Missionary Training Center

 Sister DeVictoria writing:  We have just completed our first week at the MTC.  Our feelings about this week can be partially represented in the picture below.  

 

Actually, this week has been a wonderful experience.  I've never been in a place where so many people introduce themselves and as we talk we feel like we have always been friends.  It has been wonderful to get to know the young and senior missionaries!  We arrived with a group of 132 senior missionaries; one of the largest groups ever.  They refer to our group as the "Rasband effect".  

 

It has been so interesting to hear some of the unique missions to which people have been called.  There are missionaries assigned to some of the following missions:  Mongolia, Nepal, Northern Africa/UAE, Egypt, New Zealand, Honolulu, Malaysia, as well as many State side missions.  One widowed sister will be serving in the Bulgaria/Greece mission.  She will be companions with another widow who was previously a companion of hers!  One couple has been called to serve in a church history site where they will be Teamsters and drive oxen!  I met one young Elder who has Down syndrome.  He told me that he and his parents have been called to serve in the office in Thailand!  I also got word from a former seminary student of mine that he and his parents have been called to serve at church headquarters in Salt Lake City!  

One highlight of my week was that I saw a young man who we worked with in the Special Needs Activity program.  He works in the cafeteria of the MTC washing dishes.  I saw him peeking over at us while he was eating lunch and I recognized him so went over and talked to him.  We spent so many years working with him, it made me so happy to see him again.  Below is a picture of the cafeteria.

 

We have spent this week learning from the "Preach My Gospel" manual.  Although our entire District are going to serve as office missionaries, it has been a good opportunity to understand what the young missionaries are being taught, and hopefully we will have opportunities to practice these principles ourselves.  

 

 

We had two great meetings in the evenings.  The first was a fireside with Pres. Steven J. Lund who is the General Young Men's president of the church.  He and his wife spoke and had wonderful messages.  He spoke about how our testimonies are cumulative.  Even though a little child doesn't have the same testimony as an adult, we cannot discount that they also have a testimony in progress.  Our life experiences add to our testimonies over time.

The second meeting was called "The Character of Christ".  The speakers talked about the traits that Jesus Christ exhibits, and how we should all be working to develop those traits.  They especially emphasized how the Savior was always looking outward instead of inward.  As we look outward, we develop charity and find opportunities to help others.  They had two special speakers who came from very difficult backgrounds.  They were able to testify to how learning about Jesus Christ helped them to overcome the trials and mistakes of their lives and put them on the right path.  One of them, a woman, even spent 5 years in Federal prison.  But she was able to rise above her mistakes through the atonement of Jesus Christ.  

Next week we will begin our office training.  It is a daunting thought, but we trust that the Lord will help us to learn our duties so that we can help the mission.  

Elder DeVictoria writing:

What I enjoyed about the MTC experience this week was the spirit of the place; the feeling that we are truly embarking on a great mission, a great adventure, loaded with purpose.  Very meaningful.  And I loved rubbing shoulders with other missionaries who entered the MTC on the same day as us.  It's so heartwarming to hear where they are from, where they are going, what their duties will be, and why they chose to serve a mission at this time.  

With such a large group entering with us, we certainly couldn't get to know everyone, but we got to know quite a few, especially those in our District.  There are 8 couples in our District.  They are going to Montreal Canada, Germany Alpine mission that includes Switzerland and Austria, Auckland New Zealand, Peru, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Northern Colorado.

The Preach My gospel instruction was brief but powerful.  It basically just gave us a taste of the content of the Preach My gospel manual.  They basically just touched on some of the chapters.  As mature members of the church with a lot of experience, it's not like there was anything new to us.  The principles of the gospel are not new to us.  One thing that was emphasized was the use of social media.  They strongly encouraged us to participate in social media while we are serving as full time missionaries.  I'll have to admit that I am resistant.  I will have to prayerfully find my way.

We invite you participate in sharing the gospel as you can, wherever you are, in whatever way.  We encourage you to leave comments below, or contact us through Facebook or email.  We would love to hear from you.

Elder and Sister DeVictoria