Week 1 - July 29, 2017

Hola, Everyone!

Wow!  What a first couple days it has been.  My P-day will be on Saturdays, and I can e-mail all day on my i-Pad that I have at the MTC.

My companion's name is Elder Harris from Pleasant Grove.  He is a very good guy.  I like him a lot.  

Our district is awesome.  We hangout all the time.  It's me, Elder Harris (same mission), Elder McClesse (same mission), Elder Myers (same mission), Elder Pollock (Guiaquil), and Elder Bogren (same mission).  They're all so cool.  I love them so much.  Our main goal is just to make the MTC as fun as possible and try and work as hard as we can while we are at it.

 

Class is very hard especially when everyone in my class is unreal at Spanish.  We already gave our first lesson and it was close to impossible.  I tried to read something form "Preach my Gospel" and it was hard to do that.  I also had to read my testimony out loud and that was also really hard.  But the fact that I can already say prayers (kinda) in Spanish and read my testimony is crazy.  I am the only guy in my Zone that didn't take Spanish before the MTC so I'm just trying to catch up.  I'm pretty much studying all of the time.  But I know that the gift of tongues is real and that I will be able to figure out this language.

 

The days are long here, but I love them and it helps strengthen my testimony every day.  I love this gospel and the church is true.  Kind of a short email because I've only been here for four days now.  I'll try and send pictures later.  Also, I'd love to see pictures of everyone.  Love you all.  If you know of anyone that wants to join my weekly email, let me know. 

Love, Elder Copeland

(Some of the volunteer missionaries in the MTC have taken pictures of Elder Copeland and passed them along to his family.  Sister Rhonda Redding, Elder Copeland, and Elder Harris who is Elder Copeland's companion.)

(A family friend, Christine, is also, a volunteer at the MTC, Christine, took this pic.  She told his family  that he loves the MTC and is so happy there.)

First E-Mail Received from Elder Copeland - July 26, 2017

Hey, Mom and Dad,

Just wanted to say that I made it and that I am doing awesome.  Right as I walked in, I got to see so many people that I know and it was so awesome and such a relief to see them. 

 (Sister Suzie Lundell, a greeter for the new missionaries, sent Elder Copeland's family these pictures on his first day in the MTC.)

I walked in my classroom and all they were speaking was Spanish, and I had no clue what was going on.  It was awful.  My companion is Elder Harris, he is from Pleasant Grove.  I haven't really got to meet him yet, but he seems cool.  The Spirit is already so strong here, and I can already feel it.  I can't wait to learn more about the language and my Savior. 

Tell everyone I love them.  Love you both so much.

Elder Copeland

Leaving for the MTC - July 26, 2017

Although Elder Copeland was supposed to go to the Colombia Missionary Training Center, it had to be changed to the Mexico Training Center because the Colombia MTC was too filled up at the time with missionaries.  However, the Mexico MTC didn't work out either because Elder Copeland's Visa arrived too late.  Everything worked out well anyway because now he would be attending the MTC right there in Provo which had just opened up a giant new addition that would be an excellent place to learn about teaching, service, and the Spanish language, which Elder Copeland would need to know in Ecuador.

Prior to taking him to the MTC, some of the family members went for a pizza lunch.

 After eating lunch, Elder Copeland's Uncle Cameron and Aunt Anne and their children said good-bye for two years.

 

 Big hugs from Gavin and Mason.

 Then he said good-bye to his Uncle Craig and Aunt Cassie and their three children. 

 It was especially hard for Kennedy to say good-bye to Elder Copeland.  She had become so attached to him (and vice-versa) in the days leading up to his leaving.

 Riley said he wasn't going to let him go.

 We then drove over to a grassy area in front of the Provo Temple to take a few last pictures with Elder Copeland.

 And then, all too soon, it was time for the grandparents to say "good-bye."  What a wonderful grandson Elder Copeland is.  We are all going to miss him for two years, but couldn't be prouder of the choice he has made to serve this mission.  Good-bye to Grandpa Copeland . . .

 and Grandma Copeland.

Then came the hardest part of all.  His family drove him to the Missionary Training Center where they would say good-bye for two years.

Their car is met by missionaries who help the new missionaries with their luggage and show them where they need to go.

Everyone gives one last hug.  This is a very emotional time for a family--and definitely the missionary!

 

 

 And he's off--although he won't see his family or friends for two years, may only e-mail  home once a week, and may only call home twice a year (on Christmas and Mothers' Day), we all know this is one of the most growing times in a young man's life.  By serving the Lord and serving his fellowmen, which he will do the next two years, he will grow and become the person that the Lord wants him to be.  We all will miss this dynamic young man, his loving personality, and the way he reaches out to everyone--especially little children--but, we wish him well and will continually pray for him in all he does in this worthy work.