Spiritual Feasting...and a Little Physical Feasting as Well
Day 4 at the MTC. Have I mentioned how much I love this experience? It is the second time around for us, yet it is fresh and lively and wonderful. It is also different than the first time in a few ways. For one thing, the fact that we are divided up into districts, for another, we meet in small groups throughout the days, and for another, we are learning the same lessons as the young missionaries.
We spend a good deal of time in the "Preach My Gospel" manual. I've read it before, but every page seems to have such brilliant applications that I wonder where I've been since it came out. It is a wonderful tool for teaching the gospel. I love it.
We also spend a great deal of time in the Book of Mormon. Elder Oaks said that reading the scriptures opens us to receive revelation, and I know that is true. As we read, our hearts are tuned to the beautiful messages there, and we are ready to receive.
I sit in our classes and marvel at these young teachers, who are barely off their missions, and who can't be over 25, if even that. They love the gospel with all their hearts and they want nothing more than to share it. The know how and what to teach to us, and they get right in and do it with aplomb.
The spirit is so very strong in all our meetings, whether it's 7 or 71 of us. Our discussions, our reading, our studies all seem to pierce my heart. I know SK is feeling the same way because he is in tears half the time. He is loving this experience as much as I am. It is amazing.
I'm not going to lie, not having to fix or clean up after meals is a big plus!
The last assignment of the day was to find a place to study together. We went back to the tall building with the beautiful big murals. Actually everyone of the seniors was there. We walked around on the main floor looking at the art everywhere. There are magnificent prints, plus hand-painted replicas (I think) of some wonderful pieces. They all portray Christ, or people and events of the Restoration. There are every large prints from the Bible videos showing Jesus healing and teaching.
We were told to spend 10 minutes studying on our own and then 15 minutes studying together and putting some thoughts down to teach a short lesson to someone. Then we would be given 15 minutes to get to know someone before presenting that lesson to him.
The person who we were to get to know (as it turns out) was Brother Hepworth - our very young teacher. We asked him a lot of questions, and discovered that he has been married 2 months and within the first month of marriage was diagnosed with cancer. He was operated on (he pointed to his abdomen) and was told that they got it all, and now is hopeful that it will not recur. He tenderly shared how it has been an overwhelming trial, and has been the first time in his life that he felt so vulnerable.
Here is the interesting part... When SK and I sat down and studied alone, we each studied how the Savior heals. When we studied together, we pooled our notes and the scriptures we had found. When Brother Hepworth shared some of his life with us, we were naturally led into our little mini lesson. It was an incredible experience.
After class let out today, we walked out to the front of the MTC, where Kasper and his wife were waiting for us. We went out together and had a hamburger. It was so good to be with them....two more people who are head over heels in love. It's so fun to hang out with young people!!!!!
Now, back in our room, we will study for tomorrow, the last day with the missionary training. On Monday, we will begin a 2 1/2 day training especially for people working and teaching YSAs. It will be taught by educators with a focus on teaching religion classes to college age kids.
We may have to sign up for another mission to have this experience again. It would be worth it!
We spend a good deal of time in the "Preach My Gospel" manual. I've read it before, but every page seems to have such brilliant applications that I wonder where I've been since it came out. It is a wonderful tool for teaching the gospel. I love it.
We also spend a great deal of time in the Book of Mormon. Elder Oaks said that reading the scriptures opens us to receive revelation, and I know that is true. As we read, our hearts are tuned to the beautiful messages there, and we are ready to receive.
I sit in our classes and marvel at these young teachers, who are barely off their missions, and who can't be over 25, if even that. They love the gospel with all their hearts and they want nothing more than to share it. The know how and what to teach to us, and they get right in and do it with aplomb.
The spirit is so very strong in all our meetings, whether it's 7 or 71 of us. Our discussions, our reading, our studies all seem to pierce my heart. I know SK is feeling the same way because he is in tears half the time. He is loving this experience as much as I am. It is amazing.
I'm not going to lie, not having to fix or clean up after meals is a big plus!
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| SK checking at the front desk to see if they need any Danish volunteers. |
The last assignment of the day was to find a place to study together. We went back to the tall building with the beautiful big murals. Actually everyone of the seniors was there. We walked around on the main floor looking at the art everywhere. There are magnificent prints, plus hand-painted replicas (I think) of some wonderful pieces. They all portray Christ, or people and events of the Restoration. There are every large prints from the Bible videos showing Jesus healing and teaching.
 |
| Senior missionaries studying in the lobby of the six-story training building. |
We were told to spend 10 minutes studying on our own and then 15 minutes studying together and putting some thoughts down to teach a short lesson to someone. Then we would be given 15 minutes to get to know someone before presenting that lesson to him.
The person who we were to get to know (as it turns out) was Brother Hepworth - our very young teacher. We asked him a lot of questions, and discovered that he has been married 2 months and within the first month of marriage was diagnosed with cancer. He was operated on (he pointed to his abdomen) and was told that they got it all, and now is hopeful that it will not recur. He tenderly shared how it has been an overwhelming trial, and has been the first time in his life that he felt so vulnerable.
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| L to R Elder and Sister Perkins, Sister Rosevear (teacher in training - just returned from a mission), Brother Hepworth, Elder and Sister Berrett, Elder and Sister Madsen |
Here is the interesting part... When SK and I sat down and studied alone, we each studied how the Savior heals. When we studied together, we pooled our notes and the scriptures we had found. When Brother Hepworth shared some of his life with us, we were naturally led into our little mini lesson. It was an incredible experience.
After class let out today, we walked out to the front of the MTC, where Kasper and his wife were waiting for us. We went out together and had a hamburger. It was so good to be with them....two more people who are head over heels in love. It's so fun to hang out with young people!!!!!
Now, back in our room, we will study for tomorrow, the last day with the missionary training. On Monday, we will begin a 2 1/2 day training especially for people working and teaching YSAs. It will be taught by educators with a focus on teaching religion classes to college age kids.
We may have to sign up for another mission to have this experience again. It would be worth it!
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