MTC (Mission Training Center)

What can I say about the MTC experience? It was AMAZING! The MTC is a large, multi-building 'facility' where missionaries from all over the world come to be taught and trained prior to going to their assigned areas of labor. The MTC houses anywhere from 1000 to 2500 missionaries at any given time. They can be found all over the campus doing various things....being taught by young returned missionaries, attending firesides and devotionals, studying their languages, exercising in the gym, doing laundry, performing service, cleaning the facilities, shopping for incidentals, checking for mail and/or packages at the post office, eating in the state of the art cafeteria, laughing and sharing their light with each other. It is wonderful to see so many young people engaged in this important and worthwhile work. And the spirit of happiness there is palpable. I could not stop smiling the whole week!

This is us on our first day--happy to be here and a little apprehensive about what was in store for us over the next five days. When we first arrived we were greeted by young missionaries assigned to welcome the senior couples. Several of our greeters were also going to Japan on their missions. Dave spoke easily with them in Japanese. I froze.

We were given our missionary badges. The Japanese writing here says: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is a special feeling to put on the badge and know that I am representing Jesus Christ in this work.

                                  

We had a packed schedule for the five days we were here. Multiple back to back classes, a Family Home Evening, an evening devotional with Elder Joni L. Koch of the Quorum of the Seventy speaking, meals in the cafeteria, attending a temple session, learning teaching principles from the Preach My Gospel manual. We also spent time talking with and getting to know other senior couples who arrived when we did. There were 134 senior missionaries who arrived with us and who are all going to various parts of the world. We met people going to Canada, El Salvador, Nauvoo Illinois, Brazil, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Florida, Ghana, Greece, Ireland/Scotland, Las Vegas, Hawaii, and several people going to work in the SLC headquarters mission.

In one of the buildings they have large murals on the walls depicting scenes from the scriptures. They are beautiful and inspiring. My favorite mural is this one depicting the story of Martha from the new testament.

The MTC experience was wonderful, but is just the beginning of our joyful adventure. I'm looking forward to getting to Japan and getting to know those amazing people and helping in any way I can. And the best part is I get to do it with this guy. He is literally the BEST mission companion I could ask for!