MTC Experience

We started our Preach My Gospel training on Tuesday. After a devotional where Brother Peterson our training supervisor taught us we were divided into Districts and introduced to our instructors. All young enthusiastic returned missionaries.

                                          Brother Lee and Brother Hawks our morning teachers.

The first thing they did was introduce us to the concept of the TRC (training resource center) or as they liked to call it torturing retired couples! Basically it meant that on Wednesday and Thursday  we would have the opportunity to teach the gospel to a non member. Actually they are members who volunteer their time to come in and act the parts so we can learn. Then on Friday we were paired with another Senior Couple who played the part of a non member for a 15 minute getting to know them visit then after 30 minutes of preparation and prayer we taught them a 30 minute lesson. In between the teaching practice our instructors led us as we learned to teach by the spirit.

                                   
                                                Sister Yazzy our afternoon instructor.

We loved our teachers, they taught us well and with a goodness that shines through they helped bring the spirit into everything we did in our classes. As a side note it is Sister Yazzy's cousins who play the part of Adam and Eve in the first new Temple film that was released last fall. She and her husband are part time actors who live in Arizona and auditioned for the parts.

We met as Districts in our classes and much of our learning came as we practiced with each other.

This is our District with Sister Yazzy. On my left is Sister Brown, Then Sister Allen, Sister Nelson and Sister Broxton with our spouses standing behind. Sister Brown and Sister Allen are widows and will be serving in Nauvoo. The Nelsons are going to Macedonia and the Broxton's will be MLS missionaries serving in their own Stake.

Our teaching sessions on Wednesday and Thursday left us feeling like we didn't quite have it down but were good learning experiences. Friday though was a different story. We got to know a young couple who had been married 10 years and had three young sons. She was a member, he was not, but he loved his family above anything else. They told us that every time a new set of missionaries moved into the area they came to see them but never came back after that initial visit. We asked to come back and he reluctantly agreed to let us. We left that meeting desperate to know what to teach. After discussing for a few minutes we went into an empty class room and had a prayer. When we came out we both clearly knew we should teach about eternal families and use scriptures from the Book of Mormon.

                                              Our investigators Brother and Sister Morris

It was a wonderful experience for all four of us. For Jim and I we felt like we were being led to know exactly  what to say and what scriptures to use. The Morris's were feeling the message in their hearts. We could tell by their reactions that something was happening. Later when we finished the lesson we found out they were playing the part of their daughter and son in law and they felt deeply that if he would hear the message we taught that for him it would begin the process of joining the church.

Our closing meeting was powerful. This week has just strengthened our testimony of this gospel and we feel so very blessed to have this opportunity to serve a mission.

Saturday was our P day and we did a few things that needed to be done then went to the BYU Art Museum to see the Sacred Gifts exhibit. It was wonderful and if you live in the area you should definitely plan on seeing it but you'd better hurry because next month these beautiful paintings will return to their homes in Europe. Several of us Sisters went to the General Women's meeting at a chapel near the MTC since they will show it to the Sister Missionaries next week when the Elders are attending the Priesthood Session of Conference.

The highlight of our Sunday was tonight's Devotional. Richard Elliot and David Archuletta  bore testimony with music and words. David returned from his mission in Chile last Monday and had his home coming today. He bore a powerful testimony, one I'm sure we will all always remember. Brother Elliot told about his conversion and how one on one we can make a difference it the lives of others. He got a standing ovation when he played his arrangement of "Go Tell it on the Mountain."

These are all the Seniors in the MTC this week

This has been a wonderful spirit filled week we fill so blessed. If you haven't had an MTC experience in your life we suggest you put it on your bucket list.

MTC World Map

                                                           Our MTC apartment
                                         
We head to Martin's Cove on Wednesday to start the next part of our adventure. We love you all!
Dad and Mom
Grandpa and Grandma
Jim and Carol