First day!

Hey guys so I only have a few minutes to write you to inform you all when i will be writing home while at the MTC or CCM (Centro de Capacitacion Misional). Also to inform you that I brushed my teeth and that Im taking care of myself. The guy told me to inform my family that I was. the flights were good! ill write more on the subject on the 6th of august. I will be writing home on this weird schedule Thursday august 6, tuesday 11 august, thursday 20 august, tuesday 24 august, thursday september 3rd. Kinda weird how one week ill write you ever 5 days and others it will be 9. I love you guys miss you all! This CCM is not how i imagined at all but i guess it will do! trying my hardest to live the dream see you real soon! 

love elder welch

Here is a link to a photo gallery of the Colombia MTC so you can see what the place where he'll be for the next 6 weeks looks like!
Colombia MTC Photo Gallery

Saying Goodbye

Today Matthew was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  His dad is the Stake President so he was able to set him apart in his own home.

Following him being set apart, his family, as well as his girlfriend Ivy, took him to the airport to send him on his way to the Colombia MTC.

Matt's sister, Ashley, and her 2 daughters.

The Welch boys! Tyler (left) just got home from his mission in Brazil a month ago.  Dustin (right) served a mission in Idaho about 4 years ago

The Holloway family

This is Matt's nephew, Boston.  He is the next boy in the family who will serve a mission!

Getting all of his money exchanged to use in Colombia!

Saying goodbye one last time to everyone.  His parents were able to take him all the way to his gate.

His sister, Brittany, and her family weren't able to be there today since they live in Portland, so they said their goodbyes to Matt a week ago.

Matt's grandparents, the Donovans, also weren't able to be there today, but they were able to come and visit and listen to Matt's farewell talk at church on July 26th.

And he's off! See you in 2 years, Elder Welch!!

Elder Welch is flying to Colombia and will report to the MTC on July 29th.  We will hopefully be hearing from him once he arrives, so stay tuned!

Called to Serve! Opening His Mission Call

Matt received his mission call on April 25, 2015.  He called over his friends and family members and opened it that night.  We all took guesses as to where we thought Matt would serve.

With much anticipation he began to read:

"Dear Elder Welch,

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 Ecuador Quito mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.  

You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 29, 2015."

Matt will be preaching the gospel in the Spanish language.

Adam and Brittany live in Portland and were not able to be there when he opened his call, but they were able to watch it on FaceTime!

As the time for Matt to leave has gotten closer, they changed the location of where he will report.  He will now be leaving on July 29th to go to the Colombia MTC.  He will be there for 6 weeks learning the Spanish language, as well as how to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Following the Training Center, he will then fly to Ecuador will he will begin to teach the people living there.

If you are interested in hearing about Matt's mission experiences, feel free to follow this blog.  His family will be posting updates and letters as they receive them!

You can also email Matt while he is on his mission at Matthew.Welch@myldsmail.net