August 7, 2012

We finally downloaded pictures from our camera so will attach some of them and tell you about what's happening.

This was a moonlight hike on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake.  We are on the left along with the Roberts, Thurmans and Manns.  The nats were supposed to be bad so we invested in headnets.  It turned out to be not so buggy but it was good to not have them in your face.  The ranger who led the hike told us lots of interesting things about the lake, all the nesting birds and we watched the sun set and the moon come up.  Just a fun evening.

This is one of the lakes above Brighton Ski Resort that we hiked into.  There was a sandy beach for lunch and it was a beautiful place.  After sitting in the office all week it's nice to get outdoors and explore some of the canyons around Salt Lake

This is what missionaries look like on a day off.  July 24 was a holiday and Karolyn was here with Sadie and Carson.  Kelmen was at BYU baseball camp.  So we headed up Little Cottonwood Canyon to see the wild flowers.  It was so gorgeous.  There are just miles and miles of flowers--I'd never seen wild flowers like this.

We also spotted 3 moose--2 bulls and a cow together.  So fun to watch them.  I love seeing wildlife.

 Along the path they had old lift chairs stationed so you could have a rest.  Kind of fun!!

The flowers were just amazing--so glad we heard that this was the best time to see them.  We drove to the top of the canyon and then took a shuttle up a couple of miles.  There was a nice trail to walk through Albion Basin and see the flowers.  We took our lunch and found a little stream to sit by and eat.  Before we got back to the car the clouds lowered and there was thunder--such a fun experience.  The temperature dropped about 20 degrees and we were actually cold for awhile--rather a pleasant experience in our hot summer.  Anyway it was a fun day.

July 22, 2012

Sunday, July 22, 2012
WHAT an exciting week.  On Sunday Erin's CrossFit Team won the world competition!!!  We were ecstatic for her and for Hack's Pack Ute.  They all did such a great job and work so, so hard to win.  Dan and the kids were there with her in California so it was a great time for all of them.  There is info and pictures on the CrossFit site if you're wondering what all the competitions entail.  Erin says no competition for awhile but those of us who know her are sure there's something else on the horizon.

Also on Sunday Karolyn arrived with Kelmen, Sadie and Carson.  They have had a busy week seeing sights and spending time with friends here in the area.  One of the fun things was seeing all the floats that will be in the parade on the 24th.  They were on display in the South Towne Centre and it was interesting to be able to walk all around them and see how floats are built.  Float builders are so creative and can tell a story in such a small visual place.  We really enjoyed seeing them plus there were activities and entertainment and all FREE.

Brent got home from HI on Monday morning, very tired but had a successful trip.  After changing his suit and eating lunch he was back to work in his office in the missionary department.  What a soldier!  On Tuesday we went to the dentist--one cavity each.  We go to the son of our long time Brigham City dentist and he shares an office with another dentist from Brigham whose family we know.    We attended our support group for early release missionaries and tried to spend some time with Kar and the kids--but it was a pretty busy week.  On Friday night we had tickets to the Days of '47 Concert in the Conference Center.  It was the MoTab, Symphony and guest, Kathryn Jenkins.  She has the most amazing voice, great concert.  Our friends, Monte and Karen Munns from Brigham came to SLC and we had dinner and went to the concert with them.  They are involved with the open house for the Brigham City Temple and Monte has been called to be assistant recorded in the temple.  He will be great.  Our old stake president, Pres. Checketts will be the temple president--wonderful man.

Yesterday was our turn to help clean the church and with Karolyn and company along we enjoyed helping.  (Kar took the kids to Brigham to see the temple and have lunch at Peach City and see the old home town)  We headed out to the Jordan River Temple to witness a friend's sealing.  It was wonderful to be in the temple with so many friends--really enjoyed our time there.  Kar and I took the kids shopping and to Costa Vida for dinner--Brent opted to enjoy some quiet time at home.  Then we headed over to Hatch's for ice cream.  They have huckleberry ice cream which is Brent's all time favorite so we like to go there.  The owners are "little people" and their main business is making chocolates--especially special designs for special occasions.  They make KILLER carmels and some really creative things out of chocolate.

