We'd like you to meet our adopted son/brother Arturo Valadez.  He came to live with us for four days and nights this past week.  This strapping young lad has been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Chihuahua, Mexico.   Arturo is from Del Rio, Texas, so his parents drove up with him to visit family and buy all the things he would need for his mission.  Unfortunately his dear parents had to get home to work by Monday and Arturo could not enter the MTC until Wednesday.  Since Arturo Had already been set apart for his mission on March 16th, his Stake President decided he would need to be with a Melchizedek Priesthood holder all the time until entering the MTC.  Where would Arturo live for the four days and nights since his parents could not be with him?

Elder Valadez called his old bishop, Jeff Wartena.  Jeff figured with two men fitting this qualification right here in our own home we would welcome him with open arms.  There also could not be any young ladies in the home.  Again, we fit the bill perfectly.  Arturo lived in our ward during his senior year at Mountain View High School and we got to know him then.  So, on Saturday his Mom and Dad dropped him off at our house to be lovingly cared for and watched over until he could enter the MTC, which happened today at 1:00 p.m.  

Arturo will be in the MTC between 3 and 9 weeks dependent upon his language skills.  Since he already speaks Spanish (having come from a mexican family who used to live in Mexico and now practically live on the USA/Mexico border) we are figuring he will only be there 3 weeks.  His mission is located a mere 800 miles from his home town.  He introduced us to empanadas, homemade by his sister, which were delicious.  He has a quick laugh and likes to play hymns on the piano even though he says he doesn't play well.  He was the pianist in his home ward.  Arturo was the first to earn his Eagle and Duty to God awards in his ward, and is the first young man to serve a mission there.  His ward is very excited.  After his mission he is coming back to Orem to attend UVU and become an airplane pilot.

I thought it would be no big deal to send someone else's child off on a mission at the MTC. Boy was I mistaken.  There were plenty of tears to go around.  When we got home, again I thought it would be easy to put things back where they belong and put children back in their proper sleeping places.  Not so.  The house feels emptywith him gone even though he was here for such a short time.  He was just so enjoyable and pleasant to have around.  We will miss him, but look forward to hearing about his mission.  

Here Arturo is pictured with his sister Marisol Sandoval and her son Oscar.  Her husband had to work.  They live in our ward.  

If you ever get the chance to host a missionary in your home I encourage you to say yes just as fast as you can.  There was such a wonderful spirit in our home as we got to serve a servant of the Lord.  Getting to know someone and learn about the culture of their home and family was fun, too.

Wishing you sweet dreams,

Stacie