Monday morning we drove to the MTC and went through a morning of orientation and meeting other senior missionaries. There were an even 100 senior missionaries who started at the MTC with us and 17 of them were going to our mission. There were so many amazing people, all ready and willing to serve wherever they were called.
Our first lunch at the MTC was quite the event. It’s a little bit overwhelming to eat in a cafeteria with a couple thousand young men and women, who are all hungry teenagers! They were all very nice and let us cut in line if needed, helped us find things and made room for us at their tables. Our favorite part of meals at the MTC was meeting so many amazing missionaries. One day we ate with three elders who were all learning Chinese–two going to Hong Kong and one here in the states. Then a bunch more came over–going to Taiwan and other places and Gary was just in seventh heaven speaking so much Chinese!
We got assigned our districts Monday evening and were in a district with 5 other couples going to our mission. We became known as the district full of people who had no clue what they’d be doing on their mission. Everyone else was already assigned to MLS, office, etc. but in our mission we don’t find out until our 2nd week of training which happens in Salt Lake. The other couples are all great and a pretty diverse bunch. We especially enjoyed the couple from Switzerland who brought everyone chocolate every day!
Our trainers were Brother Jacobsen and Sister Breinholt, both returned missionaries and students at BYU. They both did a great job, even when they got some push back from the old people they were teaching. We spent the week learning to really appreciate Preach My Gospel and all it has in it to help not only teach but learn the gospel more.
We had a devotional on Tuesday night with Elder Homer of Seventy. Gary served as his zone leader when they were both missionaries in Hong Kong so that was wonderful to have him be the speaker. We both sang in the choir which was pretty cool–800 strong.
Wednesday night we had the Character of Christ devotional and it was amazing as well. I came away with a determination to turn outward and think of others more, especially when I want to whine about something. Also, from now on, whenever Elder Bednar speaks I’ll think of Cookie Monster 🙂
We left the MTC at noon on Friday and drove to Salt Lake where we had a brief orientation and were given our apartment keys. We are in the Brigham apartments on the seventh floor and are very lucky to have a nice, big apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms–more room than we need but now we have an exercise/guest/storage room. On Saturday we made a Walmart trip to stock up on all the essentials and actually managed to fit it all into two carts. It’s starting to feel like home.
Next up is church in our assigned ward--the Whittier ward in Salt Lake and then we start our training at Church headquarters first thing Monday morning.
This gospel is amazing and I think the biggest thing we've come away with this week is a determination to do our best to represent Jesus Christ the very best we can over the next two years. This gospel is amazing and oh how we love our Savior!
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