Kar and I took Kelmen and Sadie to "Music and the Spoken Work" this morning and Brent stayed home with Carson who is too young to go (have to be 8).  Now they are on their way to church with some friends because our branch doesn't have Primary.  Brent will be sustained today as the 1st counselor in the branch presidency and I've been called as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society.  What a great opportunity.  Kar and the kids will be back to come and see us be set apart.  How fun to have family there.

 Then we have a short week as Tuesday is a holiday, haven't decided exactly what we'll do.  Kelmen will be at baseball camp so Kar, Sadie and Carson are going to do a 5K first thing in the morning.

We've started this blog to record our mission adventures and activities.  Our call came November 10 to serve in the Family and Church History Headquarters Mission in Salt Lake City.  Brent will be a mental health advisor to the missionary committee and Nancy will be his assistant.  We report to the MTC in Provo on Jan. 2.  We're excited and nervous. . .lots to do to close up the house for 2 years and to get everything together that we need to take.  So, stay tuned. . .

Well, the summer is speeding past WAY too fast.  It's been SO hot but I'm already worried about coat weather coming too soon.  Go figure.  One thing about serving in Salt Lake City as opposed to Mongolia or someplace is that we are getting to see our family.  They've been drifting through for the last 3 weeks and coordinated a day together last Saturday--all 4 girls and 14 of the grands.  It was great to see them and to watch the cousins interact.  The best entertainment was swimming in the pool at the hotel where the Williams and Bennions were staying.  If you're coming to SLC take a look at the Hyatt that is right next to Gateway--close to so many things and to TRAX and the price was good for downtown.

I had my first Crown Burger--the kids always talked about it when they were in high school but I had never gone before.  It's a cheeseburger with pastrami--be sure to have a diet soda so the fat and calories go on through!!!  We did some shopping and sight seeing and just enjoyed being together and talking.  Thanks to my girls for making an effort to all connect.

There are free concerts in the park on Tues and Fri all summer so we have been hitting some of those.  Just relaxing to sit in the park and listen to music and be with our missionary friends.  One night we had dinner and went to a free symphony concert with 4 other couples--so much fun.

New find:  maxi dresses at Wal-Mart.  They're more like sun dresses but I put a tee under it and it's so comfy for Sundays and around the apartment.  I would never have gone to Wally's for a dress but Kristin arrived in the cutest one so I had to have one, too.  There are some other cute ones but I don't think I can justify buying more when I can't wear them to work.  I hope it's a style that stays for awhile.  So, hurry on down. . .

As I write this I have spent the weekend home alone.  Brent is in Hawaii. . .but before you get envious, it's an over and back trip to pick up a sick missionary and escort him home to Las Vegas.  So he left yesterday morning and will be back tomorrow.  But he did get to sleep in Kona and hopefully go for at least a short walk near the ocean.  I spent yesterday cleaning, getting groceries and ironing 11 white shirts and some blouses for me, all the while watching the World Crossfit Competition.  Erin is in California with her team and they were in first place at the end of yesterday.  So 37 teams are disqualified and the top 6 go for it today.  As I understand it they wipe out the scores from the past 2 days and it all hangs on today's performances.  I'm too nervous to watch today and just hope they can all do their very best.  Yesterday I actually got to see her do a few things and to see her team.  Once they had a good lead the cameras were most focused on the other teams.  But it was fun and interesting to watch.  The workouts are grueling--can't imagine that a body can do all that stuff.  Erin has been coming to SLC since February and spending weekends with us so she could work out with her team.  She's amazing--wife, mother, softball coach, nurse, PhD student, Relief Society President and work class Crossfitter.

I have an appointment with the Branch President at 1:15.  Brent and I have new assignments in the branch but it won't be announced until next Sunday.  So stay tuned. . .  Also, Kar and her tribe are arriving later today for 10 days.  More fun for sure.

