MTC

Talofa to all:

It has begun.  So off we go to the Mission Training Center  (MTC) for two weeks of training.  It was a great place to be and we were surrounded by a sea of white shirts.  We met lots of great people and two other couples that are going the same direction.  One of them is going to Upolu to do the same thing we are doing and one is going to American Samoa to teach Institute and be the post master for the entire Samoan Mission.  We were the second largest group of Senior Missionaries( SMs)they had ever had.  There were 102 of us compared to 112 the week before.  Rules for SMs are really different.  We can come and go and leave the MTC and go downtown or do whatever.  Security is very tight after David Archuleta and Elizabeth Smart went through here on their way to a mission.  All the doors open with a key card and your card only opens the doors that you need to use.  No more big meeting when you drop off.  In fact, you just pull through the gate and down one side of the parking lot.  You get out and say goodbye and the car is hustled off the grounds.  Our experience was a little different.  We drove down to the building where we would be staying and a bunch of young Elders helped is with our luggage and took us to our building (only assessable by SM keys).

Our District and Teachers

We spent many days in classes.  Our schedule was the same every day:  up at 6, breakfast at 7:15, class at 8, lunch at 12, class at 1, off at 4, dinner at 5, language class from 6-8.  We are getting very tired of sitting.  It is great to see the young return missionaries teach our classes with such determination.  They are really the cream of the crop.  The first week was spent as all missionaries, going through Preach My Gospel.  Many wonderful experiences as they brought volunteers in from the community for us to teach as couples.  The volunteers, members and non-members alike, have to play a role and stay in that role.  It was fun to work with those people. 

The second week we worked with Church Education System (CES)  learning about how the education system works outside the U.S.  It is amazing how much money the church spends on kids to ensure their education and a hope for a better life.  We spent one day in Salt Lake City learning about he Perpetual Education Fund.  The kids can get a loan from the Church to go on to higher education.  This week the SMs were separated into their specific assignments.  We went with people who are teaching BYUH classses in the South Pacific and Mexico. Other SMs  were teaching Institute classes all over the world.  Some to Siberia, Cyprus, Hawaii, South Africa, US, and  France, Others were sent to Military bases as a go between for the government and the Church.  Some were sent out as office couples and some were to work in Young Adult Centers.

We stayed with Amanda an Cody over the weekend and went with them to Lagoon (water and ride park). Cody's work paid for all of its employes and familes to go for the day.  We took pictures and watched kids.

The next Saturday Mom and I dropped off the rental car and boarded a plane for Auckland New Zealand.
Sorry about not many picts at the MTC.  We  aren't allowed to take picts. in many of the buildings because of the confidentiality rule of taking peoples picts.  I know that rule well from school.

More to come.  I will be better at keeping up now that we are settled.

Those going to Samoa

A little dot 8,000 miles from home