MTC

Well, we have finally made it!  We are on our Mission.  Sunday, we were set apart by our Stake President as full time missionaries. The blessing the Stake President (President Houtz) gave each of us was very comforting. President Houtz told us that he felt a very strong impression to bless me with the health I would need to complete our mission. You can imagine what a load off my mind that was.  In Steve's blessing he was instructed to keep me from working too hard. (That is just another way for Steve to maintain control!)   We drove to the MTC on Monday.  There are around 40 couples in our class, and they are going to serve literally all over the world, but no one is going to the Tarawa but us.   

 As you can see, we are studying intently. Believe it or not, those mugs you see in these pictures actually have water, not Diet Coke in them.  We were the first couple to stay in the newly remodeled Couples Building.  It is just like a hotel, but without a TV or phone.  

This is the famous MTC map.  We are pointing to Tarawa. 

I swear to you it is like there is a legion of Angels over the perimeter of this place.  You feel peaceful all the time even though you are working hard.  Some of the exercises put you out of your comfort zone a little.  Both of us knew most of the gospel material we had to teach to pretend investigators of the church, but neither of us has ever had to verbalize that knowledge to live people!  We have passed all our exercises so far so I guess that means we still get to go to Tarawa.  Friday we get to pretend we are someone that we have always wanted to have the gospel bless their life. We will have another senior missionary couple visit with us to try to clear up any barriers that may be preventing our pretend person from accepting the blessings of the gospel.

Most of the other couples we have been with have been missionaries in the past and have served as bishops, stake presidents, and even in mission presidencies.  We are definitely the rookies, but we seem to be good with the gift of gab and inviting the Spirit of the Holy Ghost into our efforts. We have to exercise now so we'll post you later. (By exercise I mean a long walk before bed.)