Elder Shaydon Gates: The Grand Opening

As family friends, and neighbors arrived for the 7:30 pm "Grand Opening", we would have them write on a sticky tab where they thought Shaydon would get called to go and then have them place it on the large map taped on the wall. It was very fun to see all the places that were guessed. One person guessed the country exactly right but you have to scroll down to see who:)

Dad & Mom savoring the moment before the actual life changing mission call!!

Uncle Brandon attempting to steal all the cookies!

Great support from our ward and the priest quorum. Cameron Densley.Jonathon Nielsen. Bro Clarkson. Ron Densley

Cousins Trek.Kason.Mac & dad

It was so fun having a full house of family and friends to share in this exciting moment for Shady!

Waiting patiently in the kitchen too!

We all gathered in this one small family room for several minutes which seemed like eternity because we were trying to put my mom (Shade's 87 yr old Grandma) on the line so she could hear the cheers. She hadn't been feeling well this day and even went to the hospital to be checked out for a possible heart attack! It all turned out ok.

Me explaining the problem with Grandma's heart condition and why we were trying so hard to put her on the phone line to hear. We felt bad we weren't able to get her on the line to hear. Shaydon had waited long enough and could wait no longer. It probably took an extra 10 minutes. Oh well, he called her minutes later to tell her personally where he got called.

Dear Elder Gates: You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission. . . .

. . . . You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

Shaydon's cousin Riley was the winner by guessing Ecuador! Sorry Riley but your only prize was getting your picture taken with Shade and knowing that you won:)

The Whole Family! - Clint.Tanner.Michelle.Shaydon.Cassidee.Rich.Jaxon.Jon

Rich.Cassidee.Shaydon

Grandma Gates & Shaydon

Tanner.Shaydon.Kason.Uncle Brandon

Bret Goodwin.Shady.Ed Goodwin.Shelly Goodwin - Shaydon's cousin Bret has been called to the Scotland/Ireland Mission and reports to MTC on April 11th of this year.

Todd & Brittany Jacobsen Family - Shady.Todd.Trey.Alexa

Shaydon's Priest Quorum leader - Brother John Clarkson

Shawnee Slivers

Travis Gates Gamily: Skylar.Kennadi.Presley.Riley.Sue

Brandon & Jody Gates Family - Laiken.Jody.Shady.Brandon

Cute little 1st & 2nd cousins:) Shady.Ryker.Kenadi.Tag.Ava.Laiken.Ali

Shaydon's other family:) - Grandma Benson.Brandon Benson.Shaydon.Austin Benson. Shawn Benson.Heidi Benson - Their oldest son Zac is one of Shady's best friends who is serving in the Mexico, Hermosillo Mission and left last October.

Brandon.Austin.Shaydon.Edsen.Keagen

Chad & Anne Gates Family - Sadie.Anne.Chad.Ryker.Macey.Mitzi.Shaydon.Caleb.Tori.Alex

Tyler & Mary Dawn Gubler Family - Ayden.Ava.Ali.Tag.Trek.Elsha.Shaydon.Crue.Kensey.Brock.Mary Dawn.Mac.Kason

Bishop Ridd couldn't come over until later so Shaydon had fun reading the call letter to him again! Bishop's brother was a mission president in Ecuador a few years ago so we'll have a source for lots of information!