Elder Preston Troy Sharp: A blast from the past/The first day...

On the way to the MTC Elder Sharp started getting a little nervous. He started saying, "How close are we? Should I start freaking out yet?" We neared the MTC and he was trying to think of ways to get Sister Missionaries to write to him on his mission... then he started talking about the only girl that is going to wait for him on his mission... (picture below...) As we got closer he began saying, "Ah! I don't want to go. Do you think if I start swearing they won't let me go...maybe if I start swearing they just won't let me in...Ok, Ok.... Ah! I can't do this. Turn around! Take me home!"

Finally, we were at the curb and getting out of the car. He was all confident after that. He was ready to go. We climbed out of the car and the Elder waiting for him asked him his name. "Preston,” he said. "Nice to meet you, I'm Elder Sutherland." You could see in his eyes this nervous look. "Wow, this is it. Elder. I'm an Elder. I'm a missionary. I have to start calling myself Elder Sharp. Wow.” (I'm pretty good at mind reading...and this is EXACTLY what he was thinking ;) ) We called Mom and Dad and put them on speaker phone. He said he loved everyone, one last time... and then off he went. “See you in two years!” he said….and then he walked off into the bright afternoon sun, with a Chick fil a meal in his tummy and a nervous, cute smile on his face. He was ready. He looked excited! And so grown up! We are so proud of him! We can’t wait to get his first e-mail!!