Our Third Grandson Leaves for His Mission

We were so excited when our third grandson chose to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After receiving his mission call which came from church headquarters in Salt Lake City, we were all thrilled to learn that Connor, Kevin and Angie's son, would be serving for two years in the Nicaragua Managua Mission.

 When Connor received his mission call on March 19, 2014, he learned he would be preaching the gospel in Spanish.  He was told that he would be reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Mexico City on July 23, 2014.

 Prior to leaving, Connor went with his parents and other family members and friends for his first time to the temple where he received certain blessings in a sacred ceremony called an endowment.

Connor with one of his best friends, Cole Johnson, who also went to the temple that day for the first time.  Cole was called to the Korea Mission.

Connor with his brother Taylor and sister-in-law, Ellie, at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.

All missionaries give a speech in church before leaving for their mission.  The day Connor was to speak, there were so many missionaries leaving from his particular ward, they had three young men speaking at one meeting.  It was a fantastic meeting with such beautiful thoughts from these three young men. 

After the meeting, an open house was held at Connor's home where friends and family could come and say good-bye for two years.  Kevin and Angie's home is the perfect place for getting together with the beautiful view they have of the mountains.

Missionary flags indicating the missions each person in Kevin and Angie's home have served or are serving:  Brazil where Kevin served; Nicaragua where Connor will serve; and Pennsylvania where Connor's older brother Taylor served, all callings for two years.

The Nicaraguan flag waved proudly by their front door.

Proud grandfather and dad of the missionary.

Although only cousins, you'd think Parker and Connor were brothers!  They are two peas in one pod!

Connor with his Gpa and Gma, as he affectionately calls us.

Angie had worked so hard, along with other family members and friends, to make a wonderful Spanish meal with tortillas, rice, beans, chicken or pork, and all the fixings.  It was delicious!

So many great family and friends came to the open house for Connor.  It was such a wonderful time!

 

 Angie's parents:  Marti and Robert.  Such great people!

 

 And where was Koda during this entire event?  They put him in the bathroom because being less than three pounds, they didn't want him stepped on.  He gets very nervous when too much company comes!

 

 I even got to see my old friend, Syd, who taught with me at my first teaching job at West Lake Jr. High.  She was the art teacher and I was the business teacher.  She actually is the one who helped my sister's daughter, Kelsey, get her start as an artist!

 Sandy is such a part of our family, she needed to be in the picture with our daughters.

 Lots of fun downstairs! 

 This is my sister, Natalie's son, Nathan, who just received his call to Georgia Atlanta Mission.  He will be leaving in August.

Taylor, Connor's older brother, who finished his two-year mission to Pennsylvania Philadelphia Spanish Speaking.  After he came home, he married the wonderful girl (Ellie) who had written to him for two years.  They have now been married for a year!

 Cole's sister who sang at the Sacrament meeting today.  Like Cole said, "She has the voice of an angel!"  So true!

 

 Cole Johnson and Connor both spoke at church this day, along with one other young man who is going on his mission, too.  Cole is going to Korea, and Connor is going to Nicaragua.  Here they are with their parents.
 

One more person we needed to include in this special missionary day was our dear little Cannon who has now been gone for exactly seven months.  We know he, too, is doing missionary work in the spirit world, and we wanted him to know how much we appreciate all he is doing!  We will never forget you, Cannon!

 
It is amazing how many family members always want to visit his grave site.  Here is Hannah, Cannon's cousin; Amy, his aunt; and Lola, his cousin. 

Cannon's Uncle John and Aunt Alison

 Aunt Amy and Cousin Lola

After spending a week in Utah, it was time to leave.  Connor and Parker said "good-bye" knowing it would be at least three years before they would see each other again because Parker will be leaving a year after Connor for his mission.  They have had so many fun times together!

I am a cry-baby, I know, but I surely am going to miss this sweet young man.  However, I know he is doing the right thing in his life at this time.  He is going to work so hard and will be loved by the Nicaraguan people.  After this, I got in the car with John and Alison and their family to spend a week with their family in the San Francisco area where they live.

The day before Elder Copeland left for Mexico City and his missionary training there, he was officially set apart.  This is the priesthood ordinance of giving authority to members called to labor in specific responsibilities.  It is done by those having the proper priesthood authority and by the laying on of hands. 

After the setting apart, they are now officially missionaries and are called "Elder" for their entire mission.  This is a picture of Elder Copeland and Elder Johnson with their dads after their setting apart.  Not only are the two missionaries very good friends, but their dads have been friends since high school.

The missionaries with their mothers who have been friends for years, too.

Elder Copeland and Elder Johnson (the two with suits on in the middle), were both set-apart on the same evening because they both were leaving the next day for their missions.  Many of their friends came afterwards to say good-bye while waiting for their days to leave.  These young men will be going all over the world.

The good-byes were said to friends, with all knowing that it would be at least two years before they would all be seeing each other again.  These young men have set such worthy goals to serve the Lord for these two years in preaching the restored gospel through their words and deeds.  We wish them all the best in these righteous endeavors.

Elder Copeland with his family prior to boarding the plane (His dad was taking the picture.) 

Elder Copeland with his brother, Kade, and another important member of their family, Koda--their very special little dog.

 

 Hugging his mom good-bye.  Lots of special moments with all the family members which are too personal for pictures.  Although there are tears of leaving the loved ones and their homes behind, there are always tears of pride and love for a son or daughter or has lived their life worthily to become an ambassador for the Lord as they serve their mission.

And then he was off for Mexico City to begin two of the best, most gratifying, yet most difficult years of his life.  We all cried tears of joy for such a worthy young man who has such a desire to serve the Lord.