Monday, April 2, 2012 - First day at the MTC
This was a wonderful and long day -- yet the ones to follow will be longer. What a wonderful spirit abides at the MTC -- we felt it immediately.
Everything was organized and executed speedily and efficiently. We spotted the Abbotts from Brent's ward and visited with them briefly; also, Larry and Dorothy's friends, the Kindreds from Preston. Everyone was very friendly and nice.
We are staying at The Marriott Hotel in Provo -- nice accommodations -- as they did not have enough room for all the senior couples at the MTC. Also, the food here (at the MTC) is definitely many steps up from that at Quantico (where we went several times for training with the FBI). The whole cafeteria thing at the MTC is quite amazing! Imagine feeding 2200+ missionaries three meals a day! They present a nice variety, and nearly everything we selected was very tastey and nutritious. Of course, we got to choose :) - and we tried to choose wisely (most of the time). It was fun to see what some of the elders would pile onto their plates.
We spent Friday and Saturday nights (March 31 and April 1) with my dear mother. Mauri hosted a dinner on Sunday (thanks, Mauri!) -- Tawn and Devin's families came, and Mother and George. It was quite cold, but the cousins had a blast together. Very enjoyable! It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, especially to my sweet mother. But I know the Lord will bless everyone, as President Keller promised in his setting apart blessing. I know it will be so.
Spent sunday night at Randy's Mary Lou and David's and had an enjoyable late-night visit.
I'm so grateful for the loving support of all our family! How blessed we are!
Tuesday, April 3:
Learning to teach out of Preach My Gospel. Our instructor is a young 22-year-old RM who served in Malta (Italy). I'm a bit out of my comfort zone, but I can do this! Tomorrow -- we'll be teaching an "investigator." (People from the area come in to the MTC to help with this. Most are members, some are not.)
This was a long day. We attended a great devotional presented by Elder Lance B. Wickman. He spoke on being devoted and obedient, telling us the WE are the message. He commented that we have all given up something good for something better, and said he didn't know what each of our particular sacrifices was, but he said, "You're here not, so GO FOR BROKE! GIVE IT ALL YOU'VE GOT!" So that's what we intend to do. He counseled that if we will learn to love others more than we love ourselves, we will be great missionaries.
It was so awesome to sing Called To Serve with 2200+ young elders and sisters!
We saw Gary and Katherine Stott (Lisa's parents) this afternoon. They were there for dinner with Elder Wickman and the Devotional. It was great to see them. Evidently they and their family are friends with the MTC President and his wife, The Browns, as they introduced us to them as Lisa's in-laws :)
Wednesday, April 4:
Our District consists of four couples: Us; The Despains from Montana (formerly from Mammoth in Yellowstone Park - going to Freiberg, Germany, Temple Mission; The Goodmans from Stafford, Arizona, going to Arkansas Little Rock Member & Leadership Support; The Bosches from Long Beach, California, going to Toronto, Canada, member & Leadership support. All wonderful couples!
We taught our "first discussion" this morning -- and we all lived through it :) Some things went well and others could have gone better. Our "investigator" did a great job -- he and his "member friend" were kind to us. Tomorrow we will get to do this again - preparing to teach The Plan of Salvation. Main thing to remember is -- we teach PEOPLE, not lessons.
There are couples going all over the world in our group -- Estonia, India, Mexico, Spain, Germany - amazing. We also met a couple going to Tahiti too, from Brighton, Colorado. They know an elder in our mission in Ventura -- Elder Smith. We will have to watch for him!
Thursday, April 5:
Seems like we do a great deal of eating! We do - and it's good! We are trying to be a little good, but yesterday we had ice cream from the university creamery, and I indulged. So fine!
Today we had another teaching experience -- supposedly a follow-up from a younger set of missionaries who taught the Restoration, then were transferred. We taught Winnie, a Vietnamese girl. She was full of questions, and sort of led the discussion. We never did get to ANY of the Plan of Salvation, but discussed various things: Patriarchal blessings, feeling the Spirit, General Conference (among others). We could have done better, but it was a good experience! She told uas at the end that she had been a member for only four months. ~~ Then we did some role playing with the Despains and had quite a sweet experience (recorded in my hand-written journal).
