The MTC Experience 1st week

In spite of my health challenges this week, the MTC has been such a positive experience for both of us. I love the spirit at the MTC. I would wager that there is no place on earth where you would find a group of 2700 people (everywhere we go there is a sea of white shirts and ties) in one place who are a happier people. The young missionaries just energize this place. They are courteous, friendly, laughing and jovial. I know this is no real disclosure but I have found myself struck to the point of tears over and over and you have to remember I have been in my room resting more than I have been out of it.

Let me break down the week for you. We arrived Monday morning and after checking in, I went straight to bed. Carlos attended various different orientation meetings while I snoozed.
The rest of the week was Preach My Gospel training (I missed all but Friday morning). Carlos loved his experience and felt that his counseling training was a great help and influence for himself and others.

We attended a devotional where Elder Carlson (a member of the Seventy) and his wife addressed us on 9/11. Elder Carlson was a General working in the Pentagon on the day that it was attacked. He bore powerful testimony as did his wife. He admonished the missionaries to look for the sheep and have discernment in choosing who to teach. I felt a love for my country and the Gospel as he bore testimony and gave direction.

As I said before, I am impressed by the goodness, organization, and general spirit of love that is present at the MTC. We have visited with missionaries headed all over the world. We met three couples at our Malaria training (how comforting is that?) who were headed to Africa. One couple, the husband was a farmer from Utah, will be an advisor for well drilling in remote areas in Africa. We met a young Elder who excitedly reported that he will be serving in the jungles in some remote place I had never heard of in Mexico. We have met two senior couples going to Russia and one to Finland. All expressed the same reservations that I have expressed to serving in Hong Kong. Today on the shuttle to the mall one young Elder (called to Honduras) said he was certain that when he opened his mission call it would say, "You have been called to serve on the dark side of the moon." We all laughed and I realized what courage, faith, and dedication it is taking to serve wherever we are called. What a testimony builder.

We have run into some people, not that we knew personally but people we love and care about know. My nephew, Justin Turley's mother-in-law and her husband were here. We became fast friends. We have looked all over for and now continue to run into Soren Jorgensen whose family is great friends of Katie and Walter in Cortez, Co and who Amanda developed a deep friendship with and I served in the temple with and grew to love Pam Ditmar (hi Pam) and sat by her sister and husband twice in the cafeteria. Everyone feels like family here. We sat by a couple of young sister missionaries yesterday and got a hug from them today. It is a marvelous place.

Carlos and I attended three days of language training with a young man, Br. Fong who is a native of Hong Kong. He was so patient with us. Bless his ever loving heart. Neither Carlos or I feel we have an affinity to Cantonese. Br. Fong looked frustrated with our pronunciation more than once but was so patient with us.

There was a testimony meeting last evening where the senior couples in language training were expected to bear their testimonies in the language they were learning. Ha Ha! Everyone in the room got up and struggled through a testimony in a foreign language until the only two left who hadn't born their testimonies was yours truly and her beloved husband. Silence has never been so loud to me. Finally I jumped up and bore a short testimony in English and Carlos followed suit. What a powerful and wonderful experience. I wish I could express it in words.

For those curious about my health. I am getting stronger. I was able to talk with a gastrointologist (not sure that is how it is spelled) yesterday on the phone. What a great guy. He talked about my symptoms, my medication, and my diet. What a relief! He educated me about diverticulitis and how to avoid it in the future.

I feel the Lord's hand in our lives. I know He is aware of each of us individually. How I miss my friends and family and how I am looking forward to new and challenging experiences.