Missionary Training Center

How can I describe the Missionary Training Center experience?  It is like being invited to a huge feast and you stand there amazed at everything that is being offered yet overwhelmed because you don't know if you can eat it all.  When we drove into the gates of the MTC we were directed to park our car in a certain area.  As we got out of the car a handsome young missionary came over and welcomed us to the MTC.  He then walked with us into the lobby where people were waiting with our name tags, envelopes with information, and big smiles on their faces.  It was a little overwhelming at how close I was to crying because I knew right then that we were going to have an amazing experience--and we did.  For five days we were busy from sun up to sun down.  We met many wonderful people, attended a fireside at the MTC in which we were overcome with emotion when we looked behind us to see stripling warriors surrounding us in their suits, ties, and smiles.  And saw pops of colors throughout as beautiful young women came prepared to preach the gospel along side those wonderful young men.  We ate breakfast and lunch each day in a sea of white shirts and ties.  There was tons of food consumed every day and yet the lines were never long because you were able to visit with such wonderful people while you waited.  We met incredible people and were continually amazed at how small the world is when you are a member of the church.  Senior couples were going all over the world doing various assignments and except for the ones who had been on missions before they seemed just as nervous as we were.  Our day began at 7 a.m. in the MTC cafeteria for breakfast and then we headed over to a nearby chapel for classes that went from 8 a.m. to around 4:00-4:30 p.m.  We always started together in the chapel where we received instruction from various leaders and teachers.  After the first day we were put into districts with a district leader and then we worked the remainder of the morning in individual classes.  After lunch we again went into the chapel for more training before finishing with our district learning information and getting instruction about the Preach My Gospel.  It was pretty amazing that we all kept coming back!  But honestly how could you not?  I learned so much during those days that I hope will stay with me for a long long time.

This is only our district.  There were over 50 couples.  Our afternoon teacher was Sister Pace.  She had served in Russia on her mission and was from Thousand Oaks, California.  Her younger brother in now in our mission.  In the morning we had a great Elder who had served in South America.  He was also an international folk dancer so one day we all had to get up and learn a dance.  No pictures will ever be seen of that!