Last week in the MTC

Momma it's Pday !!!

Me and my companions got mugged when we went for a walk off grounds...just kidding ;-) Sorry, it felt necessary (Editor's note...this boy of mine is going to give me a heart attack !!) 

Typical Elder Routledge

So this week was just amazing. I had so much fun. I had a chance to go to the Provo Temple. It was so amazing. (I think he's having an "amazing" time lol) 

Sunday we had a chance to listen to an old devotional by Elder David Bednar and it was cool because you can only watch here in the MTC. 

Monday we got the chance to hear from M. Russel Ballard in person it was really something and pretty cool. 

I also got some packages, that were full of American candy and treats. It was really cool. Kathy sent me junk food and we all keep getting packages of food. One of the Elders lives like 2 minutes away so he has gotten like 15 packages of just food hahah. 

Just some of the treats Elder Routledge and companions have received !

Wednesday my day was quite the day. Because I am the district leader, I interviewed all the sisters and elders in our district to make sure everything was okay and everyone was getting along. And they all are, so it's all good. 

Elder Routledge and his district

Later that day, both my companion and myself were feeling pretty bad, so we went to the doctor. It was just a cold, but we had to go get some meds off campus at the drug store and I will say, walking off campus made me feel like a real missionary and it was sooo cool. I am feeling a lot better now, so take a breath, I am not dead. I am very alive and healthy (I think this last comment was meant for his mother...Not that I am worrying about him...much :) )

Elder Routledge...sitting in his closet ??

He's having so much fun...he's floating on air !! 

California boys 

 I sure miss wing night and just being around y'all back home. (Y'all seems to be something he's picked up from his Texan room mate lol)


But I promise you I am having so much fun and I am learning soo much and having a royal blast !

Liam is right, the days are so long but the weeks are soo short. I can not believe that I leave for the field in a day. 

Wish everyone my best and tell them I miss them all and that I love them all soo much AND I WILL MAKE Y'ALL SO PROUD OUT THERE 

Love Elder Routledge 

 

Life at the MTC...is sweet !

Elder Routledge made it to the MTC safe and sound and is very excited ! 

He arrived on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 and we received our first email on Saturday, Jan. 17. This is what he had to say. 

 

So I am loving the MTC so much. The people here are so great and the food is so sweet. I am learning so many new things about the gospel and how to teach investigators, plus I am the district leader here. 

Elder Routledge and his room mates / companion

              
My companion and the guys I room with are so sweet. One is from Texas and the other two are from Utah. We are all going to California, just different missions. Two of them are going to Anaheim and the other one to Oakland. 
They are a really fun set of dudes and the Sisters I have class with are also really sweet. The MTC is everything I thought it would be and so much more. I have been having a lot of strong spiritual experiences and have had a lot of time to get to know the book of Mormon really well. I want you to know that I am having the time of my life here and I am learning so much and the MTC is like church but 50 times better. We are all here to serve God and that's how we all act, everyone here has such a big knowledge for the gospel, it's so great. 

Oh and the Americans here keep getting me to talk, they say they love my voice and how I talk and they keep saying they are going to move back to Canada with me haha. They love how I say "tag" and "bagel" and they love when I say "sweetness" and "eh". 

Please tell Sister Armsworthy, the Gregsons and all of the friends back home I am doing great and learning to really love this Gospel. 

I'm not quite sure, but I think Elder Routledge is enjoying the MTC and his experiences there ;-)

And he's off !!!

Today was definitely a tough day for the Routledge family :-(



Saying goodbye to Elder Routledge was MUCH harder than any of us realized, but we couldn't be more proud of our son and brother. 

We arrived at the airport about 4 hours early (yeah, some of us were SUPER excited!!) Elder Routledge just could NOT wait for his adventure to begin :-)


After taking MANY photos and lots of video it was time for check in.

A few more photos, and our Stripling Warrior was on his way to begin his 2 year adventure. 

Elder Routledge's Family 

Letting go and saying goodbye for 2 years can be very hard for a mom....and a dad...

                                    
But knowing how much he is loved and by so many, makes it just a little easier to let him go.

He went through security and we just weren't sure what to do next. 

So we went home, and just waited for confirmation of his arrival in Salt Lake. That confirmation came in the form of an amazing picture of a very happy Elder. (I swear that boy's smile can NOT get any bigger !)

And of course after flying for 2 whole hours, you just HAVE to get a bite to eat !

And how did Elder Routledge round out his last evening before entering the MTC? Why he spent it with the missionary that baptized him 6 years ago, of course. They went through the Oquirrh Temple, made some cookies and hung out with family. 

Little hard to see, but that's Elder Routledge!

Temple selfie !!

  

Families ARE Forever 

Cookies !!

Elder Routledge will enter the MTC (Missionary Training Centre) tomorrow and that is when his mission will truly begin. He feels blessed to have so many family and friends supporting him here at home as he begins this journey and "Leaves his family for a while...so others can be with their FAMILIES FOREVER"

Until we meet again....

Welcome to the Stripling Warrior Momma Blog !!

Welcome to the Stripling Warrior Momma blog!!

As I've never blogged before, I'm not exactly sure what to do :-)

My idea for this is a place for Elder Kevin Routledge's friends and family to keep in touch with him as he serves in the Ventura, California mission for the next 2 years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

It's been quite a ride, getting to this point. Elder Routledge and I (his mom) joined this church 6 years ago (when he was a little 12 year old) and I was 6 years younger :-)
Kevin decided from the very beginning that he would serve a mission just like his missionary, Elder Nixon. 

Fast forward to 2014 and suddenly the idea of Kevin serving a mission became VERY real. In April or May we were approached by our Bishop and advised that Kevin needed to start working on his missionary papers and get them submitted as soon as possible. After some hard work, Kevin was ready to submit his papers in July or August. 

On September 10, 2014, we received THE CALL !! It was an exciting evening with Kevin's family and closest friends surrounding him as he opened the envelope !! 

Elder Kevin Routledge was called to the Ventura, California mission reporting to the Provo MTC on January 14, 2015 !!

The last couple months have been a whirlwind of activity! We've been to Utah to visit with "our" missionary, done LOTS of shopping (ties, white shirts, shoes, journals, ties, suitcases, dress pants...did I mention ties ??), many nights of crying (me, not kevin), visited not ONE but THREE Temples and received more support than we could ever have imagined. 






Kevin has been so excited about leaving on his mission and I didn't think his smile could get any bigger. 
Until this last weekend. 
Kevin had the opportunity to baptize his dad in front of a "small" gathering of friends and family. It was one of the most spiritual and emotional experiences of my life and I'm quite certain Kevin felt the same way. 






We are now down to the last week before my sweet boy leaves. It's going to be tough letting him go and I'm not sure that I'm out of tears just yet, but there is no place on earth I would rather he be. I am so proud of him and the decisions he has made to be worthy to serve a mission. 

Good Luck Elder Routledge. I love you.