So it BEGINS. . . with Home MTC! — Called to Serve in Curitiba Sul: Elder Ryker Roskelley

This is Mama Lynda. . . I will forever CHERISH these two weeks that we had Elder Ryker in our home, studying. learning, and preparing to leave for the Brazil CTM! [Centro de Treinamento Missionário}. The Spirit that accompanied our newly ordained Elder & recently set-apart full-time missionary was tangible. I LOVED being able to hear all about the lessons he was learning with his District, when he came out of his study room on break! His excitement, enthusiasm and wonder at everything he was learning was VERY sweet to be a part of and witness. I also loved being home to make him a snack or lunch between classes. . . and having him so willing to open up and share everything he was learning and experiencing, as his testimony was growing and being strengthened, was a treasure!

During Ryker’s 1st weekend of Home MTC. . . we had the privilege of taking him with us to Washington D.C. Temple (April 8-10) before the Open House began for the general public. The temple had been closed for 4 years, undergoing a major renovation, that Roscoe’s (Ryker’s dad) company (R&R Environmental) was involved with. What an honor! This trip had been planned, taking the R&R partners, project team & spouses out to see the temple, way before Ryker got his mission call. So, of course we HAD to take him with us. We couldn’t just leave him home alone. . . so it was perfect! The lead project manager over the entire D.C. Temple renovation gave our group a private tour of the temple. It was absolutely incredible being the ONLY people in the entire temple. The Spirit was SO strong inside, even though it had not been re-dedicated yet. . . it was very special! Just watching Ryker’s reaction, knowing what a privilege it was to be there was so sweet. We were all struck by the remarkable detail, the gorgeous finishes, and the incredible artwork throughout the entire temple. Ryker felt a connection to that temple, and kept saying that he REALLY wanted to come back to the D.C. Temple after his mission and do a bunch of temple work for our ancestors. It was an unforgettable experience!