June 3, 2012

My sister reminded me that I'm not answering her emails or posting on my blog so I'd better get better with this.  I'm always waiting for a great picture to add and don't have one so I keep putting off writing.  But the written parts are OK sometimes without pics.

This was a short week with Memorial Day off--really enjoyed that.  All weekends should be 3 days so you really can get things done and have time to play.  Friends from St George came for the weekend and we got to see them a little.  Had dinner at Tucano's--a Brazilian restaurant.  I'd never been to one of those where they bring around all the different meat.  It was good but we ate way too much.

On Sunday we went to the Music and Spoken Word.  They did a really nice tribute to veterans and sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".  No one quite does that the way the MoTab does it.

During May Brent and I taught Gospel Doctrine class in Sunday School.  I really enjoyed having to study and prepare, you always learn more than you can teach.  In our branch they have couples teach for a month at a time rather than have the same teacher all the time.  It's interesting to see other people's ideas on the Book of Mormon.  They I taught Relief Society one week and last Sunday we both had to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  So our spare time was taken up with getting lessons and talks ready.  The Branch President told us we could count on not having to speak again during our mission as there are so many people in the Branch your turn only comes around once.  YEAH!!

We went for a morning hike on Monday and then spent time doing stuff in the apartment.  I ironed ALL the white shirts and pulled out the ones that are looking a little ratty.  Dressing up 6-7 days a week makes for a lot of laundry and ironing.  Also,  just having enough clothes and keeping everything looking neat takes time. Even if you have quite a few outfits, by the time you wear them so often you just get tired.  I brought my sewing machine and have made 2 skirts, a dress, a jacket and some pj bottoms since we got here.  I still have some material for a skirt, jacket and a dress and then I'm going to be done for awhile.  But the women have it better than the men--everyday a suit and white shirt.  All they get to pick is a tie!

On Wednesday we go to the support group for the Early Release Missionaries.  We've had a pretty good turnout lately and Brent has been teaching about every 3rd week.  I enjoy going and meeting the missionaries and their parents.  We're on our 3rd time through the 10 week course so I think pretty soon I could teach it. But I don't want them to ask me.  By the time we leave we should have the discussions memorized.  The group leader has been doing this for 5 years.  No wonder he asks Brent to teach sometimes.  He's been able to incorporate some of the therapy tools he developed when he was at the Liahona Academy so that's been a nice addition to the basic course.

Friday night we went to a summer concert in the park.  It was a 17 piece band playing 40's music--loved it. It was just a nice evening to sit in the park and listen to the music.  Salt Lake is doing a lot of things to try and get people downtown in the evenings and weekends and to have the right kind of atmosphere downtown so families will come and people will shop and walk and visit.  With the new City Creek Development I think they're achieving their goal.

Well, tomorrow starts early.  I'm in the women's choir and it's our turn to sing for the Monday morning devotional and they want us there at 6:24 to warm up, then a day in the office and tomorrow night we need to get things ready to host our zone for dinner on Tuesday night.  Three missionaries are leaving so we're having a good-bye for them.  Love to your all. NP

Easter Sunday

It's been a beautiful Sunday here.  We started off the morning going to the Tabernacle for Music and the Spoken Word.  We sat up right next to Lloyd Newell who gives the Spoken Word.  Interesting to see the technical side of the broadcast.  The music was wonderful and the Tabernacle was full.  They sang "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and the "Hallelujah Chorus"  Then we had a nice Easter program in our Branch.  Brent and I were the narrators.

Last night we went to the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Regionals at the U and saw our neice, Callee Price with her ASU team.  It was fun to see her perform and we got a minute to chat afterwards.  It was her last time with her team as her eligibility is over this year.  She is so cute and did a great job.

This week Erin and the kids came for a quick spring break trip and stayed with us while they saw some of the sites in SLC.  We hadn't seen the boys since Christmas so it was great to spend some time with them.

