Updates...

I am going to try to keep this updated! So far we have gotten 2 emails from Ross in addition to the letters he has written to family so it's been great to hear from him. He is doing wonderful and staying super busy...which is probably why you haven't heard from him if you have written him letters. Don't get your feelings hurt! Keep the letters coming...he continues to need your love and support and encouragement.

His address changed just a bit, just the departure date part...

Elder Ross Christopher Little
MTC Mailbox #277
CA-SD 0323
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

You can also continue to use www.dearelder.com. Here are instructions for that...

www.dearelder.com
On the left hand side under "Send Stuff" click on Provo MTC (Free)
Type in your information in the top boxes
Type in Ross's information in the bottom boxes
Mailbox number is 277
Mission Code is CA-SD
Departure Date is 0323
Scroll down and type your letter in the box and send! It's THAT easy!

Thanks again for everything. We have the best family and friends EVER!

Ross's First Letter...

January 28, 2010 (Ross's first full day in the MTC)

mi Padre y mi Madre,

Hola from the MTC! My stay here so far has been great. My companion, Elder Bean, is a cool guy. He's quiet, but he's starting to come around. My other roommates, Elder Thomas y Elder Regan are real fun to be around. Elder Thomas is from Hawaii.

I guess you are wondering what happened on Day 1 so...

After my host helped me get checked in and took me to my room, I went and met my teachers, Hermano McPherson y Hermana Rivus. They are great as well. Before dinner we had an MTC orientation meeting. When we were seated I noticed everyone started to stand up again. I stood up to see who was walking in. You will never guess who it was. It was President Uchtdorf coming to welcome us and bring the love of President Monson! It was the first time in three years that a member of the First Presidency had come to the MTC. We had more meetings that night and then we went back to our rooms to unpack and meet our zone.

Mom and Dad, I know the church is true. So far we have been taught to rely on the Spirit when we teach and I can feel it everyday in my life. He has comforted me and helped to block out the homesickness so I can focus on how to better teach the people that I made promises to. I love my Heavenly Father with all my heart. I can feel His presence in all of my classes. I can not wait to start teaching. Mi espanol es bueno.

(He must have stopped here and come back later...)

I took a break from writing for the day. I am sitting in my room. Tonight we met our Branch Presidency. We bore our testimonies and then they left and the Zone Leaders came back in. A few minutes later they (The Branch Presidency) came back in and called me out. I met with the three of them and they extended the call to me to be District Leader of my District. It is an exciting position. I'm not sure what my responsibilities are (I have a meeting Sunday) but I know the Lord and Spirit will guide me to what is right. I love yall so much! I feel your prayers everyday and I know yall feel mine! Hasta luego!

Your son,

Elder Little


Hope you enjoyed the first letter we received from Ross! He also included his first prayer in Spanish but it is hand written and I don't know how to read Spanish and his handwriting isn't the best, so I would totally butcher it. Sorry!! I can email it to you if you are really interested. :)

Another way to get in touch with Ross....

I've had a lot of people ask how they can get in touch with Ross. One way is to use his mailing address that is posted here, but there's another way I learned about that I LOVE. Here's what you can do...

While Ross is in the MTC (until March 30th) you can use this way to send him letters free of charge via www.dearelder.com

Go to www.dearelder.com

On the left hand side under the heading "Send Stuff" click on "Provo MTC (FREE)"

Type in your information in the top few boxes and Ross's in the bottom few boxes....
Elder Ross Little
MTC Box #277
Mission Code is CA-SD
Estimated MTC Departure Date is 0330

Enter your email address so it can email you a copy of the letter

Then scroll down and type your letter in the box, click "send letter" and you're done! Your letter will be printed out, stuffed and sealed in an envelope, addressed to Ross and hand delivered. As long as your letter is sent before noon (mountain time) it will be delivered THAT DAY! If you write it after 12pm (1pm Texas time) it will be delivered the next day. This is fast AND saves you the cost of a stamp...what more could you ask for! So to all of Ross's friends out there....write him a quick note!! He would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to hear from you, especially in this first week of being gone. Let me know if you have any questions.

MTC Address

My parents got an email last night updating them of Ross's address. If you would like to write him while he is the MTC he will be there until March 30th. Here is his contact info....

Elder Ross Christopher Little
MTC Mailbox #277
CA-SD 0330
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

~Hillary

The big day!

