The Day Has Come

One Last Family Picture before leaving to the MTC

Ben has entered the MTC in Provo, Utah.  Other families in our area who have recently dropped off missionaries warned us that we would not have much time at the curb to say good-bye to Ben.  In response to this lack of sufficient time, I had cooked up a scenario to meet with any of his aunts or uncles who could not make it to Joanna's house to come to either the park area between the MTC and Provo Temple or another nearby meeting place to give Ben a definite send-off before we officially dropped him off.  Life, as it has a tendency to do no matter how hard to try to stop it, got in the way of this plan and it had to be scrapped.  I am grateful that Aaron and Jay made time to call Ben and say good-bye; he appreciated hearing from both of them very much.  Actually, in a way, it was probably easier that my grand plan didn't work out.  As I looked at the "park" where I had planned to have this get-together, I found it filled to the gills with other families all doing the same thing.  It looked like such a mad house over there that I'm not sure we would have been able to even find a parking spot.  Ben had asked me to give him a father's blessing before we left Joanna's house and we all had a special moment with him before we piled into the car to drive to Provo.  That moment served the purpose I had envisioned.

The only thing marking the entrance of the MTC was the green street sign hanging from the stop light and the jam of cars streaming into said entrance.  In my day (wow, did I just write that; I sound so old ☺), a large black sign on the curb marked the MTC entrance (it was a definite photo shot from many missionaries.  I remember my family parking the family car in the parking lot and all of us trooping into an auditorium near the front desk.  Inside that auditorium, a 25 to 30 minute video introducing the MTC and its purposes was shown.  At the conclusion of the video, families were given a moment to say their good-byes and then they were led out the back door while missionaries were herded through another door.  Over the last several years, the protocol has changed.  As soon as I was able to pull the car into the driveway of the MTC, cone markers split the cars into two lanes.  I picked the left lane and manuvered slowly forward until I was next to an older gentleman wearing an orange vest with one vertical yellow stripe on each side.  "Dropping off an Elder of Sister?" he asked.  "Elder," I replied.  He glanced into the car as he placed a long, yellow sticky note on the windshield and welcomed Ben to the MTC.  "Follow the Elder's directions," he said.  I glanced forward and found an Elder wearing the same orange vest directing me to the right.

I slowly followed his hand signals and quickly was directed by a third man to park behind a SUV several feet in front of me.  As I brought the car to a stop, the man said, "Please unload quickly." I popped the trunk, got out of the car and moved to retrieve Ben's luggage.  Isaac hopped out and started filming the moment.  Jennifer took the video camera from him to allow him to give Ben a quick hug.  While Jennifer was hugging Ben, an Elder walked forward and introduced himself.  As I gave Ben a last hug, I heard Jennifer say, "Elder Dailey is going to help you."  Elder Dailey was already reaching for the larger luggage.  Ben slung his shoulder bag over his shoulder while Elder Dailey asked, "What's you're last name Elder?" "Metcalfe," Ben replied.  "Elder Metcalfe, welcome to the MTC," Elder Dailey said.  As they walked away from the car, I heard Elder Dailey ask Ben where he was assigned and Ben replied, "Denver."  "There are a lot of people going to Denver," Elder Dailey replied.  That was the last thing I heard as the two prepared to step onto the sidewalk.  Ben turned around once to give us one last quick look, a "I love you" sign, and a huge grin.  He then continued on his way without looking back.

And so it begins: Ben with a long-standing goal; and us adjusting to the fact that we are now three instead of four. ☺  I am (we are) so happy for him.  The days leading up to this moment seemed so surreal in a way, but now everything that was "the future" is "the now."  I can't wait to read Ben's emails and see how much his mission will change him for the better.  I wish him all the best.