One Month Down, 23 to go...

Yes, you read that right. It has been one month since we dropped Geoff off at the Missionary Training Center in Provo. It is shocking to think how fast this month has gone. Some days have felt really long - but to sit here today thinking that one month ago at this very minute Mom and Dad and I were putting our things in our new room near the Salt Lake airport and changing our clothes to go and relax and replenish at the Malley's in Layton.

Thinking about it we don't know tons about what Elder Taylor is doing or did while at the MTC. So if you have specific questions you'd like him to answer, post a comment below. You don't have to be a blogspot member, and it will help get more details from the boy.

Here are a few more pictures from his time in the MTC:

The Elders Taylor...pink ties are the new power ties.

When all the work is done...
but without their name tags on - we don't know who the other guy is...

OUR FIRST E-MAIL...

Here's the first e-mail we've gotten from our guy:

Dear Family,

I hope that my letter got to you, but if it didn’t here is another one. Im here in Winnemucca, Nevada. It is a nice small town. The people are friendly but don’t really want to listen to our message, but they will talk to us about other things. My trainer is Elder Filter, he is a nice guy. We have been working hard, but it’s been fun as well. We have a guy named Shawn who we baptized on April 7th. Then we have Cammy and Travis, whose dad wont let them get baptized, so we will be working with him. Some good stories so far, ... In Winnemucca we met this less-active member one day and he asked us to come and give him a blessing, so we did. Then he told us that he had been talking to his mom and she said to call the missionaries to get a blessing, but he didn’t have our number so he couldn’t. Then the next afternoon we were across the street from his apartment and he saw us, so the lord puts us in the place we need to be. Our plans for tomorrow are, we are going to cast an Evil spirit out of this ladies double wide that should be fun. Well I know why Mike Morris wants to live in Winnemucca, its quiet and lots of double wides. I love you guys very much, I will send pictures soon.

Love, Elder Taylor

If you'd like to be in touch with Elder Taylor via e-mail send it to: G_Taylor@myldsmail.net or if you'd let me read them ahead of time I can forward them from cocochutzpuh@gmail.com.

From prior to his mission...

It's no surprise that Geoff is from our family - even being as mellow as he is. He's always loved playing-dress up. This first one was more of a birthday present to his cousin, MaryKate Berg who is a: in the center of the picture and b: pregnant for reals. The other two jokers are showing their moral support.

Here are some other opportunities that he's taken to dress up...

This is what he's wearing these days...

Can I get a What?...wait...WHAT?

I feel like during this whole week we've just been flipping through our living "Where's Waldo" book, and we can't figure out where our Waldo has ended up! We finally got a letter today - from the Mission President. It was a form letter, which is understandable as there are plenty of missionaries and I'm assuming the President and his wife aren't sitting around waiting for things to do...

But the letter only told us that his trainer is Elder Filter (uh-huh) and that he's in the Fallon Zone in Winnemucca, Nevada. But we knew that on Thursday when, while stalking Geoff via his bank account, we saw that he'd made a purchase at the Winnemucca Wal-Mart. And if you think that saying Winnemucca ever gets old - you're WRONG. Also, if you think that stalking Geoff will get old - you're even WRONGER. The President also let us know that they'd had interviews and a nice dinner - and a 6:30 a.m. session at the Las Vegas Temple the next day. That is one EARLY day. Reading that sentence of the letter made my eyes hurt just thinking about what it would take to be at the Temple for a 6:30 a.m. session. WOW.

Included in the letter from President Andrus was Geoff's testimony written out as well as a short, very energetic, very detail-free letter. I'm pretty sure the good folks at the MTC stuffed his pockets with Pixie Sticks, Fun Dip, and sugar cubes and then put them on a plane for Vegas. That must have been an awesome flight. We're not sure when the next preparation day (p-day) will be, but I'm hoping it's Monday...and that he can send us an e-mail...because SERIOUSLY...I need some details here.

FINAL NOTE: I will also just say this: My father, Mark Taylor is one of the most decent, respectful men in the world. He waited almost 30 minutes with the letter from Geoff and didn't open it, waiting for Mom and me to get home. I can assure you now that the same courtesy would not have been extended if my Mother or I had gotten the letter first. Mark rules.

He's in Las Vegas now...

We know that Elder Taylor was travelling to Las Vegas today - and he'll spend the night at the mission home, having dinner with the outgoing elders. Then, tomorrow morning he'll join the mission president and his wife and the other new elders at the temple. Then - they go to their assignments. And then...he's being a missionary...all the time.

We got two great letters today - but even better, we got pictures!! Here are a few of the best one's that he sent.

His work space - and he's got a letter sitting on the desk! PUT IT IN THE MAIL, MAN!
I guess he's a top-bunk kind of guy...there were pictures where the bed was made - but this is more interesting.
It's all in order, organized and happy. Good job, Geoff!
I think that this is after he's seen the study schedule...
The Elder studies...that is his companion, Elder "Ben Stein" Thompson
This might be the reaction to burrito night...but a close up of Elder Thompson
Hard to say what's going on out of frame, but we sure like our guy...
The other elders in the district taking pictures at the Provo Temple
This is a keeper - Elder Taylor at the Provo Temple. He says he likes the quiet of the temple compared to the noise and bustle of the MTC.

Elder Thompson is very tall - because Elder Taylor isn't a shrimp - but he looks like he is next to this guy! Elder Taylor sends the one picture I've been waiting for...and you might ask "Where is his coat?" I know I'm wondering why he's not wearing a coat...

Elder Taylor with Brother Nielson, one of his two MTC teachers.

This week's letters...

We got three letters from Elder Taylor on Monday, giving a few details of his life in the MTC. The highlights from the letters:

- While he's not a fan of the breakfasts, he really likes lunch.
- His companion, Elder Thompson, sounds exactly like Ben Stein. Once Geoff sends home his camera card, we'll post pictures to see if he looks like Ben Stein, too.
- They study...a lot. And then they have personal study time. And then they study some more.
- He wants us to mail him Mountain Dew.
- His testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ has grown "100 times more" than it was before he left.

If you're counting - he's now spent two whole weeks in the MTC, and is scheduled to fly to Las Vegas on Monday, March 12. So crazy.

A final request fulfilled

For the past almost two years, Geoffrey worked at a local grocery store. Working at Haggen, Geoff had to wear a white shirt and tie and black slacks every day. That was really good training for being on a mission. And he didn't invest a lot in those shirts, because they got so gross and dirty during each shift. Once he finally quit his job he put all of the clothes in a pile - and hoped that one day a large fire would appear that would allow for the proper retirement of the items.

This past weekend was the Camp Namanu Spring Work Weekend and Dad and I went up to help - and I was in charge of the burn pile. Why? Because I love burning things. So here is what it looked like...you can almost feel the heat, right?