The Groomsmen

Kenneth McAffee

It was St Patrick’s Day of 2005.  It was raining, as it is often does that time of the year in Sao Paulo Brazil.  I had arrived at the MTC (missionary training center) earlier that morning.  I was sleepy from my all night flight but I was nervous and exited for my mission all at the same time.  I was unpacking alone in my room, a room built to sleep four of us.  I was to be given a companion on arrival but I was told he had not yet arrived and I should go to this room and unpack until he got there.  I dove into my bags finding a home in the small room for all the belongings I would need for the next two years.  After about twenty minutes of unpacking in silence there was a “ding” from down the hall where the elevator doors opened.  A tall dark haired guy rolling two large bags behind him stepped out of the elevator.  He walked briskly down the hall in my direction.  After glancing at the number on the door He walked in and asked “Are you my companion?” “Yes, I think so” I answered.

 “Well I’m Ro… Elder Buckmaster I mean.” he announced.

“Buckmaster?” I asked, “Like Buck-Master”

“Yep, just like it sounds” Buckmaster replied.

“Well I am Elder McAffee, Elder Buckmaster and it looks like they made us companions, nice to meet you.”

With a name like Buckmaster he has got to be a cool guy I thought to myself, but little did I know that, that moment was the beginning of many Mac-Master adventures. 

For the rest of the three months we were in Sao Paulo. Roy and I were inseparable.  We did everything together.  That not meaning much considering that we were assigned to each other as companions and couldn’t really leave each other, but the cool part was neither of us minded.  We were grateful that we had each other for companions and not someone else that we were stuck with 24/7.  We actually wouldn’t have had it any other way.  Roy was the only guy that would have run wind sprints before bed with me and together we made an unbeatable volleyball team of two (undefeated still to this day).  At the end of our training were sent our separate ways, him to Belo Horizonte and me to Manaus.  We didn’t have much contact for the next year and half, but when we met again ether through fate or divine intervention at a field biology class at BYU-Idaho the inseparability continued.  We would study biology, chase girls, (a lot less cool that Elliot) go fishing, swimming, we even went to each other’s family reunions that semester. 

The next semester we were roommates along with four other friends, but the time I got to know Roy the best was when he and I moved to Vernal Utah together to work in the oil fields.  We lived in the basement of some of my old family friends.  The room we shared was only twelve by twelve foot and full of scrapbooking material with one real bed against the wall and a mattress on the floor.  We didn’t have a closet or any were to keep our clothes.  It didn’t matter though; we wore the same thing everyday any way.  We would get up before the sun and put on every piece of warm clothing we owned before heading out into negative temperatures for the next ten to fourteen hours.  We would get home go play ball go to bed and do it all over again the next day. 

            The oil fields are a rough place and attract rough people, so for two return missionary boys there is not a big social life.  Roy was the only guy I worked with everyday Roy was the only guy I hung out with after work and at the end of the day he was still my roommate.  I have never, even now that I am married spent so much time consistently with one person than I did in those four months with Roy.  The funny part is I never got sick of him.  He might not be able to say the same about me, but we still were roommates for another year and a half after that.  Then I found a girl who ironically enough has many of the qualities I don’t have but have always admired in Roy.  Not that I married her because she is like Roy (that would just be awkward) but Andrea and Roy are a lot alike.  That is good news for you Elliot; Roy is supper easy to live with and will make you happy the rest of your life.  I love you both and am excited for you two.    

Spock- er, Carson Tietjen

Roy is MY BEST PAL. I met him in the MTC in Brazil. He sat next to me and during class we became GOOD friends. I discovered he grew up in my home town of Rexburg and one time he had wrecked his bike near my ex-girlfriends house--Coincidence? I think not.

Roy and I kept in touch during the mission and afterward he came to school in Rexburg, where he met the most important person of his life...Elliot (you thought I was going to say me...) Before he met her though, Roy and I worked together on 2 occasions. Once at a restaurant (Roy came to work in moccasins one time, they didn't match his slacks

and button up shirt) we worked for my dad's TV repair shop(riding in

a COLD COLD van all winter long. Best of times...)

We roomed together three times. The first time, Roy stayed with me at my parents during the summer break. He had initially planned on staying in a tent in my parents backyard. After we set up the tent he slept in my parents basement, never using the tent once. I think the tent is still in my parents garden.

The next time was a vacant studio apartment in Idaho Falls. We lived there for a month to shorten the commute to work. There was no furniture, no shower curtain, really no amenities whatsoever. We pretty much lived out of duffel bags like it was the mission all over again.

The third time we roomed together was at Brighton Apartments in Rexburg when we had really crummy managers and Roy duked it out with them verbally on a few occasions.

Now, Roy is all grown up and ready to move on to the next big step. I wish both Roy and Elliot the best! love you both.

Phil Collett 

(not directly related to Elliot)

The MTC is a funny place. Its really the doormat where life before the mission is dusted off. The mixture of emotions creates an almost palpable tension. The anxiety of learning a new language, the pressure and desire to be obedient, the nostalgia, the exhaustion, and the fear of the unknown both build and burden every Elder. Its under these circumstances that reliable, consistent friendship is invaluable. I remember the day when Elder Buckmaster arrived in the MTC. The first thing I noted was that whichever team he played for during gym would win. It was always a good idea to be on the same side as Roy, regardless of which sport we were playing.

I never really warmed up to the food and I probably was not the exception. On a number of occasions we would sneak bread and cheese out of the lunchroom at dinner time. Then when it got late, just before curfew, we would meet up in the laundry room to make grilled cheese sandwiches on the irons. Once, we were reprimanded for singing too loudly in the showers. We would always sing a cappella while showering so loud that the floors below us would complain. Roy was always cheering everyone up and inventing the craziest adventures and games. Almost every night, just before bed, Roy would stand by his window and stare morosely into the city. The window quickly became known as the Pondering Window and he would invite others to join him in pondering. I will never forget his positive attitude, obedient spirit, and leadership. Wow, this sounds like a eulogy!

JP Manning

Roy and I spent a lot of time together as roommates. We had a lot of fun together and were able to get to know each other really well. One of the things that stands out most to me about Roy or one of the experiences that stands out in my mind is actually a combination of many experiences. Roy and I would follow a similar schedule as roommates and ended up going to bed and waking up at about the same time. There were many times when we would both get up and do our scripture study and then discuss the things we had learned. I felt a real bond with him as we discussed the things of the gospel and shared our insights with each other. I am very appreciative for those experiences with Roy and for the deep and thoughtful insights he had to share. He is truly a man of deep thought and wisdom. That sharing of wisdom was not isolated to our morning scripture studies. We would stay up late many times to discuss the things going on in our lives. I felt like we were really able to support each other in our times of need and share the excitement of success in whatever we were involved in. I feel very fortunate to have such a good friend.