Some more pictures of Zach and his contact information

Here are some more pictures of Zach after he arrived in Idaho.  

Zach with President and Sister Brinkerhoff

First day in Idaho

Zach headed to his first area.

Zach can be reached at the following address.  Please feel free to write him.  

1246 Yellowstone Ave, F-3

Pocatello, ID 83201

More photos of Zach in the MTC.

I just received some more photos of Zach in the MTC.  He travels to his mission tomorrow.  We are very excited for him and hopefully will get to talk with him tomorrow as well.  I will post his address as soon as I know it.

Zach and his district.  He and his companion are the only ones going to Idaho.  The rest of the district headed to North Carolina today.

Zach's district in front of the Provo Temple.

Zach diving into a load of pillows that his district found in a MTC storage room.

Zach's companion diving into a load of pillows that their district found in a MTC storage room.

All of the elders in Zach's district.  What a bunch of goofs.

Here is a part of the note he sent this morning.

I am not sure if I'll be able to call because I'm not going to the airport. If I can, it will be around 6:00 to 6:30 mountain time.

The new missionaries sound great! I'm glad that Matt is starting to get a feel for what a mission is like. I have been encouraging him since I got here. Last night, everyone in our district received blessings. I gave two of them to some of the sisters. That makes about 4 blessings that I've done and about 20 that I have participated in since I got here with my district. I received a blessing from Elder Summers last night and he blessed me that I would be a strong example to Matt. He had never known his name and I hadn't mentioned him but he specifically mentions "your younger brother Matt." That was one of the most amazing experiences that I have been in.

Everyone left for Raleigh, NC except for Elder Summers and I. It's really sad to see your district go. They became my family. Elder Summers and I just ate at our table and were so sad... We have two 3 hour class blocks with just us two today. It's going to be really weird. All the sisters were so uplifting and were amazing examples to us elders. The elders in my district were the best friends I could ask for. I don't think I could have finished the MTC without them.

I love you so much and miss you all.

Almost two weeks ago, my son Zachary Hales entered the Missionary Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints to receive training for a two-year mission.  He was called to serve in the Idaho, Pocatello Mission.  He will be leaving the MTC on Tuesday, August 27.  

I decided that I would begin posting pictures and letters from Zach on this blog.  Please feel free to write him.  He can be reached at zhales@myldsmail.net.  

Here is a snippet from a letter that received today.  

"So I was looking around the MTC and in the MTC in the basement, there is a place that is abandoned basically (no one goes there) and we call it the fungeon. It is soo cool. Anyway, Yesterday we went down to chill and study and found about 500 new pillows had been put there over night. You can guess where this led to. We jumped, ran, supermaned, dove, and every other stupid thing we could do into the pillows that were piled about 4 feet high. It was the greatest thing ever. We found the "Treasure of the MTC." 

I am truly enjoying my missionary experience here at the MTC. Elder Summers and I finally got our travel plans. We are traveling by bus on Tuesday at 6:30. I still can't find my iPod but I'll keep looking. Let me know if you find it. I really miss you all. Could you mail me a picture of the family. I don't have one at all. Did you get an email from a brother named Junichi? He was one of our fake investigators that is from Japan. He took our picture and was going to email you a pic and wish you a happy birthday on Wednesday! BTW HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Did you get my card? Please tell everyone that I love them and miss them. Let them know that I am doing very well and can't wait to hear from them. 

I will have pictures to send soon when I get to Idaho. I will have to Dropbox them to you. I can't send more than 2 pictures at a time through email. I will probably send a jump drive with the photo's as well so that we can save them. Anyway. I will email you later today when I do laundry. Love you so much. Give mom a kiss and hug for me!"

As you can see, Zach is doing great.  He misses everyone and is anxious to hear from family and friends.  I will post his physical address in Idaho when I get it.  Regardless, you can drop him an email.  

Zach and his companion Elder Summers

Zach and Elder Maeda, a brother that had volunteered to be taught in the MTC

Zach and Elder Maeda, a brother that had volunteered to be taught in the MTC

Elder Hales looking great!