Last Letter from the MTC!

The Coolest Family Picture Ever!!! Cousins... Elder Alec Raymond, Elder Josh Day, Elder Mike Watson, and Elder Dave Watson all pose in front of the famous "Where Am I Going Map" at the MTC! This next year will add 2 more Elders to the families list... soon to be Elders, Jake Watson and Bryan Raymond! What an exciting time for our family!!!

(side notes are in Italics)

Dear Famiree (and friends),

This week's letter is going to be disjointed and unorganized because I didn't have time to write it out beforehand and my thoughts are all over the place.

First of all: AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Dad, check your line of authority, you'll notice a James E. Griffin--that's my mission president!!!!! My line of authority runs through my mission president!

Okay, next item... from now on you can send me letters to:

Elder Alec Raymond
11320 Station West Dr. Ste 101
Farragut, TN 37934

I leave for Knoxville early Tuesday morning and will arrive there in the evening. Speaking of which, I'm a little sad but a LOTTLE excited! I've received a testimony that Knoxville Tennessee Spanish-speaking is my mission. I'm called of God to serve the people there and I cannot wait to get there!

Thanks for the pictures! Everyone's been bugging me to get pictures of my family. Of course, everyone says Dad and I are twins...

Next, I ran into an Elder Sever the other day headed to Switzerland (I think). Yup! It was Trent (he's a friend of Alec's from IL and is a huge runner). He looks really different but still runs like a maniac.

Dad, thank you so much for your work and dedication as a ward mission leader. As a missionary, I can really see how much more successful the work is when the missionaries and the ward work together (it's infinitely more successful). Thanks for your unfailing testimony and example. Love you!

Bryan, CON-STINKIN-GRATS!!!!!!! (Bryan just finished his Eagle Scout project) Your welcome to my pocket knife...keep it away from Jakey, he's a weirdo... Love you! (the cat has a fascination with Alec's pocket knife and keeps trying to steal it, Bryan asked Alec if he could use it... the knife, not the cat)

(left out personal messages to Mom, Caiti, and Kimmee here, although sweet to the intended parties, they wouldn't make any sense to everyone else...)

I hope you can see how much the Lord is blessing you. I'm so grateful that the Lord is watching over, protecting, and uplifting you all. I know that in His hands and Dad's hands, I never have to worry about you all. Thanks for not being a distraction! I can just love you and look forward to seeing you in two years. Love you!

-Elder Raymond