MTC and Arriving in Pocatello

Dear Family,

This letter is long overdue. I just read through my journal from the first week of the MTC and realized the thing that has stayed with me the most was not mentioned at all.  I will write on Sundays so I can see the week in perspective and try to share the most meaningful things.

 

Let me go back to the first day in the MTC which is a sacred place.  You can feel the spirit there in rich abundance, but I had a specific instance that has stayed with me every day.  I came out of the Ladies room into an empty hall just as a classroom door flew open and a large group of missionaries came out into the hall and passed by me.  I was overwhelmed with their priesthood power, their enthusiasm, and I said to myself, “This is God’s army going out to gather in those the Lord has prepared for the gospel.” In Star Wars’ language, the “Force was strong with them!” They are as the army of Helaman.  I feel so privileged to be a part of their support team.  I am so grateful to those of you who have served the Lord and look forward to others of you joining in this work.

Danae has offered to make a blog for me, so I have sent her the journal pages from my first week in the MTC.  The second week I was sitting at a computer from 8:30 am to 5:00 p.m. except for breaks and lunch.  By the time, I got back to my room, I couldn’t face my computer again.  I do have some things I want to tell you about the people I worked with during that second week, but today I want to tell you about this week, my first in my mission.
 

Journal entry for Friday, January 20, 2017:

It took me longer to get away from home than I had planned.  I needed to take my shoes out of my big suitcase and start packing all over again, in order to get in the clothes I had taken to the MTC. I was constantly distracted from my packing job by the Inauguration going on the T.V.  I love seeing the pictures of Washington, D.C., but I can’t believe that Donald J. Trump is our President. I am so thankful that Hillary Clinton is not! I will pray for Trump.

 The Balls (that is Brother and Sister Balls that are the Housing Coordinators) met me at my apartment.  I was delighted to find that they had put in new furniture and Kitchen items like a toaster, microwave, and blender.

In the afternoon, the missionaries came by that live in this same apartment complex.  They are Elder Horne from Florida (I think), Elder Benavides from Dallas, and Elder Moonsarn from Thailand. It seemed very unnatural not to invite them in, but I know the mission rules.  So I stood in the doorway and visited.

In the evening, Jennifer Finlinson and her daughter, Julia, came by after their trip to Costco.  They brought me a full array of Melaluca cleaning products.  A great start for my mission.