Today Randy shared the story of Brother Schmidt and his conversion and Randy's experience with him as a Seventy in Soda Springs. How Brother Schmidt expected a vision or something spectacular, but felt "nothing." Randy got all choked up when relating this experience. It really brought the Spirit into our room. We have developed something quite special with these three other couples in our District. It's been sweet!
Friday, April 6:
We were given a challenge, which I need to going on! Each week we share a missionary experience with our family and encourage them to print it and share it and read it as a family. And share our testimony.
It snowed this morning -- big, wet flakes! It really put it down. The trees and bushes were laden, and it was really beautiful. Sister Despain said that when she would look out of her window at home, before any footprints or tire tracks were made in such a snow, she would say, "We've been celestialized!" :) By noon the snow was gone.
Today we met "new" couples (not in our district) and role played again, using the same situations as yesterday. "Our" missionaries, The Cheffs, also decided to teach us about families. Elder Cheff beautifully taught about the eternal nature of families. The Cheffs are from Montana. Sister Cheff is originally from Spain and met her husband in Venezuala when they were both there with their parents, who were working there. They were young. She didn't speak English; he didn't speak Spanish. But they danced together at a dance. He took his maid with him to interrpret and proposed to her. She moved to the states without knowing the language. (She now speaks with only a slight accent). She was very lonely, but was converted to the gospel. And now they are going to Spain on their mission together! Cool!
We were missionaries to The Oshimas. We got more "true" stories from them than role playing. But it was very sweet. They are (at least he is - it's hard to tell about Asian women :) in his 70s and now serving his 8th mission. He is from Hawaii, and Sister Oshima is from Japan. This is a second marriage for them, and this is their 6th mission together. Wow! They met in the temple. Sister Oshima, although a member for some time, became truly converted when her father was miraculously healed by the Priesthood. Elder Oshima was baptized in the ocean when he was 12 years old. His older brothers set it up. He was at an overnight scout camp, and his brothers told him he would be baptized. When he saw the missionaries in white coming toward him, he thought they looked like angels. He was baptized when a wave came in, then he went off to swim, not even understanding which church he was a member of. We never did hear how he became "converted."
Randy has met a 3rd cousin, Sister Blake, from St. Anthony, Idaho. Her maiden name was Mecham, so she was asking about Randy's genealogy. Interestingly, they figured out they are related through Randy's mother, both descending from Judson Tolman. They never did figure out how they were related through the Mechams.
This was a sweet day of goodbyes. The member support missionaries are heading out to their various missions now. That includes the Abbots -- the couple from Brent's ward in California. We had a couple of very nice visits with them. They had nothing but good and nice things to say about Brent, Diane, and their children :) The Woods (and I can't remember where they are going) are from Coeur d'Alene and know The Wises (David's family). They also know Jess and Vola Evans (both couples are snow birds to Mesa and were in the same ward there). The Evans, who are missionaries at the Heber Valley Camp, were at our hotel tonight when we walked in - coming to visit the Woods. We had a nice chat with The Evans :)
Tonight we went to dinner with David and Mary Lou. They picked us up and we went to a nice Japanese restaurant. Nice food, nice company!
Saturday, April 7:
We slept in a little. Worked out at the hotel exercise room. Did a sealing session at the Provo Temple. The sealer shared this experience. He was formerly a bishop in Texas. They had a large group of 8-year-old children to be baptized one time (not sure if ward or stake). After the baptisms there was quite a commotion at the back of the room from a handicapped 12-year-old girl. The bishop asked what she was so excited about. She told him, "He lives! He truly lives!" When he pressed her further, she told him she had seen Jesus standing above the font and that he was very happy about the baptisms of the children. Amazing how close some of the special spirits are to the "other side."
Had lunch at an Indian restaurant just across the street from the hotel. Tasty.
Spent the afternoon at the Wises. Did laundry there and helped a little with some yard work. They have such a beautiful yard and home!
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