September 2/2013

  So the Williams family would like to start a little blog to record the travels and journeys of our very first missionary...Elder Carson Ty Williams.  It all started back on October 6th 2012 with this monumental announcement:

    This was a bit of a surprise to Carson's mother but what was not surprising is that Carson immediately wanted to go!  So on April 14, 2013, Carson submitted his mission papers.  Two and a half weeks later on May 2, 2013, this came in the mail:

                                         

So now all the fun and excitement and worry about getting prepared and sending off certificates for visas starts. Africa seems like it's very very very far away!

September 3/2013

So it's Tuesday morning, the girls first day back to school.  But it's also the day we send Carson to AFRICA!!!   He's pretty excited to go. And he looks so cute and handsome all dressed up like a missionary!  

 

Here are all four kids...the last time they will all be together for another two years!

The Big Sendoff!!

Here is Carson at the Calgary airport.  Ken and I were able to have a nice long visit with him while we drove him to Calgary.  We got there early because SOMEONE (Ken) was panicking about the size of the carry on luggage.  We walked through the airport and were able to find out that it was the correct size after all.  Then we went for a great steak supper at Applebee's.  After that, there wasn't much to do but say goodbye.  Once he was able to peel his mother off from around his legs, he went through security and we watched him for a while as he progressed through the lineup.  When they went through his carry on luggage, they confiscated his can of shaving cream.  (I totally forgot that it was an aerosol can.  I felt so bad!  I'm worried that when they pick him up on Thursday for the MTC, he'll be the only missionary with a fuzzy chin!  Sorry Carson...that was your mother's fault!)

September 5/2013

So it's been two days of anxious anticipation, but we finally got word that Carson has arrived in South Africa at the Johannesburg MTC.  Here is his letter to us:

hey mom and family. don't critizes my spelling i only got 27 minites to right to you. ya i lost that face wash and that shaving cream. and the lady asked me do you want to give this back to your parents. i was like na just throw it away. ya the planes were good however i am running on 5-6 hours of sleep right now after two days. I am really excited to be sleeping in a bed tonight. i am still getting use to the time over here. we are about 8 hours ahead and it is crazy. nothing has probably changed at home so i won't worry about that. How is Taylor doing? is she remebering to take that thing with her? how's the other doing? how is school? Don't worry about me i am okay, i got on my flights okay and met up with about 21 others missionaries. it was alot of fun however i am the only canadain down here so tell kash to hurry up. i need another canadain brother to chill with.

it was funny though. We get to the mtc and we at lunch at one, and then we all went and got...  SHOTS!! :O it was hilarious because some of the black guys were totally freaking out and a few were on the verge of tears. i walked in there and the lady took a look at me and my name tag and gave me three shots. it sucked but she had me take off my shirt and all she said was. You are very tanned for living in Canada. It is been fun. I really miss you guys. Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Love you guys...

Elder Williams

Carson.

OK...and I can breathe again.

September 7/2013

Got a letter today from Sister Reber.  (MTC President's wife)  It shows all the new companionships in the MTC.  There are 32 missionaries that come from 8 different countries. Carson's companion is Elder Muchanyerei.   (He says it's pronounced like "missionary"..."much any uri"??? )                                                                                                                        

Ken says: "so is Carson the one on the right or the left?"

One week down...103 more to go!

September 10/2013

     Sis Reber sent us some more pictures today of our missionary.  This is what she said:

The missionaries are divided into 3 Districts:  Helaman, Moroni and Ammon.

The photos show each District.  The missionaries spend much of their time in their District being taught, studying and practicing what they have learned.

Love,

Sister Janet Reber
South Africa MTC

Sept 11/2013

Sis Reber sent us MORE pictures.  She is awesome!  I love her so much already for understanding how much we miss our boy and worry about him.  It's so nice to be reassured by seeing his big ol' grin on that cute face of his!  Thank you, thank you, thank you Sis Reber.  We love you!

Apparently, they were at the Johannesburg temple all day yesterday. It looks like a beautiful temple.  I would love to go and visit it someday!

Sis Reber writes:

We went to the Johannesburg Temple yesterday and were gone for six hours.  The Temple has been closed for 9 weeks and we were the first ones to enter today.  Because our group is large, we were divided into two sessions.  One session was for the 10 missionaries who received their endowment.

It was wonderful to be in God’s House and feel the peace and love that is within the walls of the Temple.  .

This is the whole group of missionaries.  I just can’t tell you how hard it is to get a picture of everyone together. 

Love,  Sister Reber

September 12/2013

     Finally got an email from Carson today.  We have been trying to be patiently waiting (but that talent never did come easy for me!)  But it was so exciting to wake up to a letter from him.  We printed it off and read it for family scripture study this morning.  We'll continue on with Enos and Omni tomorrow...but today...Elder Williams!!!

Hey it is soooo good to hear from you guys. I don't know when i will be able to right back to you guys. because in the MTC we right ever thurs. but next week i will be in the mission so i don't know when. Well over here is awesome it isn't very windy and there isn't any snow. Butt it is sooooo HOT. and the probably is all these Africans are all wearing sweaters and saying it is Freezing cold. and i just go WHATTT!!!!. My mission companion is awesome we have alot in comin he kind of remindes me of me. but you say it kindof like missionary but as much any uri.??? but right now it is about 1:00 here i'm still getting used to the time change and it kind of feels wierd that i'm awake and you guys are asleep. But it is fun. Just last week me and my roomates had a testimony bearing session and we all felt the spirit so much that we all were bawling and one of them said that when we left in the next week we would all be bawling again. so we charged him with bring some paper towl so we don't soaking wet. :) But the food is good here. Must be just the MTC experience because we are eating like Kings and just having a good time. And if Dad sent my anything i wasn't able to get it so sorry. and also sorry i haven't sent any pictures it's just these computors we are using are extremely slow. This last week has been extremely fun but extremely hard. Some of the teachers are getting alittle gruchy and ready for us to leave. Like so of them are just giving it to us. "There is no Fun here." "You need to listen." and there saying it in their african slang so it makes us all just die laughing. But it is fun. It's good to here that school is going good and that Kaylee is enjoying High school. Just now that it High school won't last forever and to look at the big picture. But just try and survive and youll be okay. Thanks for righting me it's very good to hear from home. Lot's of these missionaries are getting home sick. I kind of do too when they start talking about but i just remember what you said Dad and that if i really want to go home it is a long swim so i think i'm stuck here. 

After i had written you guys last I went to a meeting with the rest of the missionaries. and suddenly the mtc pres. stands up and says these missionaries are called as Zone leaders and these guys are District leaders. and suddenly me and my companion's names are called. and all i could think of was what...  So now i am a district leader and trying to do my best. Well i've got 5 min left so i will just say see you. and thanks for writing. Talk to you soon.

Love Carson.