Week 3: Call from the SLC Airport

    On Tuesday morning, we got a call from Drew.  They give the missionaries a calling card to call from the airport.  There were 19 missionaries traveling to the Massachusetts Boston Mission.  He was excited to talk to everyone.  He talked about how he loved the MTC.  The spirit is so strong and he said, "I learned more here in three weeks than I have my whole life."  He was a changed person and has had a personal conversion.  I feel like that is one of the biggest blessings of serving a mission.  He loved all the missionaries in his district where he served them to the best of his ability.  He loved his MTC companion, Elder Tanner Evans, from Orem, UT.  He said that they were very complimentary of each other.  When they were teaching, Drew was great at introduction and getting gospel conversations started.  Elder Evans jumped in to bear his testimony of gospel truths.  Drew said that it seemed like they had known each other forever.  He said that Elder Evans reminded him of a mixture of Porter Casdorph, his roommate, and Nate Gutierrez, his brother.

     Unfortunately, we had to tell Drew about the death of his roommate, Frank de Leon Compres.  He was flying an airplane on a solo flight to get hours towards his commercial pilots license.  Something happened to the plane, he sent out a distress signal but the plane crashed killing him. At first Drew was shocked but then immediately responded by saying, "Pray for his family.  This will be very hard for them."  Frank was from the Dominican Republic and was an international student in his senior year at Utah State University.  He was a very well liked student and the Resident Assistant for the Snow Hall dorms floor 4.  We are so thankful that we have the plan of salvation and know that death is not the end.  Drew will see Frank again.

     Before Drew hung up, he challenged Levi to prepare now for his mission.  He also challenged us to read our scriptures and pray daily.  He is extremely excited to get to Boston and share the gospel.  We will hear from him next week.

Heidi Gutierrez