Here I am in my cubicle.  Notice the bowl of pretzels.  Someone started doing that 6 or 7 years ago and it has been kept up by whoever sits here.  I didn't want to be the party pooper so I fill the bowl every morning.  I get the huge bags at Costco--3 to a carton.  It does bring lots of people to my desk and some stop to chat.  Most people are into free food!!

This is Brent's office.  He sits with his back to the door and his face to his computer about 7 1/2 hours a day--pretty exhausting most days.  Notice that he has no windows.  But he tells people that we are living our dream--serving a mission together.

We were fortunate to get tickets to 2 sessions of conference in the Conference Center.  It was great to be there in person and we enjoyed it so much.  I like watching at home but as long as we're here in Salt Lake we will try to attend all we can.

One night this week a couple in our zone made Mexican dinner for all of our zone.  It was delicious and fun to socialize with our zone.  We are 6 couples and 2 senior sisters so have gotten to know each other pretty well as we have a devotional together 4 mornings a week.  There are so many interesting and wonderful people to meet here.

So time to get ready for a new week--pack our lunch for tomorrow and set out clothes so we can be fast in the morning.  Monday morning we have our choice of devotionals--one with the Missionary Department and one with the Mission.  If we're fast we can hit part of both.  Then at noon is a devotional with the Church Service Missionaries and a FHE tomorrow night.  Will we make it to everything??  Hard to say.  We'll see

More Missionary News

Spring has finally come to Northern Utah and we are loving it.  With warmer weather and daylight savings time we can go for a walk after work on most days and it sure feels good to be outdoors and in the sun.  Everything on Temple Square is SO beautiful with the flowers blooming and preparations for conference.  They have power washed the sidewalks and washed windows and spiffed up the lawns and flowerbeds.  We try to walk around Temple Square on a break in the morning and/or at lunch.  I've started leaving a pair of walking shoes at work.

This week was the opening of City Creek Center in downtown SLC.  It is so much fun and such a good place to walk around on a nice day.  They have tons of shopping and eating and really nice water features--one even has fire and water--haven't seen that one go off yet.  On Friday I turned 65!  Yikes!!  They had a yummy carrot cake for me at work and Brent took me to dinner at P F Chang.  So good.  Some of the GA's in the Missionary Department were traveling last week to Europe and Elder Zwick brought back a 10 poung block of Guitard chocolate that he had been given.  That is a lot of chocolate.  They were breaking it up with a screwdriver and hammer and telling everyone to go help themselves.  We only managed to eat 5 pounds of it the first day so they were really pushing it on Friday to get it out of the office before the weekend.

This is me leaving for work one morning.  Thankfully I haven't had to wear a coat for a few days.  We have sliding glass doors for a front door--a beautiful view at night of the valley and lights and we have a little deck, too.

Here I am with Gretchen (Sister Bray).  We were roommates at BYU and now here she is with her husband serving in our mission--this is their 3rd mission.  Gretchen, her husband, Ken, Brent and I were all in the same apartment complex just before we got married and we haven't seen them since.  One of their daughters was at Ricks and knew one of our girls.  So it was a pleasant surprise to find them here.  Ken has a neat conversion story.  He came to BYU just to play football and ended up joining the church.  Notice my Chico jacket--a great find at a thrift store in Phoenix!

