Welcome to the MTC

After a one hour airplane ride to Salt Lake, an hour wait in the airport, and another hour shuttle ride to Provo, we arrived at the MTC at 6:15.  We picked up our packet which included name badges, room keys, and swipe cards to enter buildings and purchase meals.  We were hurried off to the dining room for a quick dinner and then to find our room.

We called David and Ann to have them deliver our big suitcases.  They had been so kind to take our bags to Provo on an earlier to trip to Idaho.  This saved us $120 in baggage fees.  We had a nice visit as we prepared to start this new experience.

Senior housing is on the third floor of the S2 building - Services including the mail room, MTC bookstore, copy center, medical clinic, etc.  Our room is like a nice hotel room with a queen bed, full closet and dresser, table with two soft chairs, private bathroom, exercise room just across the hall (which we haven't used yet), and beautiful artwork.

We got settled in, unpacked a bit, and went to bed.  It had been a long day!

Typical day:  Get up about 6:15 and down to breakfast at 7:15.  Classes start at 8:00.  Lunch break from 11:30 to 1:00 with afternoon classes going from 1:00 to 4:30.  Dinner hour is until 6:00.  Evenings include firesides, devotionals, family home evenings, and some personal time.  We learned that the "young" missionaries start their day at 6:00 and go until 9:00.

Monday morning was official check-in and a tour of the facilities. Our paperwork was tagged with a message that we needed to report to the medical center; there was a question on our immunizations which was determined to be just a typo in the end. . . we were very happy to escape without getting more shots.

Senior missionaries were welcomed by the MTC presidency in a morning devotional.  There are 57 senior missionaries that entered today, 26 couples and 5 single sisters, compared with 110 last week.  Several couples will be serving in their home areas in a variety of callings, several more going to areas in the U.S., and a few more going to foreign countries (Portugal, India, Guatemala, Australia, South Africa, Taipai).

The groups were organized into districts with Elder Egbert appointed by the MTC president to be the District Leader of our group:  (Gary and Cynthia Lippincott called to serve in a dental clinic in a Guatemala orphanage, Bill and Melissa Ridenour called to serve in St. George area, Merl and Kathlyn Egbert going to Portugal, and Joseph and Pat Decastro serving in their home stake in Midway.  Sister Johnson, one of our afternoon teachers, is seated in the middle.

Our first afternoon group training was focused on the Missionary Purpose:  "To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

Family Home Evening included an amazing video of Elder Bednar's discourse at the MTC on the character of Christ.

July 22 MTC. . . Here we come!

We attended Sacrament meeting in our ward this afternoon before we went to the airport to catch our flight to Salt Lake. . . and then a shuttle ride to the MTC in Provo.  We had sent most of our luggage with David and Ann, so we only had to worry about our carry-on bags.  That was really nice. . . and saved us $120.

We thought we had said all our good-byes to our family last night, so we were surprised when they all showed up at the airport to give us a good send off.  Hugs and well wishes (and a few tears) were shared as we heard "last call for flight 4207" repeated more than one time.  We were the last to board and had the front seats saved for us.

Set apart as missionaries

July 21
This evening we were blessed to have several members of our family with us as President Atkins came to our home to officially set us apart as missionaries.  President Atkins said he had never seen so many young people be so quiet  - I must say I was equally impressed.  We were missing Brian and Alicia and their families and Angela , but we know they were with us in spirit.  Merl and I each  received a blessing that we can hold on to as we start this new adventure.  Fortunately, April and Amber were able to capture the important details as they took notes and later transcribed them.  It has been good to go back and read and feel the love and support of our Savior as we are sent on his errand.

We all enjoyed pie and ice cream along with root beer floats as we visited and shared our last evening together.  We pray that the good times will continue to be had in "Curt and Anna's" home while we are gone.

July 18 and 20 Family Temple Days

July 18

What a special day we shared with several of our grandchildren who are old enough to participate in the temple.  (left to right: Kenadee and Halle Egbert, Madelyn and Hannah McQueen, Connor and Brett McQueen, Zach and Keegan Ryerse, Merl Egbert)

After an opening prayer and message about the importance of the work that is done in the temple, Zach and Connor baptized each of their cousins for 40 individuals.  Each of the girls were able to do the recording of these baptisms; and Merl did all the confirmations.  What a wonderful experience to share with our grandchildren before we depart.  Testimonies were shared, and there was a special spirit that we were able to share together.







Because  we did the session early in the morning, "Grandpa" treated everyone to breakfast at Denny's.  We so appreciated the visiting and friendship as these great kids enjoyed each other's company. . . a day and feeling we will not soon forget.  We love all of our grandchildren and will miss them.  Thank goodness for technology!

July 20

Some of the family was able to join us at the temple Friday night (Curt and Anna, Todd and April, and Aaron).  It was a beautiful evening - inside and outside of the temple.  We decided to go to Outback after the session so we could use up a couple of gift cards before we leave the country.  

Sunday, July 15

The adventure has begun - Portugal, here we come!

The past week has been a whirlwind of activity - completing the move out of our home, packing suitcases,  and putting the rest in storage.  We are so grateful for the patience and support of our family.  I don't think we could have made this decision without all their help.

Sunday, July 15, was our "farewell" in Sacrament meeting.  It was very humbling to have the support of so many family members and friends who were in attendance.  Anna played a beautiful piano solo between our talks which was the icing on the cake.  It was a little bitter-sweet as I looked out over the audience knowing we would be gone for two years - we have been in this same ward since 1976.  It will be still there when we return, but there are always lots of changes.

Family and friends gathered at "our" home for lunch and visiting.  Lots of fun and pictures completed the day, and we fell exhausted into bed that night - thankful for the many blessing we shared today.