Elder Andrew Louis Pande, AKA "Drew" is actually from North Salt Lake. However, "Bountiful Boys" sounds a lot better than "NSL Boys", and we thank our hosts for letting us join their blog.
Called to Serve in Central America Drew was called to the Guatemala City Central, Guatemala mission, entering the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah on 23 July 2008. With family hand-in-hand we went to the farewell meeting. There we learned that the Church was considering lowering the minimum age of missionaries from 19 years down to 16 years of age. "Because 16 year olds know everything, and their mothers wouldn't cry when they left". My 16 year old son Eric was not amused with the officiator's joke as the rest of us were...
Missionary Switch Drew finished his first year at BYU before turning 19 years of age. For a short period the Pande's had two sons on a mission, one in the MTC getting ready to go to Guatemala, and another ready to return. Elder John Henry Pande was finishing up two years of service in Resistencia, Argentia. The brothers met with permission briefly in the MTC. An unforgettable reunion. Love, practical advice for new missionaries, strong hugs, confirmation that the eldest son is
still taller, more advice, and a final embrace to last two more years, was exchanged.
John said "Don't worry about the future because it never comes. Live the present and work hard to love and serve the people of Guatemala. This is the best way to truly know Christ".
Provo MTC Drew spent only a brief 2-3/4 weeks at the Provo MTC, meeting up with many of his college friends who were destined for different directions on the compass, all to serve the Lord.
Both Drew's language and testimony grew at the MTC. Still, we were confident that Elder Pande was able to eke out a little fun to break up the long periods of seriousness.
Boots on the Ground in Guatemala The church has a number of MTC's world wide so that missionaries in other countries all don't have to travel so far to the US for training. As well, it provides the opportunity for missionaries in training to acclimate to their host country's food, climate, language, and most importantly their people. So, after his relatively brief training in the US Drew flew to Guatemala.
On the plane down, one of the flight attendants, a non-member, let each missionary up into first class for dinner because his best friend was Mormon, and that he had such great respect for young men to take out two years to serve their fellow men.
Well, as in the US, Drew quickly acquired every new food born intestinal bug, for the first couple of weeks. Many of the missionaries at the Guatemala MTC are from other neighboring countries. Drew talked about how many came from such humble means, admiring both their faith and determination. Drew also commented the he "Is a giant among the people of Guatemala". He quickly added "In physical stature, that is". Drew commented that the average Guatemalan is about the height of this 11 year old brother Hans.
Good by MTC... Hello rural country side D rew left the Guatemala MTC and is now in his first area, the rural country side of Guatemala. Drew talks about sound deafening rain storms followed up with hot sun, repeating the cycle once a day. His spirits are good after the normal difficult overall adjustment to a poverty like life. He finds his strength in teaching the people, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Blog by Brad Pande 8 Nov 2008.
Taylor entered the Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, November 5 at 1:00pm.
Dear Family and Friends,
