Pre-MTC

Helloooo everyone! This is Breanna, Gavin's sister. I'll be updating this little blog from now on! Just a brief update: Elder Davis is now in the MTC. He reported on Wednesday, December 19th.

Below are a whole bunch of pictures leading up to when he entered the Missionary Training Center.

Captions were written by mom, who was actually there when all of these pictures were taken :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is our last Sunday all together as a family on the 16th of December. All the kids together one last time for 2 years :) Such a bittersweet parting.



Grandma and Grandpa Hudson with Gavin on Sunday before he left on a plane for Utah



On Monday, we tried to visit the MTC to look around and take some pictures, but since it's a closed campus, we couldn't do that. Instead, we walked around the Provo Temple, and they have this sweet nativity. Oh my goodness, it was FREEZING! We also went to BYU for Gavin to meet a counselor and plan for the future. So he's set! Then we just walked around and enjoyed Utah.

 

On Tuesday, we had the special opportunity to go through the Salt Lake temple with Gavin. :) It was so neat, and the temple is so beautiful.

Also, on Tuesday morning, Gavin and Steve played catch for the last time. We are a HUGE baseball family, and Gavin has played the sport most of his life. One thing that Gavin and Steve always used to do was play catch in the yard.

In the evening, we walked around Temple Square to look at the Christmas lights. SO BEAUTIFUL. The camera couldn't do it justice. We walked around, and then went to dinner with some family. After that, we met up with some great friends for some more fun.

 

 

This is Wednesday. Since he's only got two hands but three suite cases, we needed an easier way for him to transport his things from place to place... thus the bungee chord! These two guys are so smart!

 

There were a lot of missionaries checking in with Gavin, and many were at the temple taking pictures like us. Did I mention it was freezing?! Haha

 

 

Well, here's a video of the big moment. It had finally arrived, and everything happened so fast. We pulled through the MTC gate and drove along the curb with the other cars, watching all the Host missionaries as they lined up on the side walk ready to greet the new missionaries. Gavin's Host, Elder Moss was so nice! I didn't record much because I was too busy crying and hugging my missionary. :') He was so ready to go, because he had prepared himself so well. Just that morning he reached his goal to finish reading the Book of Mormon in French for the second time through. He had been reading it out loud so it was fun to hear him speak French! It was difficult for me to let go and say good-bye knowing I won't see him for two years. Even though I was sobbing like crazy, I was and still am so grateful for what he is doing. I know he is where he is meant to be, and that there is nothing more important that he could be doing right now than serving a mission!

 

We're obviously such amateurs! We call out for one last look at him and yell "Gavin"... not Elder Davis. That will be the last time he hears that name for two years. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!