Drop your nets!
First week at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) is done! We are tired but so very grateful for the experience. Days not to be forgotten. This past week was centered around the doctrines, principles and practices outlined in the book Preach My Gospel. We had wonderful instructors; Brother Thurman, Sister Rodriguez, Sister Worthington (now Turner as she was married on Friday and her reception was in.....Alpine!), and Sister Talbot. They know their stuff and brought a spirit into the teaching that was uplifting and inspirational.
The weather was perfect so we held a few classes outside on the beautiful MTC campus. The church has constructed many new buildings with open halls, lots of windows and bright colors. There are many places to sit and ponder both inside with marvelous artwork and outside in many expansive and beautifully landscaped areas. In one of the open areas is a statue scene of Matthew 4:18-20. As we stood next to this scene, our instructor related to us that we are to do two things; leave our secular nets and cast our spiritual nets. We have never thought about the two "nets" before but that is exactly what the Lord asked of Peter and Andrew...and now of us. This made us ponder how grateful we are to be able to 'drop our nets' (leave the world behind) and pick up our missionary nets and become fishers of men.
In one of the buildings are a series of large murals (likely 7 feet tall by 15 feet long) depicting a scene from the scriptures. The murals are amazing with back lighting to make them stand out even more. Opposite the murals is the corresponding scripture and a question to ponder. We loved to walk around the MTC campus and talk to the young missionaries. They are so good, excited and young!
Our class of new Senior Missionaries consists of approximately 50 couples and some individuals from all over the country called to serve all over the world. Our district comprises 4 couples all called to serve in mission offices; Elder & Sister Day from Blackfoot, Idaho called to serve in the Ivory Coast, Elder & Sister Vogelsberg from Gilbert, Arizona called to serve in Honolulu, Hawaii, Elder & Sister Sorensen from Orem, Utah called to serve in Newport Beach, California and ourselves. We love them dearly! Amazing how quickly you become close to people you just met a few days ago. We also were assigned another couple to role play with from another district, Elder & Sister Thompson from Tremonton, Utah called to serve in Houston, Texas. We absolutely love the Thompsons!!
Sprinkled among the Preach My Gospel classes were special instruction sessions such as safety and other practical lessons. On some evenings there are special devotionals. On Tuesday, Emily Belle Freeman came to speak to us, and on Wednesday all the new missionaries (about 100 senior and 390 young missionaries) gathered for a meeting titled "The Character of Christ" featuring a video presentation by Elder Bender made some years ago. The gist of the message was to look outward in serving people like the Savior did and not look inward focusing on your self. This presentation was very well done and included a couple of guest speakers; one man who was paralyzed from the neck down and a woman who had been an unwed mother, a drug addict and served 5 years in federal prison. Their stories of faith, trial, perseverance, and the power of the atonement were absolutely spellbinding.
The MTC campus is beautiful and certainly conducive to the spirit. Everything is so clean and organized. The food is not that bad - in fact, we think it's actually pretty good. You can certainly tell that mealtime is the highlight of the day for the young missionaries. Other than Preparation or "P" Day, this is a time to eat (which, of course, they love to do) and socialize outside of their classrooms. Monday is P Day for the young missionaries whereas Saturday is P Day for the senior missionaries. Unlike the young missionaries, we have a lot more flexibility. We don't have to be with our companion at all times, we can swim, we can do activities during the week other than on our P Day, we can leave the MTC campus when we like, etc.
Overall, senior missionaries have pretty much the same flexibility as we did before our missions. Those badges we carry (which we wear at all times outside of the home) help remind us at all times who we are and who we represent. And we couldn't be happier to represent the Savior!!!
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