MTC WEEK

MTC Week Monday 14 January 2013 - Friday 18 January 2013

We entered the MTC at 10:00 am Tuesday morning. Volunteer staff hand out packets to each couple, give directions to several stations. Couples check in at the main desk in the main building M1, proceed to M2 to an immunization verification desk, to the book store to pick up or order name tags, to Travel to pick up flight information, passports, and shuttle itinerary, then to the Chapel outside the MTC Campus, through the fence to the North and into a general meeting where we are introduced, listen to some general information, are assigned to teaching teams, into districts with a district leader, then adjourned into classrooms for instruction. For five days we study Preach My Gospel, practice teach with volunteers from the community, have frequent breaks, eat lunch in the cultural hall, or in the general lunch room.

The first day we brought some snacks and glad we did because the food is Telestial, though the teaching and the teachers are Celestial. Because of the increased numbers of missionaries, seniors are housed in the Marriott, some on the MTC campus, and those who live close,  at home. We stayed at home each night. We ate once in the general lunch room, because on Wednesday we attended the Malaria lecture with a doctor during most of lunch time, and hurried to eat before returning to class. After classes we picked up our malaria pills and some other medications for Sue in case of yeast infections which may be a side effect of the malaria pills.

The entire experience is challenging but something that no missionary should miss. Couples in our group were called to the Philippines, Vanuatu, Borneo, Brazil, Hawaii, Germany, and many other places, as member support, historical documents preservation, office staff, and other assignments. We were blessed by the instructors, couples, and administrators that we met.