From a boy to a man...my brother!

As a sister and a middle child, I have learned over the years to be protective of my siblings... older ones and especially the younger ones. I remember when Ben turned 12 and just started attending our church youth group. Let's just say, he was a little cocky, know-it-all and wasn't very well liked. I remember sticking up for him once or twice or a few times from people not listening to him or just making fun of him. As the older sister I needed to protect him, stick up for him, whatever it took. When I went off to college, I was nervous how he would be if I wasn't there... Let's just say, he did a 180!

My "little" brother, the know-it-all was no more! He became a very well liked, charasmatic, and tall (for an Everett) young man. Ben became captain of his ultimate frisbee team, became a boyscout leader and instrcutor of archery and just all around pretty cool guy.

Ben is now on a mission in Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saings, serving, teaching and learning about the gospel. We get weekly e-mails and updates from him, each letter I see him grow more and more into this wondeful person. Far from the 12 year old boy I used to protect. He loves being a missionary and loves the people, language and culture of Japan. I learn something new everytime I read his e-mails and I can tell he's changed a lot even from when he left. He certainly writes a lot better and more than how he talks in person, I think I've learned more about him in his weekly e-mails than in the last 20 years! He's so energetic and enuthsiastic in all letters and I look forward to them each week.

I'm proud of my little brother, who in the last few months became a man and a missionary! I can't wait to see him in the next year to welcome him home and just see his english to japanese speaking, should be fun!

If you ever want to write him, he loves gettng letters and hearing from friends and families. Just beware his timing in response is little lacking... =)

Elder Benjamin Charles Everett

Japan Fukuoka Mission

9-16 Hirao-josuimachi

Chuo-ku

Fukuokao-shi, Fukuoka

810-0029