Here we go!!

The adventure has begun!  We entered the MTC on Monday, June 9th and we are now done with our first week.  There were 44 senior couples going through Preach My Gospel training with us and it has been fun to meet them and hear what their assignments are.  This truly is a world-wide church!  These couples are going all around the globe.  Some of the more interesting places are Mongolia, New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, numerous state side missions, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Peru (yeah, that's us), Argentina, Africa, Germany, Italy, England, Sweden, and even Turkey!  I'm sure I missed some of the places, but it was totally fascinating.  We have a lot of AMA (area medical authority) missionaries in our group but we also have CES (church education system), MLS (member leader support), military liason, PEF (perpetual education fund), etc.  as well. 

Here are the group photos they took of our group.  Can you find us in this top photo?  In order to see us I had to post in the largest format I could.

Our district members were all in this photo. Carruth is 5th from the left, MacCormack 7th from left & Fanning just right of the center line on the floor.

We are loving the speakers we get to listen to and the things we are learning.  They have all senior missionaries train in Preach My Gospel no matter what their assignment.  After all we are missionaries!  It is hoped that we will be able to, in our "spare time", invite others to Christ by helping them to learn about the restored gospel as we also fill our other assignments.

We were divided up into districts and we have had smaller group classes with 3 other couples.  The Carruths are from Texas and are going to serve in CES in Oklahoma.  The Fannings are from Idaho and this is their second mission.  They will be doing a military liason mission to Fresno, CA.  The MacCormacks are from Utah and will be serving in the Alpine German Mission, she as an AMA (she is a nurse) and he with the young adults.  They are an inspiration as he is almost 80 and she is in her early 70's, yet they are still willing to go out and serve full-time.  They know no German so they are worried about that, but they have such a great humble spirit, I'm sure the Lord will be able to use them to do great things.

We are one of the younger couples in the entire group.  We know there are probably about 2-3 younger than us.  The youngest one just sent out their youngest son on his mission and are now serving one of their own as well.

Our teachers have been great!  (We have photos of our teachers and district but haven't been able to get those downloaded off our cell phone yet, so those will be posted as soon as we get that worked out).   Brother Bateman is our teacher in the morning.  He served in Mozambique and has been back 3 years.  Brother Gubler is our teacher in the afternoon.  He served in the Alpine German mission and has only been back about 6 months.  They teach us basic teaching skills and then have us role play with each other, with the other couples, or with volunteer "investigators".  It is not easy to remember everything we are supposed to do.  It will take lots of practice.  One of the hardest things is learning to work together and make sure we each have an equal share of the discussion and responsibility.  Also it is hard to keep it simple!  Too much information or too advanced information can just confuse someone new to the message of the gospel.

Our Tuesday night devotional was given by Quentin L Cook and was a great experience. We've also gotten to hear video clips of other devotional talks given previously by Jeffrey R Holland & David Bednar to name a few.  We've gotten to hear some great stories.   Dave plans on adding them to his story repertoire.  Ask him to share the 20 mark note story involving Elder Boyd K Packer & Bednar and the conversion story from Elder Cook about how the Lord will qualify those who are willing to serve.

There is a great spirit at the MTC and everyone, young and old, is eager to do their best and become great ambassadors for the church and for Christ.

Next week we start our specific training for PEF.  We are anxious to learn what our responsibilities will be with that.

We do know our fly out itinerary.  We have tickets for a flight that leaves on Thursday at 10:15 out of Salt Lake.  We will fly to Los Angeles and have a two hour delay then hop on a direct flight down to Lima, Peru that gets us in at 12:20 am their time.  BTW, Peru is just one hour ahead of Salt Lake time when we are on daylight savings and two hours ahead when we are not.  Yes, that will make for a very long day.

We don't know what happens once we get into the country.  We have been told we will spend some time in Lima finalizing our visas, but how long that will take I'm not sure.  The missionary motto I think is "one step enough for me". (Lead Kindly Light lyrics)

Spiritual thought of the week - Isaiah 40:28-31  This was read to us at the MTC to help us not get discouraged if we seem to not have the energy/strength like the younger missionaries.  And after this week and how tired we both are it seems appropriate (how sitting in classes & meetings can get you so tired, we don't know).

28-Hast thou not know?  hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?  there is no searching of his understanding.
29-He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30-Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31-But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk and not faint. (Chariots of Fire fans - enjoy)

Next week - onward and upward (11,500 feet upward!)