So, I got a little impatient! I emailed the MTC so we could get Galen's address. Spread the word, or address as it may be!

Elder Darke

SEP 02  BRA - BRS

 2011 north 900 ease unit 258

Provo, Utah  84602

     Well, we finally received a letter from Galen yesterday letting us know he arrived at the Provo MTC safely. His letter was to Mom & family, so I'll type it up for you here.

Dear Mom & family

I am writing you to tell you that I have arrived at the Provo MTC safely.  The first day was insane!  But at the same time, it was amazing.  As soon as I went to class my instructor spoke nothing but Portuguese.  I thought at first that he would stop and speak English after a few minutes.  He didn't.  The entire first day I didn't know what he was saying.  He kept trying to tell us stuff and I seemed to be the last person to figure out what he was saying.  I have never been more frustrated.  My new friends and roommates are rally nice, though.  My companions name is elder Manana (Man yan a) and he is super cool.  He is already fluent in Spanish so he can understand everything our instructor is saying.  It's cool because he gives me help when I am completely lost.  The MTC is completely different from what I expected.  One of the cool things is that the food rocks (not as much as yours mom, but it is still good).  I have also met with a few missionaries that are a few weeks ahead of me in the MTC, their Portuguese is amazing.  I constantly forget that they are also students here, not return missionaries.  Well it is time for me to read scriptures, so I will email you when I can (probably next Thursday).     Love you,     Elder Darke                                                                      

 P.S. I still do not know my writing address, but I know of a free program the church does called "Dear Missionary".  If you use that I can get your letters and such.  I think.  Well I am still alive and I love you all.  

 There it is! Proof he's alive.  We were starting to wonder if he was ever going to let us know. Thanks to all of the inquiries and concern for Galen.  We know that he is doing the Lord's work and we are already feeling the blessings of his choice.
--Melanie and family.

 

Well is finally time to go on my mission, and let me tell you i am so excited! I got set apart today so i am officially an elder! I have been waiting for this for years and now it is finally happening! The best part is that i am not that scared.  Sure i am a little anxious but I'm not scared! There are so many things i am looking forward to now its unreal!  However my trip to Brazil will have to be postponed because i have not yet gotten my visa back yet so i will have to hang out in the Provo MTC for a while, and maybe they will have me go help out in a different mission for a little bit.  However that is the cool part because then i get to have like two missions in one :D.  So i am super excited and i can't wait to get started.  I just hope i remembered to get everything that i will need.  That is what has been causing the most stress for the past few days :D.  I have said goodbye to all of my friends, and i said my last goodbye's to the people in my ward also.  So now it is the real deal.  Time to get out there and learn how to help teach the gospel :D.  To everyone that i have not been able to say goodbye to because you where out of town, or i was when you where here, i am sorry that i didn't not get to personally say goodbye.  I hope this will do though.    Goodbye.  I will be back in a few years and then we will get to talk to each other again! But until then, Have a good two years while i am gone :D.