OUR SECOND MISSION BEGINS IN OCTOBER

The day finally came when we were set apart as full-time missionaries once again. This time we have the opportunity to stay at home while serving in our stake as missionaries. Sunday evening, October 16, the stake president came over to our home and set Paul and I apart for this calling. Todd and Kailee and Aria were there to share the moment with us. We were grateful for the blessings pronounced upon our heads.
  

Pointing to Heber City, Utah
where we will be serving.

The following Monday morning, we began our Missionary Training Center (MTC) experience. We were welcomed, taught, encouraged and put into districts. As we all introduced ourselves to the whole group, we recognized Dave and Roberta Osborn from Spokane. They will serve in the Phillipines. The wow for the day was when we were told that the new MTC building is being built to house 8,000 missionaries. The capacity of the present MTC is 2,000. That blew us all away as we got a glimpse into the future of missionary work as the gospel floods the earth.

Dave and Roberta Osborn from Spokane

Tuesday was a day of learning how to be a Preach My Gospel Missionary. The lessons to teach investigators are all outlined in the Preach My Gospel manual but it up to us to follow the spirit as to what and how we are to teach. The tender mercy for this day was finding Kyle Sorenson among the 2,000 missionaries at the MTC. We had picked up a set of Spanish scriptures for him at the bookstore and needed to get it to him. We found out when his meal schedule was and were at the cafeteria before 8 a.m. in hopes of giving it to him at breakfast. No luck so we tried his lunch time as well.  We scoured the cafeteria but could not find him then either. Our last hope was to find him at the devotional that night. The senior couples were allowed to be seated first so we chose a seat that could be easily seen by the choir members, of which we knew Kyle would be a part. We stood up facing the choir and, sure enough, Kyle saw us and came down to give us a hug. We could give him his new scriptures and visit with him for a moment. A tender mercy as I had been silently praying all day that we would make contact with him. The devotional was amazing and the spirit was enhanced by the choir of Elders and Sisters, at least 1000 strong.  They sang "Be Still My Soul" in such a way that it touched all of our hearts.

Parts of Wednesday and Thursday of the MTC experience were spent in the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) where we were put in a room with a mock investigator and had to teach a discussion based on the needs of the investigator. Our nerves were on edge just before entering the room but, each time, the spirit took over as we got to know our investigator. We were then able to assess the needs of the investigator and teach a discussion. It was a pretty powerful experience that helped us know we will be able to call upon the spirit to help us in this calling, whether finding or teaching. By the end of each of these days we were 'dog-tired'.

Thursday night, I experience a little miracle from the Lord. On Wednesday night, I noticed a tightening of a muscle on the right side of my back. I didn't think anything about it but by Thursday night I could hardly move. I got up from the chair and the pain was intense as I attempted to walk into the bedroom.  I could only find relief lying on the bed with a hot water bottle pressed against the muscle. Thinking a bath would be good, I got up and immediately was doubled over in pain again. I was thinking Paul would have to take my to the ER if the pain wouldn't subside. I made it to a chair in the bedroom and there whispered a little prayer saying, "Heavenly Father I need your help right now." Almost immediately the muscle began to loosen and the pain decreased. I was able to take a shower, get ready for bed and even sleep relatively comfortable through the night.  In the morning, I had one twinge of pain, probably to remind me of the answer to my prayer the night before. The rest of the day was pain free and I was able to participate fully in the experiences of the MTC.

Our district in the MTC with one of our teachers

The miracle for Friday was when we were teaching another senior couple who was acting like inactive members. The couple who taught us did a very good job. One of the scriptures the elder used was from D&C 121 where Joseph Smith is in Liberty jail and the Lord tells him that all this hardship was for his benefit. That scripture jumped out at me as one we could use for our inactive's discussion.  I tagged it on my phone and, sure enough, it was perfect to use in a specific part of our discussion. We were so grateful we were able to experience the MTC a second time.  It truly was an incredible week.

One other tender mercy of this week was the selling of our property here in the Crossing.  We had purchased it as part of our deal with the developer as partial payment for some money we had lent her several year prior. We wanted to sell it before the housing market went down and so we wouldn't have to worry about paying taxes and HOA fees on it any longer. We got a 'break even price' so we felt good about the sale.

The Mission Office in Provo

The following Monday, after the MTC, we met with our mission president and his wife, President and Sister Hodgman. They welcomed us into the mission, asked a lots of questions about ourselves, and expressed gratitude for our upcoming service. They have such a big job. We then went to a nearby church for a four hour training from Elder and Sister Brown, the AP's for the senior couples. We learned a lot about our responsibilities. It was one of three training sessions we held with them.




