First Day of School
SK and I are a little bit dumbfounded to realize that we are finally here. We are in the MTC! We are wearing our newly-minted name badges, and we have been hobnobbing with missionaries from all over the world, both young and old - but not in between. We have been welcomed and we have been taught and we have been inspired. We have had a couple of tasty meals in the cafeteria which is swarming with young elders and sisters with voracious appetites. Ah, it's good to be back.
Despite my best intentions, SK, Lia and I spent hours yesterday organizing and packing and all fell in bed exhausted. We were up early this morning so that SK could go purchase a large bin to abandon to Lia's garage with various and sundry items that we can't take to England, and we can't quite bear to throw away or give to DI. Otherwise, there were just a few items to toss in any of the large suitcases, get ourselves dressed and then head down to Provo.
Unfortunately, all four suitcases weighed over the limit, and I guiltily thought, "I'm going to have to pare down all this stuff! I have a few books, a lot of markers and pens and paper, a lot of magic pills (being in the "old" category, we fall for quite a few infomercials for products that promise to be the fountain of youth), a lot of skin care and makeup items (see message in last parentheses) and more clothes than we possibly need. I have a little over a week to resolve that issue. I can do it!
Lia checked us into the MTC. Isn't that just delicious? We checked her in about half her life-time ago. It was heart-wrenching - we were not allowed to accompany her beyond a certain point, and the goodbyes came too abruptly and too fast.
Today, she followed us inside to the check-in line, stood with us as we were pinned with our badges, handed our keys, map, schedule, and then drove us to the building we are staying in. She helped the strapping young elders manhandle our luggage out of her car and then assisted in getting us up to our room. She watched over the whole operation like a tender mother. Once again, there were those misty eyes, hugs and goodbyes. I was grateful that we will see her and her little girls again in 9 days. We will leave here on Wednesday at noon and not depart for England until Thursday evening. We will spend that time with them.
There are 73 of us Senior Missionaries here this week, a light showing since - at times - they have double that number. We represent 20 states, 11 countries and every one of the six inhabited continents. The MTC President is David Lesueur, the former president of the Gilbert Arizona Temple. SK was made district president over 3 couples, and we met together two different times for a half hour. We were also assigned to another couple who will be our study buddies of sorts. It forced us to socialize, and it was also all kinds of fun. Our study buddy couple is assigned to the the Czech Republic to teach self-reliance. We were amazed at the many kinds of missions and the fact that in another 9 days we will be literally scattered all over the world....South Africa, Hawaii, Russia, Indiana, Brazil.
We left our room almost immediately upon depositing our suitcases, and didn't get back until 4:30. Dinner was at 5, and then Family Home Evening, which was a magnificent talk by Elder Bednar about the Doctrine of Christ and the character of Christ. It was mind-opening and truly inspiring. He talked at length about "repent is another word for turn -turning away from ourselves and looking outward to serve and to love. We met with our little district to discuss it, and are now comfortably ensconced in our room. SK is reading, and I am writing!
Among the beautiful messages we heard today were strong messages about how not only will our families be blessed by our service but miracles will occur in their lives as they occur in ours. I'm counting on that!
Despite my best intentions, SK, Lia and I spent hours yesterday organizing and packing and all fell in bed exhausted. We were up early this morning so that SK could go purchase a large bin to abandon to Lia's garage with various and sundry items that we can't take to England, and we can't quite bear to throw away or give to DI. Otherwise, there were just a few items to toss in any of the large suitcases, get ourselves dressed and then head down to Provo.
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| Lia's heavily-laden car, and the three of us sitting on the tail gate. |
Unfortunately, all four suitcases weighed over the limit, and I guiltily thought, "I'm going to have to pare down all this stuff! I have a few books, a lot of markers and pens and paper, a lot of magic pills (being in the "old" category, we fall for quite a few infomercials for products that promise to be the fountain of youth), a lot of skin care and makeup items (see message in last parentheses) and more clothes than we possibly need. I have a little over a week to resolve that issue. I can do it!
Lia checked us into the MTC. Isn't that just delicious? We checked her in about half her life-time ago. It was heart-wrenching - we were not allowed to accompany her beyond a certain point, and the goodbyes came too abruptly and too fast.
Today, she followed us inside to the check-in line, stood with us as we were pinned with our badges, handed our keys, map, schedule, and then drove us to the building we are staying in. She helped the strapping young elders manhandle our luggage out of her car and then assisted in getting us up to our room. She watched over the whole operation like a tender mother. Once again, there were those misty eyes, hugs and goodbyes. I was grateful that we will see her and her little girls again in 9 days. We will leave here on Wednesday at noon and not depart for England until Thursday evening. We will spend that time with them.
There are 73 of us Senior Missionaries here this week, a light showing since - at times - they have double that number. We represent 20 states, 11 countries and every one of the six inhabited continents. The MTC President is David Lesueur, the former president of the Gilbert Arizona Temple. SK was made district president over 3 couples, and we met together two different times for a half hour. We were also assigned to another couple who will be our study buddies of sorts. It forced us to socialize, and it was also all kinds of fun. Our study buddy couple is assigned to the the Czech Republic to teach self-reliance. We were amazed at the many kinds of missions and the fact that in another 9 days we will be literally scattered all over the world....South Africa, Hawaii, Russia, Indiana, Brazil.
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| Our room at the MTC, with one of the strong young elders who helped us get all of our luggage there. |
We left our room almost immediately upon depositing our suitcases, and didn't get back until 4:30. Dinner was at 5, and then Family Home Evening, which was a magnificent talk by Elder Bednar about the Doctrine of Christ and the character of Christ. It was mind-opening and truly inspiring. He talked at length about "repent is another word for turn -turning away from ourselves and looking outward to serve and to love. We met with our little district to discuss it, and are now comfortably ensconced in our room. SK is reading, and I am writing!
Among the beautiful messages we heard today were strong messages about how not only will our families be blessed by our service but miracles will occur in their lives as they occur in ours. I'm counting on that!
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