So long, farewell. . .

Elder Chad Lamar Stucki departed for the Sao Paulo, Brazil CTM on Tuesday, July 21 at 8:00am.

He left from the Idaho Falls, ID airport and flew to Salt Lake, UT where he about a six hour lay over. He then flew to the Dallas Fort Worth airport and then continued on to Brazil over night. He arrived safe and sound. The CTM sent us an email to let us know he had arrived. This is what it said. . .

Dear Parents,

We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time.

They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, who are usually a senior missionary couple or mature Brazilian couple, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.

The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.

Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.

We are also parents of children who have served as missionaries. And we have been missionaries who have left family. Please know that we are mindful of you and know of your love for your missionary.

Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”

Please accept our love,

President and Sister Woodward

Presenting . . . Elder Stucki

On July 19, 2009 Chad Lamar Stucki was set apart as an Elder to serve in the Brazil Campinas Mission. He was set apart by President Brad Norby at 8:00pm. It was a very nice blessing.

Chad's "Not Farewell"

On July 12, 2009 Chad spoke in Sacrament Meeting. He spoke about how his family has influenced his decision to serve a mission. He did a great job! The program was supposed to have Jennifer, Nicole and Chelsea preform before he spoke, however, Brother Morrell decided to flip it on us and had us preform after Chad spoke. That was not very nice, because Chad made us all cry right before we preformed. Oh well! Jennifer played the piano and Chelsea and Nicole sang "The Greatest Among Us." It went really well. It was nice to have so much of the family there.

After church we had dinner in the back yard. The day started out really nice and then the storm hit right after dinner. The thunder and lightning was ridiculous! We had to pack up and run inside. Here are a few pictures from the dinner.

Preparing

Yesterday, April 10, 2009, Chad went to the temple for the first time. He was able to receive his endowments. It was a wonderful session. Our cousins, Thomas Long & Colby Bingham, also received their endowments during that session. It was so neat to have all the family there for it. Chelsea was the only one in our family that didn't get to go. She did baptisms while we were in the session, so we were all in the temple at the same time. That was neat!
We are all so proud of Chad and his choice to serve a mission. It was so neat to be in the temple with him and to share that special time with him. Congratulations Chad!

Chad's Mission Call!