Good Bagels and Goodbyes

 July 26, 2024

Hello, my lovely Americans!

          In about 3 days, I will no longer be an American for a few years.  I will be Elder Jack Sparrow, the best missionary pirate this world has ever seen.  In all seriousness, I could not be more excited to be out in the mission field, serving people and learning languages.  Nothing too crazy has happened this week, but I will talk for a few minutes about what's new.

    As of now I have not yet gotten my travel plans, but they are supposed to come by the end of the day.  Most likely, I will be flying out on Tuesday morning or Wednesday at 3 am.  I don't know exactly how long it takes to get there, but I am pretty sure it is somewhere around 20 hours of travel to make it to the mission home.

     The best part of my week this week had to be helping with the intake of the new missionaries on Wednesday.  It was such a cool experience to be able to help new missionaries find their way to their new home for the next several weeks.  The parents of the new missionaries were all incredibly nice, and every single one of them shook my hand and thanked me.  I have seen a few of those elders around since then, and I have loved getting to talk with them.

     Another funny moment of Wednesday was running into a friend of mine.  We worked together for a good month at Waffle Love, and this kid is an absolute hoot.  I saw him, called his name out, and he ran full speed at me and jumped into my arms.  I didn't think anyone could be that excited to see an old coworker, but It was cool nonetheless.  Shoutout Elder Tolley.

     My Zone leaders left this week, and that was a little bit of a bummer.  They are 3 of the coolest elders I've ever met and quickly became some of my best friends.  Elder Newton is practically fluent in Spanish, Elder Clark is such a good hang, and Elder Neff gets 50 grams of protein daily from bagels alone.  I seriously don't think I've ever met someone with such a deep love for bagels.  I am stoked for those three, and I know they're going to crush it.

     My grandma sent me around 200 tiny ducks in the mail, and over the last few weeks, I have been planting them in backpacks and bags left and right.  Our teachers have certainly gotten a significant amount of ducks and frequently message us about them.  Props to grandma for the colorful ducks!

     Thats all I really have for this week.  I have been sick the last few days so I don't have much to add past thursday, but we will be good to go before I leave next week!  I love you all and I can't wait to share a bit of the island life with y'all next week!

-Elder Aldrich

It finally rained for like 10 minutes here.  Needless to say, I was pretty excited

Esto es mi hijo, Elder Childs

Spiritual thoughts and Island talk

July 19, 2024

 Hello Everyone!

          Once again, this week has absolutely flown.  It feels like my P-Day was only two or three days ago, and it's even crazier to think that I am in my last week and a half of the MTC.  In about 10 days or so, I will be flying my little heart out.  After today, I have one more P-Day in the United States.  I don't even remember what happened this week, but I took notes day by day so that I would have things to say to you all.

     For starters, today they send out reassignments to the missionaries who would not receive their visas in time.  I was stressing hard because I am waiting on 3 visas, but not a single one of them is for the places I will actually be spending any time.  Regardless, I was worried that they would reassign me until I acquired the visas.  But, lucky for me, I did not receive a reassignment.  So, as far as I know, I will actually be going to my islands in 10 days' time.

     My companion is a hoot.  He knows how to make the district laugh and keep them laughing throughout the whole day.  One moment this week, in particular, is my favorite.  Sitting in class on Saturday afternoon, not a single person was completely focused on the class.  The district and the teacher were all joking and goofing around.  It was a good time.  Well, in walks some teacher who "needed a marker" and an excuse to talk to our teacher.  Elder Hathaway looks at this rando teacher and starts barking.  We all died laughing, except for the rando teacher, who I think felt more fear than anything else.

     Sunday is always a special day in the MTC.  The devotionals are something special, and the devotional review with my district is even more so.  It is so easy to feel the spirit because you are surrounded by the spiritual powerhouses of missionaries.  I just absolutely love it.  Something in particular that stood out to me was the story of the MTC president and his wife.  They were high school sweethearts, and she was religious but not necessarily studious in the gospel.  He, however, was not studious unless it was the gospel.  They were able to balance each other out and help each other in the aspects of their lives that were lacking.  When he proposed, he bought a ring with a diamond in the center and two rubies on the sides.  The rubies were meant to represent Christ, and they said that as long as they kept Christ at the center of their marriage, they would always be able to make things work.  It reminded me a lot of my own parents.  My parents have always been so good at keeping the gospel and Jesus Christ at the center, and it has strengthened their marriage.  They are quite dysfunctional without each other in the best way possible.  Together, they make one powerful machine.