Now for the rest of our month of October....

Our month started out with Kyle Sorenson, his mom and two sisters coming to spend Tuesday night with us before taking Kyle into the MTC to begin his mission. He was supposed to go to the MTC in Mexico but because of visa issues he was sent to Provo instead. We fed them dinner, went to Dairy Keen for an ice cream and watched an appropriate movie before turning in for the night. The next morning it was breakfast and then off to the MTC.  We were grateful we could provide a little taste of home for them.  

Ready and anxious to begin his MTC experience

One of our favorite things about October, of course, is General Conference and this year was no exception. We loved watching all the sessions in the comfort of our home. It was also the weekend the Davies, our neighbors had to be out of their home. They had put their home up for sale thinking they would test the market and it sold even though they were asking over a million dollars for it. We were devastated as we loved them as neighbors. Saturday night of conference weekend, we had them to dinner and then again for dinner Sunday evening.  We were glad they would allow us to help them in some way. Paul did go over with the High Priests and help move some things into a truck on Saturday but, other than that, they did it all by themselves. 

Our new neighbors on both sides of us moved in that first full week of October. Jeff and Joyce Smith moved into the Davies' old home and Jo and Connie Snedden moved into the new home that was just completed on the other side of us. We love having neighbors on both sides of us now. That week we took them both a plate of cookies to welcome into the neighborhood. We had a good visit with both of them. They will be great neighbors.  

We attended three football games before going into the MTC. On the second Saturday, we went to Jaiden's game. This is his first year and so he's a little tentative but he did what his coach asked him to do. He looked so small in those big pads. Jaron played on the Bingham freshman team so we went to one of his last games. He played a few downs and they won handily. Being from Bingham with its great football heritage makes it hard to break in to the lineup with so many talented players. We wish he was in a smaller school district because he had great hands and would be a starter in a smaller, less talented, school. Before going to Jaron's game, we met Jon and Mindi in Highland so they could take us through the home that they dream of purchasing someday. It is on 2 acres, is very private, and has a pool. It would be a perfect home for them if only they could afford it. Maybe someday. After the game, Mindi invited us to come have dinner with them at their home. She served a spaghetti casserole that was wonderful. We love living close enough to children to share in their lives a bit.

Jaron about to catch the ball

The bag filled with goodies for us
 during the game.

The third game we went to was a BYU game. Jon got us tickets for a BYU sponsered dinner before the game so we met Todd and Jake at the stadium and enjoyed a delicious dinner with them. It was catered by LaJolla Groves and the food was wonderful. The game was exciting too, especially because we won in double overtime.  At the end of the game the students stormed the field. being so excited to win a game they were not expected to win.  

The crowds rushing the field at the end of the game

The 'Y' lite with new LED lights












A bitter sweet happening this month was working our last day as ordinance workers in the Provo temple. We have been working there now for over10 plus years minus while we were on our mission to Moscow.  As a full-time missionary now, we had to give that assignment up. We will miss not working there but part of our responsibilities on this mission is to go to the temple once a week so we will still be able to enjoy the peace and joy that comes from being in the temple.

The shake was better
than the hamburger

Toward the end of the month, we made a special trip out to Kamas, one afternoon, to experience, what we were told, was the best hamburger around. We found the little drug store where they also served food. It was a quaint little place and we were excited to taste their wonderful hamburgers and shakes. We ordered hamburgers with tomatoes and Paul's with no onions. When we finally got our order the buns were stale, the hamburgers too well done, there were no tomatoes and both hamburgers had onions. Not a good experience. Don't think we will go there again. 

October always brings Halloween. This year we had a choice to make - to go to our ward's trick or treat or to Todd and Kailee's to hand out candy while them did some trick or treating. We decided to go to Todd and Kailee's and felt it was the right decision. Trick or treaters began coming to their home about 5:30 and Todd and Kailee didn't get back home till about 7 so it was good we were there to hand out candy. It was fun to be involved in Halloween again. Later that night Kailee served barbecue pork sandwiches for a late night dinner. A fun evening. Of course, Todd and Kailee and Aria were darling in their Snow White, Prince Charming, and evil Queen costumes. 

And then there was Jon and Mindi in their Trump and Hillary costumes. So hilarious. They showed up in those costumes to Jon's company Halloween party to which they took all the kids. They were quite the sensation, for sure.

I must close the month out with Aria again.....and the cell phone - she's hooked.