Entering the Missionary Training Center! 11/7/22

Well, the day finally arrived! We were scheduled to report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on November 7 at 9:30am. We packed up our things from the hotel and drove the 5 or so minute trip over to the MTC. We were given our keys and key cards, and packets for orientation. We went to a Meet and Greet where they had cookies and fruit, along with stations where we picked up more information from the booths. 

We got our picture taken in front of the infamous world map, and we ran into President and Sister Pickerd! It was so fun to see some familiar and friendly faces. The Pickerds were Lukas's and Hanna's mission president and his wife/mother of the Italy Rome mission. They have been so supportive, and they even came to L + H's wedding in the Las Vegas temple, as well as to their reception and also to their wedding open house up in Midway! They are serving right now in the mission presidency (and Relief Society Presidency) of the MTC. We even had the privilege of having lunch and dinner with them a few times in the MTC cafeteria, which was fun. They are really great people! 

We had classes each day starting at 8:00. We stayed right at the MTC for the whole time (some of the senior missionaries go to a local hotel for a week). We ended up enjoying that we stayed right at the MTC, as it was so easy to just go from one class to another, and if we needed to run back to our apartment, it was just a few minutes away. Our day went like this: We could have each meal at the cafeteria...but we would just not have breakfast or eat something small in our little "apartment/room" (it was a room with a bathroom and shower - sort of like a hotel room. We had a small refrigerator, shower and bathroom facilities). We would take our water bottles and go over to our class, which would usually last all morning until before lunch. We then would have lunch in the cafeteria, where they actually had pretty good food! There was always a full salad bar, and there were also a few soups each day. Besides this, there were 2 big meals of the day - and also they had a few other spots where you could have a Hawaiian bowl or another bowl. The workers would ask what you'd like in your bowl and they'd put it together for you. This - and there were always lots of desserts to choose from. As seniors, we had to pay for our meals (which were not super expensive - about $7 each per meal). Anyway, after lunch, our next classes started around 1, so we would go to our afternoon classes. We usually had the same 3 couples in our classes (the Suisses, the Wilkinsons and the Webers). We had morning classes with one teacher, Sister Judd - and the afternoon classes with Sister Ogletree. The Suisses were going to Lithuania for the third time on their mission!!! They are a really fun and interesting couple. Sister Suiss is an art teacher, and Brother Suiss is a goat packer and hiker. They've just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Also we had the Wilkinsons from St. George, and they're headed to the Washington Seattle mission; and we had the Webers from Idaho, who are going to Arizona. 

We would have "break-out" sessions also, where we would meet with other couples outside of our little group. This was fun, as it is nice to get to know new people! The Hatches were a cute couple that we were paired with for several activities. They are from Santa Clara (near Ivins/St George) and they've been called to serve a mission in their home area. They'll specifically be working with helping with the temples and temple open houses (the new temple, and also the regular St. George temple as it is being re-done). That was fun to meet with them! We also met the Parkinsons, and they are from Logan, Utah. They also have a vacation home in Ivins, which is super close to our home! They are also serving their mission in their home area. 

Devotionals

We had several devotionals while we were in the MTC. The first one was the day after we arrived and it was with Elder David L. Bednar of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. That was pretty awesome! He is a great speaker and is so educated. He spoke about many things, and primarily talked about sequences and how the order of most things are performed in life is very important. He talked about the 10 virgins and about those who were prepared and those who were not. Also, I loved that he mentioned that this is a gospel of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances. There is always a way back, because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He also said that you serve a mission for Him, and because of Him (Jesus Christ). We need to put Jesus Christ first. 

Elder Ridd and I tried to work out and exercise as much as we could. Therefore it was not every day, but many of the days, that we worked out! It was a little different than normal, as at home we try to exercise at the start of our day. At the MTC, we would work out at the end of the day. They had a really great gym there though - complete with all sorts of free weights, ellipticals, bikes, etc. We would go down to work out after our dinner and later devotionals were finished (and our dinner was digested). Since the young missionaries had to leave the gym around 8:45pm, we would head down about then for our workout. We were generally the only people in the gym at that time! So that was pretty awesome. 

The laundry facilities were fabulous...it was the biggest, cleanest laundromat every, and it was free to use! We just had to use our own laundry soap. The washers and dryers were top-notch industrial ones, so our laundry was in and out in a super short amount of time! We were also told that they stay open all night, so that night owls like us🤣can use them (since seniors don't really have a curfew like the young missionaries do).