     I don't think that it should be possible for humidity to go above 50%.  Ever.  In the islands, it has been consistently over 80% humidity for the past few weeks. I literally don't even know how that's possible.  Is there more water in the air than actual air?  I am moving to Atlantis, I guess.  I am stoked!

     I am learning Spanish slowly, and the longer I am here, the better I am getting at it. On Monday, we start "SYL," which stands for "Speak Your Language."  So, from Monday to the time I leave, I will not be able to speak English anywhere on campus.  We hope for the best.

     Honorable mention:  I have a ZL who has a slight obsession with bagels.  The other morning at breakfast I saw him walk to his table with 5 bagels for just him.  No cream cheese.  No nothing.  Just a man and his 5 bagels.

     I have one more thing to say, then I will leave you all alone, haha.  I had a thought the other day and was reminded of something my dad always told me.  "A mission is hard.  College is hard.  Life is hard.  Pick your hard and just go for it.  There is no sense in dipping your toes in; dive in head first.

I love you all!

-Elder Aldrich

MTC Halfway Point

 July 12, 2024

Time has really flown by this week. It feels like P-day was only two days ago. It's also crazy to believe that I am past the halfway point in the MTC. In about two and a half weeks, I will be flying out to my mission and beginning the real missionary work.

     Once again, Sunday is always an incredible experience.  This week was especially nice because we have begun Spanish immersion in our classes, and I appreciated the break from the classes.  Not to mention, there are devotionals, elders quorum, sacrament meeting, and the "go and do" experience, which is just glorified personal study.  It is such a nice break from the chaos and constant movement that takes place in the MTC daily.

     My Spanish is awful, but that is to be expected from someone who has only been speaking Spanish for a week. I have already seen a lot of improvement, and that is a big boost for me this week. Spanish will come with time, and the MTC certainly won't be when I become fluent.

     A few things about Guyana. First, they finally hung up the Guyana flag on the flag poles! It was a fun little moment to see it as we were walking from class to lunch, and of course, I took a picture with it. Also, I learned that I will be moving from island to island on a little five-person plane, so pray for me.

     I honestly don't have too much to say about this week.  I am doing really well and I am learning a ton!  I love my district and I am loving my time here. 

-Elder Aldrich

Elder of the Caribbean

June 28, 2024

 Good Afternoon everyone! 

     I never sent an email while I was at home in the MTC, so you're getting an email from me now! It's been a little bit crazy the last few days, especially, so let's hop into it!

     I started home MTC on Monday, the 17th. From there, I spent a week and a few days at home, trying to learn how to become a missionary. With that came 8-10 hours of sitting in front of a computer on Zoom calls, and I could not be happier to be done with Zoom. But home MTC supplied me with the opportunity to adjust to the beginnings of being a missionary while also still being able to sleep in my own bed and get to spend time with my family. I met my district over Zoom, but it was really nice to meet everyone in person. 

     I arrived at the Provo MTC on Wednesday, the 26th, and immediately started moving. I could swear I heard a starter pistol and haven't stopped moving since. My companion is incredible, and we get along better than I ever thought we could. My district is full of some of the coolest people, and we all get along really well. We've already begun making inside jokes, and the elders and I have already gotten pretty close. No tension or beef so far, and we hope it stays that way. 

    I swear my residency is a literal prison cell. I'm talkin' creaky metal bunk beds, full cinder block walls, one window, and communal showers. But we don't spend much time there anyway, so it doesn't bug me much.

     I was made district leader, which mostly just means extra meetings and a few extra responsibilities. 

     There is so much more I could say, but today has been crazy, and I am running out of time. I love all of you, and I can't wait to tell you about all of my adventures!

     Also, "Elder of the Carribean" is the current winning name for the blog my mom is putting together. I am open to any and all suggestions!

Home MTC

Last Corvette ride with Dad 

Working out with Caleb

Spending breaks with Addie

Grandma Tootsie hemming my pants

Packing is exhausting

Dinner with Seth, Anna, Ethan, Tyler, Mom and Dad

Brothers

Getting ready to head to the Provo MTC

Garage goodbye

Farewell Elder Aldrich

 June 16, 2024

Luke gave his farewell talk at 1 p.m. in the Lynbrook Ward in Las Vegas, NV. 

Family and friends came to hear him speak and to say goodbye and good luck.

 After the sacrament meeting, President Hansen set him apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ.