Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Family,

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Whoo. Well, I'm here in the laundry room - crowded. Because it's Thanksgiving every missionary and their companion is in here - so lucky my district whose preparation day is actually on thursday got jipped. But we're grateful, always grateful. Well, interesting things that have happened here - we had the opportunity to hear the Apostle D. Todd Christofferson and his wife speak to us  and today we're hearing Russell M. Nelson. Christofferson was really amazing. He spoke about things that I really needed to hear, not becoming discouraged about learning a new language - becoming a better missionary - focusing on results - and just being the best we can be. It was good. It's really lucky the timing that I'm here, during the holidays - I'll get to hear so many apostles. Our Branch President told us that some people come and leave the MTC and don't ever get to hear an Apostle. So I'm lukcy. All around the campus there are Christmas lights - like temple square - rumor is that after today, they'll light them all up. Can't wait to get some photos of that. I'm still bummed I can't send photos. Suxar! I'm sad I won't be going to the Dearman's with you all today - send my family my love. Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Things that I'm grateful for:

1. My home. I miss it. I love it. Home.

2. Chesney. I have my favorite photo of her on my desk and I think about her all the time. It's hard to accept that I won't pet her little face for two whole years. I try not to think about that...

3. My family. My sisters. My brother. My parents. I have some amazing people in my life. Aleksi you're inspiring and creative. Mitchell, you're my bestfriend and I can't wait 'til we meet again. Cassie [even though you didn't email me - you're not starting out too great...] you're the funniest person I know and passionate. Parents. You're my heroes. I look up to you guys so much. You've blessed my life with this gospel. I've never had to question or fear the major questions of life.

4. This gospel. Being here. Seeing all these great men and women who have sacrificed so much to be here- just strengthens my knowledge that this is true. This is God's work. I love it. I just wish I was better at it...

5. My friends and cousins. I love you guys. Thank you for your letters and your support. Keep it up.

6. My companions and my district. Even though we've have our differences, we're getting along. We're still late to e v e r y t h i n g but we're working on it. They make me laugh. and I make them laugh, sometimes.

 

There is so much more. But they aren't as important; all my clothes, my comfortable shoes, my ties, my GLASSES!, my watches, my letters, my bed, deodarant, and my smile. It's the one thing I have going for me. Maybe not 'my' smile but having so much to smile about. I love you family. I love you friends. I love Chesney. and McGraw. and Bentley.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Write me letters. Keep in touch. Be safe.

 

Love,

 

Elder Maxwell Poirier.

 

 

p.s.

 

I don't know how to do anything, but to get on my knees and pray and then get on my feet and go to work. - President Gorden B. Hinkley.

 

Love you.

 

First MTC email

HELLO My Great Family,
First Email as a Missionary!

I sit right now in a chair surrounded by missionaries in the laundry room. So many missionaries. So many washers and dryers. Well I guess I'm off the hook this week for answering questions [phew] I was super worried that I wouldn't be able to. The back space tool is a little annoying. So there will most likely be some mistakes. I have a few things to say:

1. I'm in a triple now, meaning two companions: Elder Foster [pretty cool] and Elder Draper (super funny!)

2. Mom loved the Dumbledor quote.

3. Mom thanks for the cinnemon rolls, I shared them with the Tongan's and they loved them just as much as I did! 

4. I only shower once a day. Gross.

5. Yesterday I tripped in front of everyone after gym. It's a good life.  

6. I still have all my scarves [9, to be exact...]

7. My companions are going state side, california and Michagan

8. THANK YOU for all the letters and packages, I love it.

9. I really like my district - everyone is so nice. We're learning a lot together. 

10. I didn't have flip flops for showers [nasty] but I bought some.

11. I got free spanish scriptures and they're nice!

12. It snowed on Friday!

13. I've gotten the most compliments on my grey glasses. 

15. Not sleeping w/ my sleeping bag yet - saving it for Chile.

16. I've seen Canadian Elder a few times. He's here actually, in the laundry room. We waved. I haven't met anyone else going to Osorno except one hermana in my district. There's seven people in my distict. The three of us, two other elders, and two sisters. It's going to be a fun 9 weeks!

17. I pronounce my name Elder 'Poor-yay' like you guys instead of 'Poor-yer' like I used to. 

18. Mom - manso.

19. I'm loving it here. for real. Day one was hard, but I'm good now. 

20. It's a little like Hogwarts. No magic or spells or basilisks, but still a good adventure.

21. Elder Draper is hilarious, I've laughed so much. I can't believe I'm a missionary! 

22. Miss you all.

23. Swish and Flick!

24. Well, I expect emails next week but I don't blame you for not gettimg to me - I don't think I gave you my email haha.

