Welcome to the MTC!

 

Welcome to the MTC!

There are many options for senior missionary couples, including Humanitarian, Family History, Office Staff, Temple Ordinance, and Historic Site missionaries.  Neil and I are grateful we were called to serve as Member and Leader Support missionaries, previously known as prosyliting missionaries, and for all the support and training we received.  During the 48 days before our call, we were blessed to receive five 2-hour long video training sessions with our mentor couple, the Spencers, who had served two previous MLS missions and were now teaching as a service missionary couple.  That made us even more excited for the training we would receive at the Missionary Training Center in Provo - and we weren't disappointed.  We were well taken care of from the checking-in process to the comfortable room to the bustling cafeteria shared with all the missionaries, young and old.  I have to admit it was quite a thrill to put that missionary badge on for the first time!

 Our first week was filled with whole-group Preach My Gospel training in the mornings and district trainings (8 MLS couples) taught by recently returned young missionaries in the afternoons, with some sort of devotional experience every night.  Our second week followed the same pattern but was focused just on Member and Leader Support - which was very helpful in preparing us for what we would be expected to do once we got to our mission location. Saturday was our Preparation Day and senior missionaries were allowed to leave the campus, visit family, go shopping, etc.  We even went to a BYU NIT game!  Sunday was focused entirely on strenghthening our testimony of Jesus Christ and included Sacrament Meeting with all the senior missionaries, a Go-and-Do experience, and a fireside by the MTC president, Pres. Porter.  Some of the highlights at the MTC included singing in the MTC choir for Elder Neil L. Anderson's devotional (Neil N. didn't sing, but he did get to shake Neil A's hand), going to the temple, rubbing shoulders with all the young missionaries, spending my days focused on Jesus Christ, and above all, the amazing other couples that we met.  So many have sacrificed so much to serve the Lord; surely his blessings will be abundant!