Teri's Blog: Elder Valdivia

December 7, 2006 was right around the time I first met Jon Valdivia. He had just started skating a few months previous and like any new skater struggled to stay up in the corners. When Jon skated, it wasn't a matter of if he would crash, but when and how many times. These 2 pictures were taken 12.7.06 at a short track race.

Time passed and Jon and I became great friends. He loved to steal my camera and take random pictures. He also loved having pictures taken of him skating. His skating and my picture taking improved greatly.

Jon is one of the coolest people I know! He is nice, funny, creative, social, spontaneous, goal oriented, just a good people person. When I heard he was working on sending in his mission papers a few thoughts crossed my mind.
- Yes good!
- Ah! 2010 (Olympics) what about skating?!?!
I was glad that he was choosing to go on a mission, but his skating was taking off! About a year ago he started attending "national" races over in the eastern states where speed skating is pretty huge. There is big competition and you gotta know and skate your stuff. For him to start skating, then a year later skate in bigger than club level races is a big deal. Most skaters stay on the club level for a while longer. Jon is athletically gifted and seeing his skating improve so fast was just awesome.

A few months ago I received a text message from Jon saying that he was being sent to the Leeds England Mission and that he was to leave November 21. I texted him back first thinking it was a joke, but realizing he was serious. He still had a few months of skating before he left. Many people told him she should stay and train for the Olympics, then go on his mission. He is going now, then training when he gets back.

Over the past week Jon has had numerous goodbye parties from the rest of the skaters. I attended the last 4. Sunday night we all met at KD's for poker - to which is funny: Having a goodbye party for a missionary playing poker to which the church frowns upon. The buy in was only $1.

Tuesday night 14 of us went to the Cheesecake Factory. A few people decided to get into a whip cream fight. In the end Jordan snuck up behind Jon and got him good!