25. The pics are of my room, Elder Draper is the brunette and Foster is the Blond. [the other guy in the map was foster's companion but he moved to advanced]

26. My teacher wanted to move me into advanced but I'm not sure I'm going to go with it. 

The dear elder's are hilarious!

Wish it, Dream it, Do it.

Love,

Elder Max Poirier

P.S.
Miss you already.

PBI NOVEMBER 16th, 2011

This is Goodbye.

A mission is but the next great adventure. 

What do you do on the day before you leave for a two year mission trip?

If you're anything like me, 

you've procrastinated e v e r y t h i n g and now have to try and tie a months worth

of packing, writing letters, taking photos, saying goodbye, and laundry into twenty four hours. 

Seems impossible. 

But I'm doing it. 

I've been running around the house, trying to take it all in. 

Every single time I passed those pups I couldn't resist a hug or a kiss.

My babies. 

Goodbye home.

Goodbye comfortable bed. 

Goodbye room. 

Goodbye friends. 

Goodbye Chesney and McGraw and Bentley. 

and goodbye my amazing family. 

I'll think about you guys once a day and maybe even more sometimes.

I love you. 

I'm sad because I planned this entire lengthly blog post with tons of cinemagraphs, 

but when I put them all on, it overloads the post and none of them move, 

or they all go super slow and you can't scroll down. 

So I'm feeling pretty bummed out. 

But the point is, 

I want you to remember me and all the good times we've shared.

Remember the laughs. 

and the adventures. 

and all the photographs. 

Remember the Harry Potter quotes and spells. 

 Remember to dance. 

and to sing as loud as you can. 

I know I'm not dying, 

but this is my last official blog post for two years. 

So remember me. 

and I'll remember you. 

Til' we meet again my friends.

My emails will be posted weekly right here. 

Stay in touch. 

I look forward to your letters and your photos. 
This is goodbye. 

[sigh]
but I really am excited. 

Farewell. 

Hasta lluego. 

I'll miss you. 

I love you. 

My Farewell.

I think it's the little things in life, 

that bring us the most joy. 

The accumulation of small moments,

that all together create unforgettable times and memories. 

Like today. 

You never really know how much something means to you, 

until it's gone. 

Likewise, 

You never really know how much you mean to someone, 

until you're gone. 

or going.

Today I had to say goodbye to some of my greatest family and friends. 

Difficult? 

Of course. 

Heart breaking? 

For sure. 

But it's these moments, 

these small - seemingly insignificant moments - that mean the most. 

It's listening to your mom tell a story you've heard a thousand times,

Watching your friends laugh and joke. 

It's Alexa surprising you after she said she wasn't going to be able to come. 

It's the way the room lit up when she walked in. 

It's having friends that care enough about you to drive for hours to say goodbye. 

It's those rainy days. 

It's listening to your favorite song - over and over again. 

It's Kelly taking a thousand and one embarrassing photos of you. 

It's accidentally spilling a bag of pretzel's all over the floor. 

It's laughing until you cry. 

 It's dancing when no one's looking. 

Drawing whatever comes to mind. 

It's those times that you take the steps towards becoming the person you've always wanted to be. 

It's Kate tearing up. 

and saying how much you've impacted her life. 

 It's reminiscing about all the adventures we've had. 

It's Chris' laugh. 

and Sean's sarcasm. 

It's giving a talk in church even though you're super nervous. 

It's giving Rett a hug as he starts to cry. 

It's Joey holding Rita while she sleeps. 

It's when you're with the people you love the most. 

 It's watching RyeRye fly on his firebolt. 

It's going for a run at dusk. 

It's swimming at the beach and snorkeling with your friends. 

It's Dylan saying he doesn't want to leave. 

It's watching as the overflow doors are opened because so many people came to see you off. 

It's having family and friends that love you. 

It's always trying to be the best version of yourself.

It's your dad telling you how proud he is of you. 

 It's seeing how big the Wilde kids have grown. 

It's baking sixty empanadas with your mom. 

It's watching Harry Potter seven part one and part two back to back. 

It's seeing friends you didn't expect to see.  

 It's Emree telling you that you're her favorite cousin. 

It's knowing that she's only saying that because Aleksi isn't around.

It's everyone wanting a photo with you.  

It's the Hindman's drawing murals on the driveway. 

It's making faces while people aren't looking with Margo at work. 

It's singing with your best friend. 

 It's looking up to the missionaries, 

and wanting to be better. 

It's Dorothy's kindness. 

and Reagan's way of making you feel good about yourself. 

It's Cassie putting a smile on your face. 

It's looking around and feeling so loved. 

It's hugging Eva goodbye and not wanting to let go. 

It's wishing Aleksi was here. 

It's crying because you're so happy. 

This is what it's all about. 

These moments. 

These small, but great - moments. 

Thank you to everyone for your love and friendship. 

Farewell my family. 

Farewell my friends. 

Farewell.