MTC

We just finished our first week in the MTC and must say it was a fantastic experience. The best part was getting to know the other senior couples and meeting lots of young Elders and Sisters. We met others going to our mission, some going to the Salt Lake East Mission (which includes Coalville), and some going places we have never heard of, or at least had no idea missionaries were assigned there.  We even met an Elder Thompson who said he played football for Stansbury High School along with Zach and Ian.

Of course there was lots of role playing to practice what we learned, but we enjoyed the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) experience the most.  This is where volunteers come in to help provide a very realistic teaching experience. We also got to know Elder and Sister Farrer, who are going to Australia, and found out some amazing parallels between their life experience and ours.

There was an wonderful devotional on Tuesday with Elder Cardon of the Seventy with two more devotionals this evening (Sunday) and another this coming Tuesday. The days seem to fly by.

Our MTC District

This is it.

We drove to Lehi this morning to attend church with Grady and his family. These were taken while driving through Coalville. What a beautiful morning.

This evening we were set apart by our stake president, and are now ready to enter the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) in the morning.

While setting us apart President Stephens mentioned everything of concern to us as we have tried to prepare ourselves to travel to and live in the Philippines. We feel we are ready now.

Will the packing never end?

This is what we did today. It looks way more organized than it feels. We still have four more days which means we can start over at least four more times...

Family goodbyes

It is hard to believe but we will be entering the MTC one week from today. Elise and Janica left messages for us in the back yard this afternoon. We sure will miss all of our family while we are away.

Called to Serve

Our mission call letters came on June 12, 2015, signed by President Monson. This just happens to be our son, Grady's, birthday and it is also the day I reported to the mission home in Salt Lake in 1971 for my mission to Japan. Luckily Karen and I were called to the same mission. We are nervously excited for the opportunity to serve in the Philippines.