it pretty clear where the missionaries go. They (the "helpers" at the MTC) start telling you where to go right when you enter the property. As you drive in, the missionary gets out and takes his luggage to a "special place" and parents are told where to park. The missionary comes back and Mom and Dad were able to capture the above (and below) shots. However, there wasn't too much time...


(Unfortunately the sun was not in the best place for the pictures). This is where the families enter...


After entering the building, Randy checked in while Mom and Dad waited. He comes back with his badge and Dad had the honor of putting it on him the first time. He was told that he was officially a missionary after this. Here's Dad making him "official."



After this, cameras were off! All three entered a room, sang an opening song, listened to the MTC Mission President tell them about what their missionary will experience in the MTC (we'll have to see about the rest of the mission) and said their "Goodbyes."
Now Randy's on his own and we have two years to wait to see what a mission does to Randy...