POST 1 THE MTC and lovely USA

 POST 1  - MTC/TRAVEL

The MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo Utah -- wonderful. We were in a group called a "District", 6 couples, whom we had our lessons with for 5 days. Our teachers were young--like YOUNG--adults. They were the best teachers I've ever had; full of wisdom at 22-23 years old. Our group became best of friends.

Our group of couples were going to:

  • Cameroon Africa
  • Oslo Norway 
  • Dallas Texas 
  • Ruidoso New Mexico working in the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation
  • one couple will be running a large girls camp in the State of Washington 
  • We will be in Pawtucket Rhode Island in the Massachusetts Boston mission 

We had two ranchers, two Canadian couples, 2 school principals, and one prankster--we had to watch out for him.


So what do we learn at the MTC? 

Most of our time was spent learning how to teach effectively, how to ask questions that make you think, how to teach SHORT lessons (Seniors are naturally long-winded) and how to organize our thoughts. We practiced teaching our spouses and other couples. We learned how to be safe in our food, our cars, in public while wearing a name tag, be safe from those who want to steal information or take advantage, etc. Great life skills. 

MTC Cafeteria - beyond amazing

Different entrees every day with 2 to choose from. Rice bowls, Steak, hamburgers, chicken cordon blue, enchiladas, fish tacos, pasta, chicken curry. The salad bar was our favorite--so many choices. Soups, sandwiches, wraps, teriyaki bowls, . . .is your mouth watering yet? . . .DESSERTS-to die for! Cookies, pies, cakes, cobblers, puddings--one sadness was that we never saw the famous BYU mint brownies among the desserts. They offered juices, sodas, milk, and always chocolate milk. Yikes, we've been gone for only two days and I am having cafeteria withdrawals. (No, we didn't eat everything, we did show some control, but the choices were something to dream about.)

TRADITION!!!

Rebecca and Matt made sure we got our family traditional ice cream cone at the BYU Creamery on Ninth Street. I got the Kalani Sitake ice cream - chocolate with marshmellows. (If you don't know who Kalani Sitake is--check out BYU football.)


Lovely USA

So far we've traveled through gorgeous scenery in Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and tonight we are in Kirtland Ohio staying in the Sidney Rigdon home across the street from the Kirtland temple. We have a beautiful nation--mountains, rolling hills, hundreds of miles of corn and soybeans, huge barns and silos, and lovely two-story farm houses nestled among the trees. The Mississippi River is HUGE. It is so foreign to us to see thick forests of tall trees and green green grass. We drove by Notre Dame's football field, very cool, and their overflow parking is a large grass parking lot. Who parks on grass? Yes, the USA is absolutely breathtaking.

Norman and I feel very thankful we can serve a mission. We love our Savior Jesus Christ and the joy His gospel brings. 

One thought to leave you with - a Quaker Proverb

"Thee lift me and I'll lift thee

And we'll ascent together."


Comments

  1. Beverly J.September 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM

    What a wonderful journey you have begun. You are in "my" part of the states, from Ohio all the way to Boston. Eagerly awaiting more news of your experiences, good works, and thoughts on the area.

    ReplyDelete

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