Busy Missionaries

Well, I knew it had been awhile since I posted but didn't realize the whole month has gone by.  Time is truly going SO fast.  We've got a handle on our duties in the Missionary Department and enjoy the great people we work with.  The atmosphere is so great, everyone is so kind and friendly.  I feel like I'm getting more out of this mission than I am giving.  We have the opportunity to go to so many activities with our zone, our social group, the branch and just friends we're making here.  There is so much good stuff going on on Temple Square and most of it is free.  There is no visiting teaching in the 2nd Branch.  Yahoo!!  As a couple we are assigned to home teach one couple and one senior sister.  Well, you know they aren't going to dog you to come so it's pretty easy getting that done in one evening.  We're attending a lecture series on men and women of faith in church history.  The first lecture was given by Elder Nash of the Seventy and was so interesting.  Then we went to a devotional where Bishop McMullin spoke and he was so good, too.  The 3 zones of missionaries who work in the Church Office Building (COB) get together for Tri-Zone Socials 3 times a year.  The one this month was held up in the Conference Center where they do the interpretation for conference and other meetings.  They translate into 93 languages but not all of them are done on site.  They use native speakers and you have to have the ability to listen to the speaker in one ear of your headphones and listen to you saying the translation in the other ear.  Not everyone can do that and good interpreters get burned out in a couple of years.  So they are constantly recruiting people.  Anyway, we had a tour of the facilities (amazing) and then had a dinner and the speaker was William Walker of the Seventy.  Instead of giving a talk he let us ask questions.  What an interesting evening. He's over the temple committee. He didn't/couldn't answer some of the questions but would just smile and you knew there were things he can't discuss.  He told us some antidotes about President Monson and how they decided where to build temple, choose the site, etc.  We went to another fireside where the speaker was Brother DeGuilio who is in charge of the pipeline in Family Search.  He was instrumental in getting the Italian Government to let the church digitize records.  He told us that 1 million names are added to family search each day.  86,000 people are indexing and they hope to have 200,000 soon.  20% of the indexers are not LDS.  Do you know you can serve a Camera Mission?  You go wherever they call you and spend your time taking digital photos of records.  They have cameras all over the world.  China has been receptive to the church coming into their country to gather records and there is a camera in Saudi Arabia.  It's all quite amazing what is happening in Family History.  One night we had dinner with our zone at one couple's apartment.  His parents came to Canada from Germany and they made us a German dinner.  The dumplings were so good--well everything was.  For Valentine's Day we had a nice surprise at our zone devotional.  When we walked into the room there were large red gift bags for all the sisters.  Each husband had written his wife a letter and it was framed with his picture.  What a wonderful gift.  Then they each read their letters.  It sounds like it would be embarrassing or too personal but we all have gotten to know each other and it was just wonderful to share.  On the third Wednesday of each month you can go to the Floral Department in the COB and get a plant for your office--it's called Plant Day.  Then if your plant needs to be repotted or fertilized you can take it back and they will fix it for you.  Cool!  Brent and I have each had the opportunity (?) to give the devotional in the Missionary Department Devotional that is held each Monday.  I did mine on President's Day (no holiday at the COB) and did a patriotic theme.  We sang a patriotic theme, did the Pledge of Alegiance and I talked about the writing of the Constitution.  Everyone seemed to like it.  Brent did his on the Atonement.  It was good.  Once a month the whole Department has lunch together.  This month is was a Star Wars Theme and it was decorated so cute--someone had lots of Star Wars memorabilia and they played some movie clips while we ate.  Another fun thing we've done is meet up with some Wagon Train friends.  A family who lives in Centerville had a handcart in the St. George Wagon Train and we got to know them.  They invited us for lunch on Saturday and it was so much fun to see them again.  We've been to the Bountiful Temple a couple of times.  Our youngest daughter and her family came for a wedding and stayed with us over President's Day weekend.  It was great seeing the grands.  Last weekend our daughter and granddaughter from Cedar City were here.  We took Sunny to see Brigham Young's house.  Well, I feel like I have rattled on and it probably seems like we just go and do stuff--which we really do, more even than when we were at home.  But we're having fun and working hard.  I'm so grateful we can have this time to serve and to enjoy being together and doing so many things.

Home, Sweet Home

First, I have to include a picture of our very first visitor, our friend, Randy, who knows more than we do about computers so will be our dear friend forever.  No, seriously he is an all round great guy and the best home teacher.  Did I get that right, Randy??  So he stopped in to visit (aka work on our computer) and wanted to make the blog.

