Good-bye Provo, Hello Guatemala!

Here are the final pictures from Provo:

And here is the first one from Guatemala:

We also got a wonderful, nice, long email from President Christensen. He and his wife have Goodman relatives, and he was wondering if we are related. His personal website has over 100 pictures of the MTC. See it at: http://www.davidachristensen.com/

You can take a tour of the MTC using all the pictures he has posted on his website. Go to page 3 and see the picture of President Christensen with the three sister missionaries. I TOLD Ridge that the Mayan people were only going to come up to his waist!!

You can email Ridge at: nicholas.r.goodman.gcs@myldsmail.net

His P-day is still Tuesday, and he will pick up his emails then.

MTC Pictures!

We got our first pictures from the MTC today - woo hoo!!! Each one has a caption on the back. Read below:

My companion is always studying! What's up with that?

Yes, an unfortunate sunspot. Makes me look like a pirate.

I absolutely love what he did with this one. He labeled each member of his zone on the front, and then on the back, he wrote each one's name, where he is from, where he will be serving, and who his companion is. He also notes that two of these Elders have an identical twin who is also in the MTC right now. Ridge's companion is Elder Davis. You can double-click on the pictures and they will show up as full-screen shots.

He flies out to Guatemala on the 24th or 25th, so he will only be in los estados unidos for a few more days as I write this. Here is his mailing address at the Guatemala MTC:

Guatemala MTC

Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71

Vista Hermosa I, Zona 15

01015 Guatemala

Guatemala

You can also set up an account with dearelder.com and put a little money in it and they will mail the letters for you. It is SWEET. I'm sure that Ridge would also want you to know that you can send care packages to him through that website. It's pricey to send packages, but the letters are only about 75 cents, I think.

He loves the food at the MTC and says that he has gained 5 pounds since he's been there. Oh, that's why he's looking a little pudgy - lol!!

Drop-off at the MTC!

Welcome to the first installment of "Dear Elder Goodman". We hope to have LOTS of followers over the next two years as Ridge serves in the Guatemala, Guatemala City South Mission.

Yesterday was the big day, folks. AND. . .I have to say that I am a huge fan of curbside drop-offs! I don't know if I could have sat through the presentation that they used to do. Whew - how did those parents do it?!

This was quite different, at least for me. We pulled into the MTC parking lot, where they were directing traffic like it was a Luis-Gonzalez-Diamondbacks event (you know - the ones back in the era when they were WINNING), a nice man gave us a yellow window sticker and directed us to "spot number nine". We drove around the corner where spots 1 thru 10 were mostly filled with crying moms and sweating, puffing dads who were pulling large pieces of luggage out of the backs of Mormon Cadillacs (aka, Yukons). Three or four Elders met us at the curb; one said, "Welcome to the MTC, Elder. . .what is your last name?" and took Ridge's backpack from him. The others grabbed his suitcases and an older gentleman said, "Say goodbye to your son, Mom. Elder, kiss your mom goodbye." We gave hugs, I scolded him in advance in case he doesn't write or email soon/often enough, and he turned and followed the other Elders away.

Yes, I cried. It's just a guess, but I think Dad did too. But all in all, it wasn't so bad. It probably helps that Ridge has been gone from home for a full year at this point. I've been so excited for him ever since that I haven't had a chance to be sad. I can't wait to hear from him.

Here is his address, everyone:

Elder Nicholas Ridge Allen Goodman
MTC Mailbox #123-0825
Guatemala, Guatemala City South Mission
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

He will love getting letters - write away!