Day two MTC

I have to admit I was dreading a day that started at 7 am and went to 8pm. We started out and spent most of the day learning "Preach My Gospel".  All these years of teaching and I was completely intimidated!  Sam was much more willing to jump in but it took me til the afternoon session to start getting into it. I am not sure how much has changed since our children served, but the focus is very different from what we have seen in our past experiences working with missionaries.  It is so focused on the person or family you are teaching and I am sure that it is much more effective, but it requires that you really get to know the people you are teaching, and, well, I am just not that outgoing and not that good at conversation, so it is scary.
Tomorrow we have to teach as a companionship about the restoration--30-40 minutes worth--to a volunteer--and they will give us feedback---I just hope I remember enough of what I need to say that they CAN do an evaluation!


We have met some wonderful couples. One of them will be in Frankfurt and they will be developing a  family support (phone and internet) for members of the church in the former East Germany who need help with addiction, family problems etc. Apparently in that area the priesthood are mostly 19 and 20 year olds so they don't have a support system there.  They are Brother and Sister Wells and we love them!

We also had a devotional tonight and it was given by Dennis E. Simmons who is a 70 and apparently is just released as the mission(?) at temple square in the genealogy area so I assume Daphne's husband, Tom knows him.  His talk was just what new missionaries need to hear!  He talked about how it is miserable and wonderful it is all at once and that is exactly what I am feeling.  I kept thinking about what it must have been like for our own children in the MTC and makes me wish I had served when I was younger so I could have helped them better.

Along with talking about the missionary experience, he talked about the need to RECEIVE the Holy Ghost--the active part we must take in gaining that great gift.  He said that when he was a mission president and speaking to the missionaries he would take out a $5 bill and invite a missionary to take it--of course they didn't--but as he continued his talk he would occasionally look at the missionary and ask,  Do you want this? After asking several times the Elder would finally say yes, and then he would reply, you have to come and receive it--clearly making the point that it is not enough to have the Gift of the Holy Ghost OFFERED to you, but YOU must RECEIVE it!

All in all, a wonderful day.  we miss our family and know they will miss us. We appreciate so much the support they have all given us.  It is thinking of of our children who all had this experience that gives us strength.  Thank you to Jason, Daphne, Ben and Zach and their spouses who also served, Gaylee, Amy and Tom: The tables have turned. we are following in your footsteps!