The MTC experience.



The first day we arrived, we (all of the new senior missionaries) were broken up into districts with a leader assigned for each one. Elder Stumm had the privilege of being assigned as district leader over the best group of Elder & Sister Senior Missionaries.

Pictured is our group, Elder and Sister Tew, going to Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Elder and Sister Stout , going to Sao Paulo, Brazil, Elder and Sister Stumm, still going to South Africa Cape Town, and Elder and Sister Boothe, going to Arizona, Phoenix.  What a great group!!

When we first started our training we felt a bit like this donkey, a little overwhelmed.

We spent the week being taught by what could have been our children or grandchildren as they were all return missionaries and students at BYU.  And they were great!!!!

As the week progressed with help from our morning instructor Elder Thornton...











...and our afternoon instructor Elder Pike (who as it turned out, is the grandson of our first bishop when were baptized, Bishop Richard M. Richards, in the Spokane valley).














We learned to better trust our feeling and rely more on the Spirit. We also watched a devotional talk by Elder Bednar. He said quit worrying, quit fussin' about whether or not the good thoughts you have are from you or the Holy Ghost. If it is a good thing to do, do it and the Spirit will guide you. We have received so much “good stuff” here about relying on the prompting of the Spirit who is the testifier of the truth.

A lot of our time was spent role playing (which no one liked at first) as missionaries and investigators. But in the end, we all agreed it was very helpful in learning how to respond to questions and what to teach so we could answer the questions and meet the needs of our investigators.  Wednesday was the first "real practice role play" with  “real investigators". We were given a room to go to where we would be greeted by an investigator. Sometimes we would have a little information about them, other times nothing. We would be watched by our teachers by hidden camera so we could be evaluated and given positive feed back on our experience. We would spend the first 15 minutes getting to know them and a feeling about what to teach. The next 30 minutes we would try to help them prepare to follow the example of Jesus Christ and take upon them the saving ordinance of baptism.

Our investigators were actually  people from the community who volunteered to play investigators for the missionaries. Boy are they good. Some are pretty tough and test you whether you're there just to recite a planed lesson or listen to them, answer their questions and meet their needs.  You feel you really are teaching an investigator!!    


One of the things we heard in the Music and the Spoken Word Sunday was, being tired at the end of the day after doing good, is more rewarding and satisfying than just relaxing all day drinking lemonade. These are true words and this week is proof of it. It has been a great week and we are looking forward to starting the work in our mission and experiencing even greater spiritual experiences. 

Saturday was our P-day and free from a structured schedule that meant we had the day all to ourselves.  We attended a session at the Provo Temple. It was a very peaceful time.
 









When we were leaving the temple we ran into a former missionary serving in our ward, Elder Byrd.  He saw us and recognized us but couldn’t remember our names. He was one of the missionaries who taught three of our friends, Heather Andrakin, her son Matt and Kacie Oaks. After lunch we did a little laundry and started packing again for our departure on Monday.  (I hate packing!)

As to the laundry you can see the laundry facility here is huge.  I have never seen so many washers and dryers all in one room before.  It is amazing. 

Well, today is Sunday and we started off with the breakfast most kids love –cold cereal.  It must be the traditional breakfast at the MTC for Sunday.  Usually you get real plates, cups, and silverware.  Today it was paper bowls, plastic spoons, and paper cups.  Great idea for keeping down the need to work on Sunday!  However, lunch was back to normal.  We also had BYU Creamery ice cream for lunch.  YUM!  Okay—for dessert.

Tomorrow, bright and early we are off.   Next stop Cape Town South Africa.