Dear Friends and Family,
Our first four days at the MTC and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Monday-checked in at 10:45, worked until 4:30, ate lunch, dinner at the MTC, went to the Marriot Hotel and fell asleep by 9 p.m.
Tuesday-Worked from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. trained in Preach My Gospel-prepared to meet the volunteer investigators. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the MTC. Missionary Fireside until 8 p.m. Fell asleep at the Marriot by 9 p.m.
Wednesday-Worked from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. trained in Preach My Gospel-taught our first investigator, Mr. Field. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the MTC. Fell asleep at the Marriot by 9 p.m.
Thursday- Worked from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. trained in Preach My Gospel – taught our second investigators Bob, Nell and Dave. Listened to “the Trees” who were engaged 61 years ago on Valentine’s Day and went on four LDS Missions. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the MTC. Fell asleep at the Marriot by 10 p.m.
The food is plentiful and they are completely cooperative with my dietary needs.
The most impressive thing about the MTC is the other missionaries. The more you know about them, the more you appreciate them.
One couple is going back for their second mission to the Martin Hand Cart Visitor’s Center. They arrange for all the supplies, train the other helpers and stay there for 18 months plus go on a four day handcart practice trip. Another is going to live on an Indian Reservation in a double wide trailer, yet another on an Indian Reservation in a 25 foot trailer 100 miles from any other city on the ridge of the Grand Canyon, other missionaries are going to the West Indies (going from Island to Island), Washington D.C. Visitors Center, Illinois, Texas, Korea (second time), Thailand and about 10 couples and two sisters going to Nauvoo. Interesting thing about Nauvoo Missionaries: they are going to act and dance in the evening and during the day work as teamsters or role play Nauvoo Pioneers at different sites in the city. These are old people.
The Spirit is so strong in the MTC. It isn’t any one person or experience but the whole is almost overwhelming to your spiritual awareness. I have felt absolutely like I was floating much of the day. In class, there is a lot of interactive talking, role playing and soul searching. The teachers are very aware of the old axiom, “the mind can absorb only what the bottom can endure”, so we have lots of water and lots of breaks because of all the waterJ
We feel incredibly blessed and happy. It’s like, we can’t believe we get to do this and we are so glad we are doing this together. Our appreciation for each other’s gifts and talents has increased tenfold.
The Church is the true Church of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon is from our Father in Heaven. This feels like such an understatement.
Love,
Elder and Sister Boyer/Stan and Roxanna/Dad and Mom/Bapa and Nana
