Lift up your hearts and rejoice for the hour of your mission
is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of
great joy unto this generation.
(D&C 31:3)
Today (Monday, April 15th) we officially entered
the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, UT along with 83 other senior
couples. Tears began to flow when my
missionary nametag was handed to me and I placed it on my jacket. I thought back to the day when our youngest
daughter Bethany returned home from her mission and cried when she had
to take her name tag off. After
processing, (MTC Bookstore for ordering more name tags, Travel Office to
receive Visas and travel plans, Health Clinic to review immunizations and
Support Services to pay for our meals) we were directed to the Stadium Avenue
Chapel adjacent to the MTC for orientation.
We received our Missionary Handbook and Ministerial Certificate that is
in Japanese. After listening to President
and Sister Nally welcome and speak to us, each couple was asked to stand, give
their names, tell where they were from and what their mission assignment would
be, and where they will be serving.
Assignments included such places as Sierra Leone, Africa,
Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Guam, Poland, Bulgaria, Virginia, Greece,
England, Micronesia, Alaska, (Fuji, Tonga, Samoa) etc.
Various assignments include CES, Military Relations (5 other
couples besides us) Women’s Auxiliary, YSA, MLS (Missionary and Leadership
Service) and Church History Assignments.
As couples stood to share where they were going, I became very emotional when I thought of all of us leaving our homes and families, and
going forth to serve all over the world.
What touched me even more as we have become acquainted with these sweet
couples is almost all are leaving some type of difficult family situation
at home either with children or grandchildren.
Some are concerned about their businesses; some are taking health challenges into the mission field and others have left elderly parents behind. Everyone we have visited with has had a tender story to share or tell, but we
have one wonderful thing in common…we are all very excited about our mission calls and ready to serve the Lord!
This week the focus will be on Preach My Gospel. We have been placed in districts and my
husband-the handsome Elder Addington has been called to be our District
Leader. We have three other wonderful
couples in our group. The Willes, Flynns
and Viramontes. Yes-it is Elder and
Sister Viramontes (Mario and Connie) from the Fresno West Stake who are going
to the Baltics to serve with President Boswell.
They will be teaching the new curriculum to the stakes and wards in that
region.
How exciting for them!
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
Today the buzz on the MTC Campus was, who would be the speaker for the
evening devotional. We heard that it was going to be someone of special importance. When Elder Richard G. Scott walked into the
door as we were singing “Called to Serve” I was thrilled that it was he! I always love to listen to this gentle, giant
of a man. His message was about the
importance of prayer in our lives and especially how critical it is in facing
and overcoming our challenges.
He challenged us to pray no matter how difficult and
challenging our circumstances and to pray with much gratitude. After giving us an Apostolic Blessing he sat
down. When we finished singing the
closing song, he quickly arose from his seat, went back to the podium and added
these closing comments, “Remember, the Lord has called you to succeed, not to
fail. He knows what you need. You will receive strength beyond what you
thought you had. He will not abandon you
through trials and adversity.
Remember-you have been called!”
He thought this message was so important that he got back up
to share it with us. I tried to quickly
write it down word for word. It is
applicable to all of us.
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
Our morning instructors are Elder Lee, Elder Lystrup and
Sister Cluff in the afternoon. They are
sharp, articulate teachers who love the Lord and have deep, strong testimonies.
The Lord truly did save the best for the latter-days.
These returned missionaries are teaching us how to effectively
study and teach the principles in PMG (Preach My Gospel) and much, much more….
Today during our lunch break, we went outside and watched
car after car drive through the entrance gate at the MTC. Families poured in from all over the US to leave their son or daughter for 18 months to 2 years. What a glorious site it was. So much excitement, and enthusiasm filled the
air. The procedure for doing this is not
at all like it was when we dropped three of our children off but I certainly
like it better. It was slick and
quick! Hundreds of missionaries already
in the MTC stood on the sidewalk and cheered as each car drove up. An Elder or Sister would quickly rush to a
car to welcome the arriving missionary.
After luggage was unloaded, goodbyes said, and hugs given, off they
would go with huge smiles on their faces.
What a site to behold!
TODAY WE WITNESSED A FIRST AT THE MTC-MORE SISTER
MISSIONARIES ENTERED THE MTC THAN ELDERS!!!
What a special spirit these Sisters bring.
On a side note, we have seen cute Sister Maddie Roubicek
from our home in Clovis, CA and sat next to the nephew of Stan and Lynette
Smithhart in the cafeteria. We also
visited with Judy Claybaugh and her husband John who is serving as a bishop in
one of the wards in the MTC. I also
discovered a second cousin I have never met.
Twice we saw President Witt’s son and the wife of one of the couples we
went in with lived at the Elms apartment with me while at BYU. We knew each other well and had crushes on
the same guys. Such a small world!
Friday, April 19th, 2013
Early this a.m. we stopped at one of our favorite bakeries, ‘Shirley’s’
and purchased
orange and raspberry rolls to take to our district and
instructors. We have had such a fun,
spiritual week with our group and getting to know many of the couples here.
How blessed we have been to have had such faithful, inspired teachers with strong testimonies. Out of appreciation
and love we wanted to bring treats and cards expressing our gratitude. We have been well taught and even endured the
TRC (Training Resource Center or Torturing Retired Couples) experiences. I pray that I remember all of the important
principles that have been taught to take into the mission field with me.
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