The MTC!

 Pinch us! We're really here!

I

t's been an amazing week of growth and learning here on the campus of the Missionary Training Center, nearby BYU campus and the Provo temple. MTC could also stand for MUCH TOO COLD and MANY TREASURED COHORTS! Brr, yes the weather has been wet and chilly so far but the warmth inside our classrooms and seminars has been like a cozy hearth of friendship and comeraderie fueled by the Holy Spirit. It's quite remarkable to be a part of the 115 senior missionaries who came just this week. To hear their similar stories of why they are taking time out of their lives to serve the Lord is inspiring.

 One couple is on their 6th mission and we completely understand why. It's been marvelous to forget the issues of the day and the headlines of the news and focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Once you gain that perspective of it being the most important work we could be engaged in, it's hard to go back to "normal" life.

We've been richly fed by young dynamic returned missionaries Sisters Price and Christensen. Their love for the Savior and their testimony of the work is infectious! 

We've also been nourished by the sage wisdom of apostles of God. Our 2nd day here we sang in the choir during a devotional by Elder Bednar. It was so electric to feel the Holy Spirit in that room with 1600 other missionaries! 

You quickly come to love your district, in our case we were in a large district of 12 couples going all over the globe to serve in Africa, Denmark, the Phillipines, Norway, England, Canada and various stateside missions 

One hilarious quip- when Sister Thelin was introducing themselves (on the far left) and the mission they will serve in (the Book Warehouse), she said, It's great, we don't even have to wear clothes on our mission" Rob quickly piped up and said, "Whoa, I wanna serve one of those missions too!" After we all had a good hearty laugh, she explained they can just wear regular clothes because it will be a dusty warehouse. She has Stage 4 cancer and her husband can hardly walk but they want to serve where and how they can, so I believe there's a mission for everyone. If ye have desires, ye are called to the work. 

One of the sweetest parts of the experience is meeting and conversing with the young sisters and elders in the lunchroom. Once we got used to seeing sisters in pants and some of their outlandish footwear, we saw beyond it to their earnestness and goodness! They inspire us as well. 

I told this sister on the right she liked like Brigitta in The Sound of Music but she hadn't seen the movie. What?!

We've looked far and wide to find anyone going to India, so far we've only met Elder Singh from Spanish Fork who's dad is Indian but he is learning Portuguese. We still have a week to go so we won't give up but swimming through the many missionaries with no discernible hints on their nametags, it might have to be divine intervention if we do.

For those who may not have heard yet, they let us know of our interim assignment the Friday before we left that we'd be serving in the Salt Lake Church Headquarters Mission. We were quickly stuffing  sweaters, boots, and other warm clothes into our suitcases! Though it will be a chilly few months, we think it will be wonderful to be downtown during the holiday season and close to my sister Lolly and husband Tom. Again, we will let you know what our assignment will be when we learn ourselves. We are hopping in a van next Friday and being whisked up North to our apartment. Our new address will be 131W 200 N #23, Salt Lake City, Ut 84103 for a few months until our visas are ready.  We love it all, and will try to bloom wherever we are planted! 

A legendary missionary you may have heard of. GGG Grandfather Woodruff!