Week Two Medical and Financial Training and Farewell

The second week of our training, we stayed at home. Dave had training on the mission financial software  and procedures via Zoom while I had medical training at the Residence Inn in downtown Salt Lake. There were 8 mission health advisors (mission nurses), an area medical advisor going to Africa, and an area mental health advisor going to Chile. The MHAs were going to Malaysia, Hawaii, Florida, Samoa, Texas, Alabama, Chile and Brazil. 

Our classes were taught by medical professionals on various topics--dermatology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, mental health, etc. We also had classes from the senior missionaries who work at missionary health as well as the ones who work with the companies that provide health insurance for the missionaries. It was a lot to take in, but they shared their PowerPoint presentations with us to refer to later. We really enjoyed getting to know each other.

My favorite quote from the training was:

"Come, let US go down that WE may labor together." Jacob 5:15

We are not alone. We are not just doing "our" work. It is HIS work and He invites us to labor together with Him.  

In the meantime, Dave told me he was wishing he had paid better attention in his accounting class at BYU! They only had training for 2 hours a day and the rest they'll do "on location" in their missions.

After our training, we were able to finish some last minute things and pack for 18 months. 

Jonathan had a part in BYU Idaho's oratorio and they performed at the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Saturday. It was a wonderful composition! He did a great job, too. We were so glad we were able to be here for it. 

Then it was time for our farewell on Sunday. Our children sang, "Because I Have Been Given Much" with an added missionary verse, 

"Because of thy life's mission Lord, I too must serve,

I'll leave the comfort of my home to preach thy word,

I'll find thy sheep who've gone astray

And those who've never found the way,

I will go and do Thy work today.

Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed."

With our Bishop, Mark Allred

We chose as our mission scripture Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

It was a beautiful day. Dave had a cold, so he wasn't feeling his best, but he did a great job on his talk. We were grateful for our friends and family who came to support us. We feel so very loved.