Week Number ONE!

My FAMILY!!!!! yes, it is finally p-day! of course I was one of the kids who had to wait for 8 days for it. I'll try to answer all your questions, if I don't you guys can just keep bugging me til I catch on ;)

 

sorry you guys all have the pukes again! that's no fun.. haha, guess that was a good time for me to leave then? maybe I'll be able to avoid it for the next two years ;) my companions and I grabbed a sack lunch the other day and the milk they gave me was spoiled! I had a bowl of golden grahams WITH a donut on top of it, so I definitely didn't taste anything wrong with it. I went to drink the rest of my milk after I finished my cereal and I almost spit it all out- worst taste in the world! I didn't puke by shear will power, but I had the WORST gas all day, I destroyed all my neighbors at that night's devotional.

  

The MTC!

I've only been here a week. longest week of my life! I think I like it, I haven't really had a lot of time to mope and consider all the things I'm missing out on. somehow I'm already down to 10 minutes so I'll make this fast. I was really hoping to upload some pictures but I can't figure it out, the computers here are really weird- with everything locked.

 

High point of my week; Probably Sunday. Before then I was kinda miserable and I was halfway wondering what I was even doing here. But we heard from a member of the 70 who gave a really moving address, then we watched a video only available in the MTC. it was a talk given by Elder Bednar last Christmas to the missionaries. He talked about overcoming the natural man and forgetting yourself on your mission. EXACTLY what i needed and i'm now in the process of trying to do just that ;)

just figured out the pictures and im now over my time limit.  in the mission field they just changed the time on computer to an hour a week because we're now allowed to email friends too. but for now im stuck with a half hour and that apparently is not enough.

I'll definitely tell you more next thursday! sorry i don't have much time.

Love you all so much, miss you all a lot.

love you! 

Elder Collison

First Letter!! HOORAY!!!

Sent via snail mail  
No date, assuming Thurs March 21st.

Hello my Family!

So. Day one!  I have never been so busy in my life.  Every moment of every day for the next six weeks (yes, six) is perfectly planned out.  My p-days will be Thursdays, and since I just got here, you'll have to wait 'til next Thursday when I can send an email.

In the second that I have I can tell you about my companions.  I'm in a threesome because there are only three of us going to Romania. 

Elder Van Dyke is from Utah (yes, he's related to Dick Van Dyke) and he's a pretty cool kid.

Elder Hokkamen is an explosive specialist in the army from Finland.  This is his first time in the U.S. but he actually speaks English really well.  How sweet is that?? 

Anyways, they're both really cool and we're already close, I'm already having a crazy spiritual experience and we were able to teach "investigators" on the first night! 

Love you all so much!  I'll write again soon!

Elder Collison

Oh, he also made a rectangle of his name tag with the words:

Elder Collison
Bisecica Lui
ISUS HRISTOS
A Sfintlor
Din Zilele Din Urma

Some letter are made a little differently and some have accents I'm not sure how to replicate, that's the best I could do. :)

Andrew is a MISSIONARY!

Wow.....    That about sums up my feelings at this moment.  My oldest has been set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I'm so proud, so ecstatic, so nervous, and so in shock.  We all just witnessed an amazing blessing which promised great blessings to Andrew and to those he has been called to teach.  My little pioneer... Forging new paths for the Collison family.  The first missionary from my line that we know of.....  Thanks Andrew for your example and love for the Gospel!!!!  I love you!!!   Dad :-)

Mormon Profile

Check out my mormon.org profile to see what I believe to be true and why I've decided to serve a mission.

Hi I'm Andrew | Mormon | BDZ2

Mailing Instructions!

MTC Address:
Elder Andrew David Collison
MTC Mailbox # 131
ROM-MLD 0430
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Or use "dearelder.com"  

Pouch Mail Instructions:
(This sounds complicated but this will most likely be the cheapest and fastest way to communicate.)

“Items sent by pouch mail use the United States Postal Service (USPS) from your location to Church headquarters, where they are forwarded to the missionary by a private courier along with other Church mail. Pouch mail leaves Church headquarters each Friday. Items received after the pouch has been sent will be held for the next week. Only postcards or one-page correspondences (no envelopes) written on one side of the page may be sent through the pouch. Notebook or other light-weight paper will not process through the USPS machines. Photographs are not acceptable. Items restricted from the pouch may be sent through the USPS or a private courier. Cash is not accepted for conveyance by any courier. Please consult with the USPS or the courier of your choice to determine allowable items, as they will vary by delivery location. Items not complying with the following instructions will be returned to the sender or discarded, if the complete return address is not included.

Letter folding instructions: 
Lay the letter blank side down.
Fold the bottom of the letter about one-third of the way up the page and crease.
Fold the top of the letter to the bottom of the first fold and crease.
Secure the long side with two pieces of tape about one inch in from each end, but do not seal the ends.
In the top left comer write your name and complete return address.
Affix first class postage in the top right comer.
In the middle write the missionary address as follows:


Romania Address:
Elder Andrew David Collison
Romania/Moldova Mission
Sos. Pipera Nr. 41, Et.7
Sector 2
014254 Bucharest Romania

You can also use "dearelder.com" for free to Romania while he is in the mission field. 

Package Mailing Instructions:

Andrew David Collison
Sos. Pipera Nr. 41, Et.7
Sector 2
014254 Bucharest, Romania

Just a warning - “Clothing, food products, and merchandise should be sent directly to the mission office address (The one listed above). However, clothing or other dutiable merchandise often does not reach its intended destination or, if it does arrive may be subject to customs duties that the missionary will not be prepared to pay. Small packages of nominal value may be sent through the United States Postal Service. Photographs and tapes may be included in these packages. Merchandise sent through a commercial mail carrier is extremely expensive and may be subject to customs duties, but this is the best way to send credit or debit cards”

Please write me! As excited as I am to serve, I can’t say it’ll be easy to leave home, and every letter will help and be loved to death!