Now on to our abode.  Will try my luck at loading a few more pictures.  Here goes

The top picture is Elder Price studying his scripture in our dining area.  Yes, senior missionaries do have a more relaxed dress standard!  Center picture is our view--oh you have to love winter.  But it really is pretty to look down into City Creek Canyon and at night we have all the lights of SLC below us.  We finally made it living up on the mountain and we're in a basement.  Bottom picture is our living area.  Do you all remember when this furniture was so lovely.  I almost can.  But we're happy with the amenities we have here:  a garage, our own laundry and a real backyard.

Nancy played for the choir this afternoon and Brent was the narrator for the choir number.  He also passed the Sacrament--hadn't done that for awhile.  Usually the young elders take care of the Sacrament but when there's a 5th Sunday they have the High Priests do it.  Fortunately they could find 2 men who could kneel.  You've never seen so much hair dye and hearing aids as you do in the 2nd Branch.  But these are the greatest people, trying to serve with whatever limitations they have.

Our trainers left on Thursday so we now hope to carry on in their stead.  Wish us luck.

A Day in the Life

This is a sculpture at the MTC.

We get up at 6 AM on weekdays.  Unlike young missionaries we don't have out time laid out for every hour of the day.  We were encouraged to have personal and companion scripture study, to get some exercise, to communicate with our families and to enjoy uplifting activities:  concerts, plays and sightseeing.

So we rise and shine, make the bed and pray. Then Nancy showers while Brent fixes breakfast. We eat together and Brent showers while Nancy loads up the dishes (yes, we have a dishwasher but no garbage disposal, go figure).  We finish getting ready and read our scriptures until 7:30 when we bundle up and leave our apartment.  Fortunately we have a garage to park in so no scraping the car.  We drive down the hill, past the state capitol and around the Conference Center and down into the parking garage.  If it's a nice day we go up the south elevators so we can walk a little.  If it's cold we walk over to the east elevators so we exit the CC and just have to cross the street to the COB.  We go into the building and use our security badges to access the west wing.  We take the stairs to the 3rd floor and there we are!! At 8 we walk down to the 2nd floor and have a devotional with our zone Tues-Fri.  On Monday mornings we stay on the 3rd floor and have a devotional with the whole missionary department.  Then to work.  Brent has a little inside office and Nancy is in a cubicle nearby.  About 12:30 we go downstairs to the cafeteria where we eat our lunch we brought from home.  Sometimes we'll augment with soup or salad or a soda.  There is a grand piano and someone plays during lunchtime.  We take 45 minutes to an hour sometimes going up to the lobby and sitting in the sun if there is any.  Then back to work until 4:30 when we head back to our apartment.  In the evenings we try to have companion study and do a little housework or laundry so it isn't all there for Saturday.  On Wednesday nights we go to the LDS Family Services office to attend a support group for early release missionaries and their parents.  Before we go to bed we pack our lunch for the next day and make sure our clothes are ready.  And that's pretty much it.

This week we had a zone activity on Tuesday--dinner at Lamb's Grill.  And on Thursday we had lunch in the Jos. Smith Bldg in the Garden with the head of Family Services and the 2 mental health employees who we work for.  On Friday night we went to the Bountiful Temple.  It is so pretty and we enjoyed doing a session there.  The downtown SLC City Creek renovation is getting done.  The grand opening will be March 22.  It is really nice with a lot of landscaping, water feature and shopping.  It goes well with the Gateway and will make downtown a very attractive place.  Today (Sunday) Nancy starts playing for the choir.  The choir director told her that they prayed her here.  Well, we'll see.  But the snow stopped last night and the sun is shining so it looks like we can make it.  The bushes in our backyard are beautiful with snow piled on the bare branches and the sun shining.  We have a view across City Creek Canyon and we really enjoy it.

I think I need blog lessons because the pictures aren't loading like they did when I was at home.  But will try to figure it out better and send some pictures of where we live.  Happy Day everyone!!

Getting Settled

Getting Settled

I started out tonight with the idea that I would add some more pictures from the MTC and from our apartment but for some reason our computer doesn't want to load pictures right now. The internet is great but it's also the source of my greatest frustration.

