Finished Our First Week at the MTC

Hi family!

     We just finished our first week at the MTC.  There are 36 couples in our group.  They had a farewell this afternoon to some who are leaving now.  Some are headed to Salt Lake to a new Salt Lake West Mission to fellowship less actives and live in their homes (maybe 8 couples).  Some are doing Public Relations in various areas, We had several membership/leadership support for various areas.  One couple is going to Farmington New Mexico and living out of their trailer on a reservation.  One couple the man is a former doctor and they will live in Salt Lake where he will review health issues on missionary applications and his wife will help at the Family History Center.  One couple will be mental health counsellors for the Caribbean.  I guess we will see them as our office in the Domincan Republic is housed in a building with the area offices.  Nancy mentioned Claudio R. Zivic is the area President and he was Brian's mission president. 

     One couple is going to Finland, to Denmark, to Germany, 3 couples to Africa, one to French Canada, Albuquerque New Mexico, Chicago, 2 or 3 to Washington DC, one to New York...this gives you an idea.  I think we are the only office specialists.  There were a lot of membership/leadership support.  Oh there were 3 single sisters who have retired, one's husband passed away, didn't have a chance to talk to the others closely.  It seems that there are places to serve for each individual couple and their skills, etc.

     We had workshops on greeting people, non-member discussions.  We learned the Plan of Salvation and the Restoration lessons from Preach my Gospel then presented them to non members.  These people were actually members who were volunteering to help us.  Further in the week we learned about visiting the less active members.  Each day we would learn, then role play like we were the missionaries, then the inactives.  The Church has it down to a real science with all the ways of teaching, evaluating, committing, and following through.  

          Our first instruction was to hold hands and smile! That's the best part of this whole thing! (smile)

The meals are great, as the week progressed, we hurry around just like the young missionaries.  The young missionaries hurry to open the door for us.  It's been fun.  The Spirit has filled every experience.  We've talked to lots of amazing people.

This next week we have a packet for office instruction, we're not sure who else will be taking it with us.  We'll have to let you know how it goes.  Now we're off to go home and mow our lawn.  (Does that sound like missionaries?)  But we must return by Sunday for the fireside. 

Love to you all!!

Our family is what makes us who we are!  You're the best!!

Love,

Susan & Jim