MTC Experience

The Brackens share the following experience about taking Jordan to the MTC.

“Elder Bracken is now at the MTC serving a full time mission. Elder Bracken was set apart as a full time missionary the evening of September 30th by President Paul Graf. President Graf gave a wonderful blessing to Elder Bracken giving him the health, strength, and spiritual guidance needed to serve a full time mission in Bulgaria.

We woke up early on Wednesday October 1st to take Elder Bracken to the MTC. We fed Elder Bracken a hardy breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Spanish Fork Utah. The drive up to Provo was time well spent with Jordan. We arrived at the MTC around 11:45am and made the 12:30PM missionary introduction session. We used the time to take pictures, enjoy the beautiful day, feel the spirit, and become acquainted with the MTC process.

They are very organized at the MTC because they had 240 new missionaries coming in that day to add to their 2,000 plus already on campus. It was very exciting to have Monica pin on his missionary badge for the first time even though we could not read the Bulgarian Cyrillic language. We looked around for others with the same badge and saw no one but we were reassured that there were 8 other missionaries reporting for Bulgaria on the same day.

After taking many picture, we were escorted into the chapel were we heard President Boone and his wife give beautiful talks on missionary separation and love for their new sons and daughters. We of course sung “Called to Serve” which was a heart wrenching rendition of a beautiful song. There are big yellow signs that point “Family Exit” and “Missionary Exit” in separate directions so after the prayer we said our last goodbyes. We did some crying and watched Elder Bracken head off with a strong missionary stride and a smile on his face. The experience was beautiful and excruciating at the same time. We will miss him but know that he will be in the hands of his heavenly Father.

Sister Boone quoted D&C 6:20 “Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.” I like to think of Elder Bracken in the following terms “Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you.” (D&C 6:32) Keep him in your prayers. He will be in the MTC until December 2nd so write him a lot!”