Today was the big day! Ross entered the Missionary Training Center today around 1-ish Utah time. My parents dropped him off...the MTC is totally serious about curbside drop off. You literally pull up and drop your missionary at the curb. There was another missionary assigned to Ross waiting for him so they met and off they went. My parents had already said their goodbyes to Ross so off they went as well. It was an emotional day for all, I'm sure.


I know it seems odd that we are kinda sad about Ross doing such a great thing. But you have to understand we won't see or talk to Ross other than letters and occasional emails for the next 2 years and when you come from a family as close knit as ours, that's hard. So it's not that we're sad that he's going on a mission, we're totally ecstatic about that. It's that we won't see him for the next couple of years. But we are so proud of him and excited too. So good luck to Ross! Thanks for all of your good thoughts and prayers sent his way. He'll continue to need lots these next few days as he is adjusting to the MTC and life as a missionary :)


More updates to come as we're updated on Ross's address and such. :)


~Hillary

And he's off!

So it's official! Ross is now Elder Little and is on his way to Utah. He and my parents left this morning to fly out to Salt Lake for a few days before he enters the MTC on WEDNESDAY! We totally can not believe the time has already come. Hopefully the fact that time flew by up to this date means time will continue to fly by until we see him again in 2 years!

Ross gave his first farewell talk in Sherman 2 weeks ago. It was in front of our ward (congregation) that we grew up in, so there were LOTS of people there that know and love Ross. He also invited some friends like the lady who has cut his hair since he was 4 and his football coach both of whom came...he is already doing the missionary thing! It was an awesome meeting and Ross did a great job of conveying the spirit.

He gave his other farewell talk this past weekend in College Station. This was in his ward he has attended since August of last year. He has made a lot of friends there most of whom where there to hear him speak as well as lots of our family. Again, Ross gave a wonderful talk...I'm totally biased as his sister, I know. But he did do a great job. It's so comforting to know he has SO MANY friends and family who will keep him in their thoughts and prayers...what a blessing!

Friday the 22nd, Ross was set apart as a full time missionary. We are all so proud of him and his decision to serve the Lord for 2 years without a glance back. He'll miss everyone here, we'll miss him, but that won't detract from his desire to serve the Lord. I am excited for the opportunities and experiences that he is about to have and wouldn't want him anywhere else right now except on a mission. After Ross was set apart we had a family dinner at Olive Garden for all who could attend. We crowded around a table without about 20 or so of us and had a great time...here are some pictures from after dinner...

I'm so sad this one turned out blurry! But it's the only one I got of Ross and Grandma & Grandpa Wertz so I had to post it. :(

Ross, Hillary and Jake (sister and brother in law)

Mimi, Ross and Popa

Alivia, Ross and Andrea (Ross's cousins)



Jessica (cousin) with Ross and her 2 kids, Shawnee and Kayson. Her husband Dayne is one of Ross's closest friends...he was working hard and couldn't make it.

Kelly and Thomas (aunt and uncle) with Ross and their girls. Their son Ashton is another close friend of Ross's, but he had a SHS soccer game.

Us again!

Being silly is what we do best.

Hillary, Ross and Brooke...siblings!

Ryan, Ross and Brooke (brother in law and sister)

And last but certainly not least....the 2 people who are mainly responsible for helping Ross to be the person he is today.....

Ross, Mom and Dad

Come back and visit the blog for letters, pictures and updates on and from Ross over the next 2 years. Once we hear from him, we'll pick things out to post here for all to see. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers in Ross's behalf...we can already feel them and know you will be blessed as well for your kindness and love for Ross over the years, whether you've known him his whole life or just a few months. Good luck Elder Little!

Videos...

Here are the videos I took from the day Ross got his mission call. Ross, Jake and I drove down to Sherman to meet up with all of our family and get the great news that Ross will be heading to SAN DIEGO! Time has flown since then and he has about 6 weeks before he leaves. I have to try not to think about it to avoid panic attacks! I'm extremely nervous and anxious, so I can only imagine how he feels. I am also extremely proud and excited for him...so I just try to concentrate on those emotions!

First Video - Driving home to Sherman...me, Jake & Ross....

Second video - Getting the letter out of the mail box...

Third video - Reading the mission call! Whoop!

Fourth video - Reading the call for the second time...maybe you can hear it better since I'm not screaming this time!

Let the countdown begin!!!

~Hillary