Milestones

[wuapinmon]

I got baptized 20 years ago today. SU, I already thought of "millstones" and "silestones."

[myboynoah]

I got baptized 20 years ago today. SU, I already thought of "millstones" and "silestones."

Congrats wap.

[creekster]

Happy Bapday!

[Sullyute]

Congrats...we are lucky to have you Wuap.

[LA Ute]

The church is a better place with you in it, wuap. Do you still stay in touch with the missionaries who taught you?

[happyone]

congrats

[Green Monstah]

After two decades in the big house, is your Mormon experience what you expected it would be? Better? Worse?

[wuapinmon]

The church is a better place with you in it, wuap. Do you still stay in touch with the missionaries who taught you?

Ten years ago, I wrote one of them. Here's what I sent:

Howerton,

Hmmmmm. Who would have thought that some 17 year old kid from a part member family would get baptized, go on a mission to Costa Rica 2 years later, come home, go to Georgia Tech, transfer to BYU, get married in the St.
George Temple, and then move into the same ward as a missionary who was
in Woodstock when he was an investigator? Not me.

If you hadn't read Moroni 10:3-5 with me almost exactly 10 years ago today, I perhaps might not have been baptized so soon, or perhaps ever. My life could be the same, but it could also be completely different. My family are all sealed in the temple now. Since my baptism my Mom was baptized while I was on my mission, my sister (she's inactive right now though) my dad's Dad (He's a bishop now), and a couple of my cousins. The pebble you dropped in our pond is making waves as the ripples get closer to shore. For your boldness in
listening to the Spirit and challenging me to baptism (I know how hard that
is to do now) I will be eternally grateful. I am starting to cry right now,
which I friggin' hate to do, but you don't know how much you changed my life
for the better. Now I know why I waited all week to send you this email. I
secretly knew deep down that it would be extremely emotional for me. I
never thought to get your address when you were around, and I've kept these feelings of gratitude inside for 10 years. Oh how you made my life better!

You'll never ever know. God bless you! I hate to cry! Especially when I'm
happy and not sad. Please write me back

I got this back from him:

Mac,
It's great to hear from you after all these years. I too am excited to hear
about your progression and all that you have achieved in such a short time.
My mission seems like so long ago, and unfortunately I have not gone back to
Georgia since returning home to San Diego in 1991. I went to BYU and
married a great girl from Vail, Colorado. We fell in love on the ski slopes
and while in school. I transferred to The University of San Diego's
Business School (a private Catholic School). I am golf professional here in
San Diego; I am currently the Tournament Director at an upscale golf course
in San Diego called The Auld Course (pronounced old). I have had numerous
callings in the church since returning from Young Men's presidency and
Financial Clerk to numerous other fun stuff. I live in Del Mar, which is a
beach city in San Diego, and we are looking to buy our first home in San
Diego in the next few month. It's really expensive to buy home in Southern
California ($500,000 for a modest home).

I am glad to hear all is well with you, and I hope to keep in touch. One of
my regrets is not keeping in touch with the people from my mission. I still
talk to some of my mission companions, but I need to do a better job of
staying in contact with people like you. Take care and it was great to hear
from you.

Todd Howerton

That's all I've got. The other elder was a Jason Ivan Ray from I can't remember where, he had bright red hair.

They were the ones who were there when I actually got baptized. My dad did it, and he dunked me so hard that he hit my head on the bottom of the font. But, the missionaries who taught me the gospel for real were Grant and Beverly Packer from Idaho Falls. Beverly died a few months ago, and Grant passed in 2005, I think. They brought about a great change in my family.

After two decades in the big house, is your Mormon experience what you expected it would be? Better? Worse?

Well, that's an interesting way of asking me what I think. I was a zealot until I came back from my mission. Along the way something changed inside me on the mission, and I realized that it was all perfect, and that Mormons were just as screwed up as everyone else. I just know that the Book of Mormon makes me feel something that I've never felt anywhere else, and I've read countless books, seen countless films, and they don't even come close to the BofM, which is really boring and staid, but just works for me. I hate reading it, but when I do, I feel good (but not good enough to read it all the time). If I ever think about leaving the church, I just read it, and I'm back. It's worked every time.

[wuapinmon]

18 years ago today, I entered the MTC. I was a member of barely two years, my mom was not a member, and I was out there to fulfill a mission in the hope of redeeming a priesthood promise that my bishop made to me vis a vis my mom joining the Church.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

While you were celebrating 20 years in the church, Todd Howerton was flying over Hilo in a helicopter with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. He gave a 5 star review on 1-24-11, seems you both like guys named Tim.

"Tim was awesome and we had a blast.
Thanks and Mahalo"
Todd Howerton - San Diego, CA, 01/24/2011
Heliport: Hilo (Big Island)

http://www.bluehawaiian.com/about/livereviews/testimonials/

[clackamascoug]

My Grandmother Isabelle was born 100 years ago today.

[wuapinmon]

While you were celebrating 20 years in the church, Todd Howerton was flying over Hilo in a helicopter with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. He gave a 5 star review on 1-24-11, seems you both like guys named Tim.


http://www.bluehawaiian.com/about/li.../testimonials/

Thanks, Ol' Relentless. I know that you were googling his name to try and find him for me, and that's why I like guys named HFN.