At the Missionary Training Center (Part 1)

We were in training at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah from March 19 to 23, 2018.  Colleen missed out on the experience of checking in to the MTC because she stayed in Salt Lake City for a few hours of training in the Missionary Medical e-MED program.  Sanford handled all our luggage, returning the rental car, and checking in. Colleen was able to catch a Frontrunner train to Provo.  It took just over an hour, almost as quick as driving and much more comfortable.  She arrived only three minutes before our first training session.

In the introductions, it turned out that most of our group were going to church history sites for the summer.  We were about the only MLS missionaries going abroad.


We were divided into districts of four couples, and Sanford was a district leader.  We were also assigned another couple outside the district who we would be teaching twice during the week.  We were delighted to have the Smiths, and enjoyed the time that we spent with them. We taught each other on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, and on Friday morning a volunteer from the local community came in and we taught them, with only 10 minutes to prepare.

Throughout the week, there was an emphasis on increasing spirituality and focusing on Jesus Christ.  In the newest building at the MTC, there are "disciple spaces" for quiet pondering and study.  There are a dozen murals that are printed on cloth, with lights from behind.  (This one is Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail.)

The training for senior couples has changed a lot in recent years, with encouragement and skills to use modern technology.  We had two sessions on the Gospel Library app, and had to record and send a video.

This statue of young elders on bicycles touched us, because that is exactly how Elder Porter looked on his first mission:  no helmets, no reflective vests, but big smiles on their faces.  This picture was taken by a pair of young sisters who are going to Indonesia in April.

In this picture, I am wearing hiking shoes, as I did most of the time at the MTC.  Right before we left, I had a ganglion cyst removed from my left foot; I was very grateful to have it diagnosed and treated before we left home.  It is a tribute to the mellowness of the MTC that nobody asked me why I was wearing those shoes.  Or maybe it is because senior missionaries are so respected here.  (Young missionaries were always opening doors for us!)

Another highlight was visiting the Provo temple on Saturday.  We were married in that temple but it was so many years ago that we would have become lost about where to go, except that there were so many nice people willing to direct us.  MTC missionaries do not pay for clothing rental.  And most importantly, we were able to take care of some things for family members, which we had been meaning to do but somehow never made it to the Orlando Temple at the right time.

Unmoored

We are not super-experienced boaters, so for me there is always a moment when we first untie from the dock or push off from the bank, when things are unsettling.  The boat may rock, somebody's feet may get wet.  I have every confidence that once we move away and start paddling and get a rhythm going, then all will be fine.  And our days in Salt Lake City before entering the Missionary Training Center have had some of that same feel, as well as a great opportunity to connect with our Mormon history roots and friends.

On Saturday, March 17, we left home shortly after 4:30 a.m., since we needed to check bags.  All the local family came with us to the airport.  This picture was taken at Lois' home before we headed off to the airport. We were on the same flight with the UF tennis team bound for Vanderbilt.

I remembered to wear something with green in order to avoid being pinched.

We arrived in Salt Lake City by 10:30 a.m. their time, and realized that the car we had rented would  be too small with all our suitcases and Rebecca's luggage as well.  We had made that reservation before learning that our daughter Rebecca who lives in Europe would be on a trip to the US, and would overlap with us by about 10 hours.  We dropped off most of our luggage at our hotel, and went to pick up Rebecca.  It turned out that her hotel was only 5 minutes away from ours.

That afternoon we visited Betty Woodbury, and were delighted to visit with her sons David and Dixon, as well as David's wife Kathleen.

Saturday evening we had a St. Patrick's Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage at the Little America restaurant, then headed off to see the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble at the Conference Center Theater.  I had bought those tickets thinking Sanford and I would be going, but since Rebecca likes that kind of thing, she came along instead:)

As delightful as the performance was, after intermission I was struggling to stay awake after getting up so early that same Saturday  morning (2 a.m. Utah time!) so we left a bit early.



On Sunday morning, we attended church at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (former Hotel Utah).  A lovely group of people who were very welcoming to strangers, and how interesting to attend a church meeting in such a historic and elegant setting.


Sunday afternoon we scoped out the location and transportation options for my training on Monday morning and then we went to Temple Square.  In the Assembly Hall, there was a bagpipe band getting ready for a concert in the Tabernacle.  We didn't have time to stay for the concert, but enjoyed their warm-up.

Someone told us that there was a sister missionary from Indonesia serving on Temple Square, but we could not find her:(