Elder J.J. Grover gave his farewell speech on Sunday, January 25, 2009, and entered the Provo, Utah MTC on January, 28th, the following Wednesday. Though this is a wonderful day, anticipated by both the missionary and his parents, it is still hard for everyone. Is the second missionary easier? Not if the first one hasn't come home yet! But knowing that he is in the Lord's hands speaks peace to the hearts of each family member and friend. 
The first thing that Elder J.J. Grover wrote home from the MTC was, "I made it! I am alive! I am so overwhelmed!" Anyone who has been to the MTC can probably relate to these feelings. His first companion was Elder Morgan from Provo, UT. As time passed, Elder Grover gained a little more confidence in the language, as well as in himself. Three weeks later, on February 17th Elder Grover boarded the plane and flew to the Guatemala MTC (CCM) with 12 other missionaries. In his last letter from the Provo MTC he wrote, "my spanish is still a little shaky, but at least I can smile and bear my testimony - that's all I need right?"
Elder J.J. Grover made it to Guatemala safely, and met the mission president there. Presidente David A. Christensen and his wife sent some pictures and an e-mail to the missionaries' parents upon their arrival. 
Guatemala MTC (CCM)
Missionaries that arrived at the CCM on February 17, 2009(JJ is the second elder from the left)
The spirit was just as strong at the CCM in Guatemala, and Elder Grover continued to progress. One highlight for him was being able to go out on splits and actually teach people the gospel. One of the main foods down there is beans, and Elder Grover mentioned that he will like having beans for breakfast so much that he might stop when he gets home! Many of the missionaries at the CCM come from very humble circumstatces. When Elder Grover noticed that a couple of them had only one ragged tie, and he had so many nice ones, he couldn't help but share. "Don't worry," he writes, "I haven't given everything away." What a nice guy! After gaining 7 or 8 pounds, Elder Grover lost it all again when he got sick with what they call Bo - a common parasite in Guatemala. The misison president's wife is a nurse, so she got him all fixed up and ready to go out into the field.
Missionaries that left the Guatemala MTC (CCM) on March 31, 2009
The spirit was just as strong at the CCM in Guatemala, and Elder Grover continued to progress. One highlight for him was being able to go out on splits and actually teach people the gospel. One of the main foods down there is beans, and Elder Grover mentioned that he will like having beans for breakfast so much that he might stop when he gets home! Many of the missionaries at the CCM come from very humble circumstatces. When Elder Grover noticed that a couple of them had only one ragged tie, and he had so many nice ones, he couldn't help but share. "Don't worry," he writes, "I haven't given everything away." What a nice guy! After gaining 7 or 8 pounds, Elder Grover lost it all again when he got sick with what they call Bo - a common parasite in Guatemala. The misison president's wife is a nurse, so she got him all fixed up and ready to go out into the field. Missionaries that left the Guatemala MTC (CCM) on March 31, 2009First Row: Michelle Schmidt, Bria Lebeau, Dachelle Martin, Torrie Fedor, Hna. Christensen, Pdte. Christensen, Brooke Poteet, Linda Duarte, Dayana Morales, Ericka García, Massiel García. Second Row: Adam Judd, Jeremy Ava, Erik Larson, Mahonri Amaya, Pablo Rivera, Stefan Centeno, Eduardo Gómez, César Marín, Kyle Doroty, David Martínez, Roger Vargas, Ben Sigler, Cervin Jolón, Charles Morgan, Efraín Castro.
Third Row: Alejandro Tejeda, Jedidiah Grover, Marvin Palomino, Alan Pagoaga, Samuel Juárez, Andrés Méndez, Jared Brandao, Rafael Hernández, Franklin De Los Reyes, Juan Jo Barrientos, Gustavo Velásquez, Edgar Cua, Edvin Tzul, Walter Alfaro, Marvin Lemus
Elder Grover boarded the bus early in the morning on Tuesday, March 31 and headed to the coast. His first area was El Asintal in the Las Palmas zone, and his companion was Elder Murphy from Wendover, Utah. He said it is very hot, and there are a lot of bugs. The area was really big, and there was only a small branch with 4 priesthood holders (Elder Grover and Elder Murphy were 2 of them). So, there is a lot of work to be done! Mostly they are on foot, but if they have to go anywhere far they ride the chicken bus.
They do celebrate holy week there in Guatemala, but Elder Grover said he is glad to get that over with, and that he will only have to celebrate one more. He said, "I wish somehow I could tell people how important our message is, most of them won't even listen, but we just keep trying!"
Elder Grover boarded the bus early in the morning on Tuesday, March 31 and headed to the coast. His first area was El Asintal in the Las Palmas zone, and his companion was Elder Murphy from Wendover, Utah. He said it is very hot, and there are a lot of bugs. The area was really big, and there was only a small branch with 4 priesthood holders (Elder Grover and Elder Murphy were 2 of them). So, there is a lot of work to be done! Mostly they are on foot, but if they have to go anywhere far they ride the chicken bus.
They do celebrate holy week there in Guatemala, but Elder Grover said he is glad to get that over with, and that he will only have to celebrate one more. He said, "I wish somehow I could tell people how important our message is, most of them won't even listen, but we just keep trying!"
