Week One MTC

 I'm going back to the beginning of our mission to catch up. I'm only 5 weeks behind!

We entered the MTC on March 4. It was different than any other time we've gone to the MTC to drop someone off for their mission. We just drove our car straight in through the gates after they checked us in to a parking lot. A young missionary met us at our car, told us what we needed to bring for the day, then escorted us to the very room we needed to go to. (I guess some of the senior couples were getting lost???) 

I remember my dad always used to say that he felt like he needed to show his temple recommend each time he entered the MTC. There really is an amazing spirit there--it is after all a temple of learning. 

We met with the other senior missionaries entering that day. First we went through a big room with tables set up to help seniors with various tasks--international travel, meal information, housing information (we stayed at the Marriott SpringHill Inn and Suites about 2 miles away), name tags, ministerial certificates, etc. 

We of course had to do the traditional MTC map picture!

Then volunteers took us on a short tour of the MTC, after which we all met with the MTC Presidency. The president asked which of us was there as a result of "The Rasband Effect". About 75% of the missionaries there raised their hands. This was the second largest group of seniors the MTC has seen--we had about 140 seniors--mostly couples, but 6 or 7 single senior sisters. There were missionaries with 10 different assignments--missionary health, member leader support, office support, humanitarian, records preservation, historic sites, family history, physical facilities, welfare, self reliance, etc. going all over the world--Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, India, Chile, Texas, etc. 

One of the things we heard numerous times was about the effect we would have on the young missionaries in our missions--even if they only saw us, we would be an example of a happy, healthy marriage. Many of the young missionaries come from less than ideal home situations, some don't really even know why they are there, but they came in faith. They are MIRACLES! "Please don't judge them, they may be your converts on your mission." 

We were promised that "peace and love will be multiplied in your families in years to come" because of our service. And one of the presidency wives said that the mission presidents will be so glad to have us in their missions because "seniors have that one ingredient issing in many young missionaries--common sense." We mentioned to one of the wives that there seemed to be more sister missionaries than elders and she confirmed that because of the time of year. She says things seem to calm down in the MTC when there are more sisters. That extra year makes a big difference!

Then we met our branch presidency--the only time we saw them since we weren't there for church on Sunday. 

We had both lunch and dinner in the cafeteria with SO many choices--two hot meal lines to choose from, a healthy bowl line, fresh fruit, salad bar, panini sandwiches, all kinds of desserts that changed every day, etc. It was hard not to overeat! 

On Tuesday, we met our district and our teachers, Elder Jacobsen and Elder Price. We really enjoyed them. We had 7 couples total in our district--the Whitings going to Hawaii her as mission health advisor, him as mission financial secretary, the Hobbs going to Malaysia as mission health advisors, the Olsens and the Haroldsens going to Indiana to the Allen County Public Library to do records preservation, the Mosses going to Fort Lauderdale Florida, her as mission health advisor, him as mission financial secretary. the Webbs going as member leader support missionaries. 

                      Olsens, Webbs, Whitings, Elder Price, Mosses, Haroldsens, Hobbs, Barruses

We learned a lot about Preach My Gospel during the week from our teachers and were given the new Preach My Gospel manual. There are lots of amazing changes from the older version. 

One of our favorite things was the "Character of Christ" fireside on Wednesday evening. They showed clips of a talk from Elder Bednar that he gave at the MTC some years ago with the same title. I remember vividly his summary of the character of Christ "He turns out in compassion, love and service to others when you and I would turn in and become self centered, self absorbed and selfish." The natural man in us, when faced with challenges turns inward. The Savior ALWAYS turns out. That's how you can tell you are becoming more like Jesus Christ.

The young missionaries come to this fireside their very first night in the MTC. There were SO many amazing thoughts, 

        "This mission is NOT about you!" 

        "This is the journey from testimony to conversion." 

        "When you turn outward, it's not about what YOU want, it's about what HE wants."

At the end of the meeting, we were introduced to two people who had allowed the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost to transform them to become more like Jesus Christ. One was Portia. She told her story about being transformed from a teen mom drug addict who spent time in prison to a temple worker now. And Ed, a New Jersey man whose mantra was "Drug, Sex, and Rock 'n Roll", who said when he felt the Holy Ghost for the first time, "I need more of that!" He said it was a bigger "high" than any drug he had taken. He has been a bishop, and early morning seminary teacher. 

        "There are plenty of Eds out there who need your message."

The other devotional we attended was really amazing, too. Steven J Lund of the General Young Men's Presidency was the speaker. 

        "The name of the church isn't a brand, it's a testimony."

        "Testimonies come in layers, in flashes of light. Testimonies are cumulative."

He told an interesting story of being on a train just as the sun was coming up. As he went over a long bridge, there were small gaps in between the walls of the bridge where flashes of light were coming through. When he got to the end of the bridge, he looked back to see the boat he expected would be there. He hadn't actually seen a boat, but his brain new that there was a boat as it put together all those "flashes of light" to help him expect a boat to be there. Such an interesting analogy!

One of our favorite activities was in one of the buildings where the young missionaries have classes. There are a bunch of huge murals 2 on each floor that are backlit, so the light looks real, especially at night. They are of people like Esther, Nephi, the Sons of Mosiah, etc. There are two questions next to each mural, like "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" paired with What can I accomplish with the Lord's help. There were comfy chairs in front of each mural so you could sit and ponder these questions and the stories. SUCH a powerful experience!

While Dave was in the restroom, I ran into one of the young missionaries who teaches one of the senior couple districts. We started talking and she asked me what my assignment was. I told her mission health advisor and she asked me if I had a medical background. I told her, "yes", and that I was a labor and delivery nurse. She asked if I worked when I had children, and I told her I did only once a week or so. She asked me how I liked it, and I told her I was so glad I could do something for just a few hours a week that I loved and could help contribute to the family income without being gone all week. She told me that she was finishing up her prerequisites for nursing at UVU, but that she had had some doubts if she should be applying for nursing. She had prayed just that morning for some guidance and direction and felt like this was her answer. She wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse, too! Isn't it amazing how the Lord brings people together?

Speaking of which, each couple was paired with another couple, not in their district. We got to know them, prepared a short lesson for them, gave them a challenge and did an activity with them. We were paired with Elder and Sister Garner from St George. They are going to New Zealand and will work in the mission office. We had so many things in common with them--we felt an instant bond. We laughed and cried together as we shared our lives and feelings and testimonies. 

The Garners going to New Zealand

Best story from the Garners. This is their second mission. They went to Kansas City, Missouri on their first mission and loved it. But when they opened their mission call and read, "Kansas City, Missouri", Sister Garner said, "Oh crap!". Of course, their daughter was streaming it live to family and friends. She explained that they had lived all over the US and had loved everywhere they had lived, but had a hard time in Kansas City. She wasn't excited to return, but of course, they learned to love Kansas City, too!

Another of our favorite presentations was a workshop on "Adjusting to Missionary Life" senior style. It was by a couple, the Glades, who were both mental health professionals. They were SO great and it was SO interesting! We wish we could have had a short class like this every day with tools we could practice. 

        "If your peace is gone, look in your head. What are your thoughts?"

        "Your thoughts determine how you feel."

        "You can be right or you can be happy."

        "You don't have to be alike, you just have to be together."

        "If you both have strong personalities, take turns being right for a day."

Dave got a cold the last day of training, so he missed the morning class, but came for the afternoon wearing a mask. Our district leader and Elder Garner gave him a blessing though, and his cold was short lived. What a blessing! 

Then it was home to get ready for our farewell on Sunday.