We thought we had out internet hooked up last week but the phone jacks in 2 of the bedrooms aren't working so, finally, last night we figured that the computer would have to go into our bedroom as it seems to be the only working jack we have. So we rearranged the furniture and move the computer and now we are hopefully in business.

Well, a little about the mission. We arrived in Salt Lake on the 6th from an amazing week at the MTC. We had lunch and orientation at the Joseph Smith Building with the other 35 missionaries who had arrived in our mission. Only 8 of us had been in the MTC because the family history missionaries don't go to the MTC. We met our Mission Presidency and our Branch Presidency and got our pictures taken. One of Brent's friends from high school is here serving at the Family History Library. We also met one of Nancy's roommates from BYU and her husband, Gretchen and Ken Bray. They are in our branch, too. We haven't seen them since we got married but we were all in the same ward and apartment complex back then.

We got our stuff into our apartment on Friday and Saturday we put stuff away and went shopping for groceries and other needs. Sunday we went to our new Branch, the Salt Lake 2nd Branch in the Salt Lake Stake. We're in the oldest stake in the church and meet in the stake center just west of the Conference Center. Behind the pulpit is a large stained glass window depicting the First Vision. It's really beautiful and not something you see in churches. We were also warned that because our church is right downtown you have to be careful about leaving your coat hanging in the hall as people wander in off the street and take coats if they need one!

Our Branch is senior missionaries and 65 young elders with disabilities that would keep them from serving a proselyting mission. They work up the canyon in the vaults and in the FH library. They are an interesting bunch but bless their hearts for wanting to serve missions. They jump right up to bear their testimonies and the Branch President finally had to get up and close the meeting even though everyone hadn't born their testimony.

Monday morning we reported at 7:30 to the devotional and were introduced with all the other new missionaries. Then a short orientation and off to the COB to begin our training. The first 2 days were a bit overwhelming as we did some work and also had to get our security badges and parking permits. Because we have to drive to work we have parking privileges under the Conference Center. After 3 PM and on weekends we can also park under the COB.

On Monday night our Branch had a "Hail and Farewell" potluck dinner. They have this every other month to say good-bye to the missionaries who are leaving and welcome the ones who are new. Our Branch President does magic tricks so he dressed up in his clown outfit and put on a magic show for the program. He's really pretty good!

Time to sign off and write more later.

First Day at the MTC

We have been here for 24 hours and it has been the  most amazing experience.  Everyone needs to go on a mission and come here.  We arrived in time to go to the Sunday night fireside.  Our nephew, Mason Price, was sitting just 3 rows behind us so we got to visit with him and met up this morning for breakfast.  We had wondered how we might find him and there he was!

 Sitting in the auditorium and singing with all the missionaries was a thrill.  We have a nice room in a new building, very comfortable bed and our own bathroom.  They make it very comfortable for the senior missionaries and are concerned that we take care of ourselves and work at a pace that we can.  There was a large group of senior missionaries who came in today--about 100.  After orientation we had our first meeting and everyone introduced themselves.  Most of the couples and some single sisters are from Canada and the US but they are going to the whole world:  China, Cambodia, Jordan, Croatia, Moscow, Africa and the US.  And there are a number of different things that they are going to do from welfare and humanitarian services to a controller in the church office building and a water rites specialist in the church real estate section.  There are a number of nurses going to the West Indies and S. America and one nurse going to the Navajo Reservation to teach CNA and LPN classes, hopefully leading to a RN program down the road.

 We have an exercise room just down the hall along with vending machines and an ice machine--just like a hotel.  The food is good and there are several choices at each meal.  Still some of the elders eat cold cereal for dinner!!  It's interesting to watch what they pick to eat. One elder at breakfast had a plate of eggs, sausage and hash brown, a plate with 2 bagels and another plate piled with some pink stuff--finally figured that it was cream cheese--on it's own plate.  LOL  Well, I'm tired and we have a long day tomorrow with classes using Preach My Gospel.