Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Made it to Spain!

So we knew that Devon was travelling yesterday and that he would be able to call us while he was travelling so when a call came in from a pay phone in Queens, NY yesterday I was so excited. BUT we couldn't hear anything on the other end. So he tried Morgan's phone and then Alan's phone where he left voice mails that were completely silent. We think he was on a bad phone and he didn't realize it. He didn't try a different pay phone or ask to borrow someone's cell phone. I didn't ever think that in preparing a missionary to leave I hope I should have taught him how to make a collect call on a pay phone. I think he thought that we were just ignoring him. So, tomorrow when he is able to open our emails he will get our side of what happened. Anyway, we knew that with the 9 hour time difference that we should get an email sometime this morning and we did! Here it is:

Hello familia... Estoy in España! I got here at around 9 this morning and its almost 8 o´ clock at night here now. It is 9 hours ahead! I wish I could have talked to you guys yesterday but it´s all good, I still love you guys ;) You guys missed a lot of good stories I was going to tell you! First off, Elder Anderson was on my flight to New York so I talked to him for a while. No big deal. On my flight to España they didn´t have much room in the back so they bumped us to elite business class. No big deal. It was so nice I felt weird... Sirloin steaks and lobster with every comfort you can imagine and flight attendants answering to your every need. Full beds and comforters with plush pillows. It definitely made the flight much easier. It´s crazy being here in Spain! Everything is in Spanish haha and Euros and what not. My compañions here are awesome. I just wanted to tell you guys that I´m doing great and I made it safely. Tomorrow is my P day! The only time when I will have two P days in one week.. haha so I am only allowed to email you that I´m ok today. I didn´t read any of your emails that you sent me, but I saw that they were there so thank you! I will try to send you pictures tomorrow and I´ll email you more then. :)
 
Love, Elder Ridd
 
I looked up a google image on these seats and found this picture:
 
 

Monday, July 29, 2013

First P-Day (and a huge change of plans) 07/29/2013

We were really excited to get our emails today. He wrote to Alan and I separately and said that next week he will write one letter that we can send out to everyone. So, I am going to put some of the highlights from these two letters here. Stay tuned at the end of this post for some BIG NEWS.

Mostly personal stuff in his letter to me but there is this:

 That's so cool that you are in the young womens presidency! You are going to have so much fun :) And actually I did hear about the train! My branch president told me.. That's so sad. I have been in contact with my Branch President a lot lately being the DL. That is so flippin cool that Jessica got her call to the same mission as Dallas!!! I love it here at the mtc its so fun. I miss you guys but I can feel your prayers with me!

From his letter to Alan:

I am having a great time here. My zone and district are both so awesome and I feel like we are all best friends already. I am District Leader but I am doing my best to serve those in my district and not be their leader, just a friend and someone that will serve them and look out for their needs. I love your vision the Santa Rita ward, I know that it can happen. You're a great bishop.
 
So my typical day consists of waking up at 6:15 so that I have plenty of time to get ready. Then I study for an hour until breakfast at 8. I love the food here haha the cafeteria is so sweet. There is so much food and juice and I think I might actually gain some weight haha. We have class for about 5 hours everyday and our teacher only speaks spanish to us. I've already picked up so much spanish its crazy. We taught our first investigator the friday that we got here! and he only speaks Spanish! Ha so that was pretty crazy, but we taught him on Saturday and i felt like I could say everything that i wanted to so it was great. We just do lots of studying and lots of spanish speaking. Sunday I practiced with the choir and we had devotionals and I felt the spirit so strong.
 
My companions are awesome too. I know I already told you about them. Yeah I love it here! I think about you guys everyday and I really can feel your prayers with me. I pray for you guys too. Thanks for everything... This is going to be such a huge blessing in my life. Love you!
 
Love, Elder Ridd
About an hour after we got these e-mails we got another one:

Woah ok so I just emailed you guys but right after that I got called up to the travel office and I have to pack all of my stuff up right now! I'm going to Salt Lake right now to sign my visa and I'm leaving in the morning at 8 and flying to New York and then Spain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be there tomorrow! Mom, I will try to call you at the airport. I love you all
Love, Elder Ridd

So, hopefully tomorrow we will get some more information from him. I'm curious if he will be travelling with anyone else! And hopefully we will get a new physical address to the Spain MTC to pass along. Dear Elder won't work anymore SO his email: devon.ridd@myldsmail.net will be the best way to communicate with him.


Saturday, July 27, 2013

A Real Live Letter Came Today (07/27/2013)

I am starting this blog for Devon's mission letters so I can post them to facebook as well as have a chronological record of his mission letters! When it is me (Devon's Mom) writing it will be in italics.
He arrived at the Provo MTC on Wednesday, July 24th and I guess he was allowed to write one letter that night. It came addressed to Mom. Yesterday, Friday 7/26 we got a short email from him asking for his immunization records with a little PS at the bottom that told us he was called as the District Leader.

Anyone can email him now while he is in the Provo MTC by using dearelder.com - they print out the letters and deliver them to the missionary. You select Provo MTC from the drop down menu then click on WRITE A MISSIONARY. On the next page you will put in your information: Devon's name and then his unit # is SEP01 and his mission code is SPA-MAD. You can also email him at devon.ridd@myldsmail.net. OR, if you would like to send him an actual letter or package - here is the physical address:

Elder Devon Blaine Ridd
SEP01 SPA-MAD
2011 N 900 E Unit 235
Provo UT 84602
The letter we got today:

07/24/2013
Dear Mommy,
My first day at the MTC was awesome. Everyone here is so friendly! I've already made a ton of good friends. I met some people from Mesa that are in my district! I also found out that one of the kids near my room is Dallin Goodman's (cousin) best friend! Ha ha sorry I didn't call you at the airport, I couldn't figure out how to work the pay phone!
There are 3 other kids in my district who are also going to Spain and in the same situation that I am which is kind of cool. I love it here so far! I have two companions instead of just one. They are both cool kids. One is from Brazil and is headed to St. George, Spanish speaking, the other is from Sandy and is pretty quiet but headed to Malaga Spain.
I have already started to remember Spanish again because the teachers only speak Spanish to you! I know I am going to learn so much here. I hope your first night without me wasn't too bad! I'll write you and email you every week.
I love you!
Love, Elder Ridd
Our friend and former missionary in our area Brad Corbett, is a teacher in the MTC and texted me this picture today! What a blessing to have an inside source!!