The MTC

Today we completed a very body wearying but spirit enlightening week at the MTC. We have learned so much and met so many amazing people; it has truly been a wonderful experience.
Last week we were in general training, learning to give discussions, practicing with people from the community playing roles and practicing with each other. It was really quite fun and it is amazing how strong the spirit can testify, even when role playing. Many of the instructors were young, returned missionaries and they were delightful. We also spent one hour in the Referral Center where calls from all around the country come in responding to TV or print ads regarding the church. I received one call from a lady in Massachusetts who wanted the DVD, The Lamb of God, and wanted missionaries to come to her home. She also gave us the name of her friend to have the missionaries call. Neat! Dad took Spanish language calls and spoke with a couple of different people.

On Saturday morning we went to the Provo Temple with others from our group. After doing a session we stayed and did 54 family sealings. In the afternoon we went with another couple for an extended trip to the mall. Sunday we went to Church, a broadcast of the Spoken Word and then RS and Priesthood. We enjoyed the meetings. Sunday evening Pat, Monique and Braxton stopped by on their way back to California. We had a good visit and Pat brought us a fancy internet phone that will make it easy for us to call home.

This week we were in training only with missionaries from our group going to visitors’ centers or Church historic sites. We learned a great deal about some of the sites and that was really interesting. We were able to give two presentations about the Mexico City Visitors’ Center and that was fun. Of course, it was in English and we didn’t know what we were talking about but it was still fun.

We are very glad we will be heading out at 6 a.m. tomorrow. The week has been good but we are anxious to get to Mexico City. We will miss the food (the quality and variety are good, but not having to cook it or wash dishes is wonderful). We will also miss the other missionaries in our group. Their commitment is so great. There is one couple who met in the Denver Temple where they both worked as ordinance workers. They recently married and blended a family of 11 children and 30 grandchildren. There was another couple who has 10 children and were in the MTC at the same time as their youngest son. He will go to Hong Kong for two years and they left yesterday for Uruguay for two years. One sister from Mexico is going as a single sister to Columbia. She has only been a member of the church for 4 years and has a very humble existence, but I have never been around anyone with such a strong spirit. You just feel her testimony all the time. Her companion is a sister from Washington, divorced 8 years ago with 3 children and the ninth grandchild due in a couple of months. She cares for her mother. She felt such a prompting to serve a mission but didn’t know how she could leave. With her bishop’s help and encouragement she received a call to serve in Australia and will travel there next week.

We are so grateful for this opportunity, for the love and support of our wonderful family. We love you all so much and want you to know of our testimony. We both know the things we will be teaching are true and so important. We are thrilled with the opportunity to share the gospel with the Mexican people and know what joy it can bring to their lives. We are packing up and will leave early in the morning. We will update you soon from South of the Border, Down Mexico Way.