September 8, 2024

It's 9:30 pm on Sunday night and I'm sitting at the computer trying to summarize this past week and the things going on this week. We spent 4 days at the MTC and wished it could have been more, and then we went back to our daughter's house to rest and recuperate for this next part of our journey. But first, this past week...

Our MTC experience went by quickly and we were kept very busy! We had morning class with two great teachers for about 3 1/2 hours, took a lunch break, and had afternoon class for about 3 1/2 hours with two totally different-styled teachers. They all did their best to change things up so we didn’t fall asleep on them, and it worked, amazingly. We learned things from Preach My Gospel about bringing people unto Christ (the mission purpose) and were taught how to invite and promise and testify and teach and get to know people and a myriad of other things. We were in a group of 4 couples and loved getting to know the others in our "district". 

And all this was done while the MTC tried to feed us dessert at every meal, and more food in one day than we would usually eat in 2! I had thought I'd have the willpower to avoid desserts more than once a day; turns out I did had the willpower to avoid more than 3 desserts after one meal. Good for me!

Remember how I was looking for our junior Vietnamese missionaries? Well, on Wednesday I was determined to find them. After wandering around the cafeteria and asking 6 or so groups at lunch that day if any of them were going to Vietnam, one of the tables of youth responded that they were!  We were so excited!! We got to chat with them for awhile and introduce ourselves and take pictures so I could learn their names better. We look forward to seeing them in Vietnam in October when they arrive!

Our MTC week ended Friday afternoon and we were picked up by our son Justin and fed at his house, then dropped at Rachel's house where we (I) dropped into bed and slept for 10 hours straight. Bliss. Yesterday, Saturday, was lovely and a day to prepare for this next part of the journey: training in Salt Lake City to be a Mission Health Advisor. This is the last hurdle before we fly off to Vietnam a week from tomorrow. Allen will hang out with me and learn some of my stuff, and then fill his days with studying and staying sane.

We are excited to be closing in on the goal of being in-country, especially since there was a major hurricane in Hanoi yesterday! Allen said he wished we were there now and I did not share that sentiment. But we ARE both ready and willing to go and help with whatever we can in 2 weeks! It's been a long time coming...



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