Week 1: Hadlocks Meet the MTC

Week 1: Hadlocks Meet the MTC

It's been a busy, emotional roller coaster of a week.  Still trying to "process" it all.   There were approximately 100 senior missionaries in our group.  They've got a wide variety of assignments all over the world.  One couple (The Wasuitas from Mountain Home, Utah) in our district will be going to Katmandu, Nepal to help with water projects.  Another couple (The Miners from Payson, Utah) is going to Bejing China.  They will be working in the Asia Administrative Directorat (not really part of a mission -- but doing something with Church Humanitarian work.)  It is their 4th mission.  The other couple in our District (The Taylors, from Kaysville, Utah) are going to Atlanta Georgia as MLS missionaries (Member Leadership Support).

In addition to a variety of assignments here in the states, senior couples are being sent to Africa, Russia, Poland, France, South America, Canada, Lebanon, Marshall Islands, Australia, New Zealand, even Hawaii!  Some will be working with the Perpetual Education Fund, some with Humanitarian efforts, some will do records preservation, a few have a medical assignment, some will help with CES, one couple is going to be over a ranch near Las Vegas, one couple is going to be in charge of a peanut butter factory that is part of the Church Welfare system, there are some who will be office couples like us, and many are called to be MLS missionaries.  There are so many needs and so many ways to serve.

Didn't take us long to make "connections" with people who know someone else we know.  For instance, while eating in the cafeteria, we sat by a single sister senior missionary who we learned was baptized by Bishop Paul Searle from Vernal.  He baptized her and her family when they were living in Pennsylvania about 45 years ago.

No time was wasted in getting us checked in and into class.  The focus of this week's training has been Preach My Gospel.  It truly is an inspired book of instruction for missionary work.  All members would benefit from reading it.  I wish I had gone through it more thoroughly before we got here.  After just a little bit of instruction, they had us go to a Teaching Resource Center (TRC) for 45 minutes each day Wed., Thur., and Fri. where we practiced teaching real investigators and/or less-active members.  This was much harder than I thought, but very worthwhile.  It's been rewarding for Van and I to work together as a companionship.  I also have greater empathy and understanding of what our young elders and sisters experience here.  It's fairly structured and intense. -- serious business.  The young people that are teaching us here are amazing.  I'm attaching a photo of our district.  One of our teachers, Sister Fillmore, is in the middle.

Monday through Thursday we were housed at the Marriott in Downtown Provo.  We are now at the MTC -- where there is no TV, but accommodations are great.  MTC cafeteria food is OK, but we eat too often!  Perhaps one of the biggest adjustments has been wearing dress shoes every day, nearly all day.  I think I'll get the shoes broken in soon so that my feet aren't quite so sore.  But, my feet were kind of cold all the time -- I was wishing for Smart Wool socks during the day.  Preparation Day (Saturday) was wonderful for that reason alone!

Well that's it for now.  This coming week we will receive training specific to our training as office specialists.