The Missionary Training Center

After anticipating this day for almost 9 months, we finally made it to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.  One word to describe this place, “incredible”.  The spirit on these grounds is amazing and there are currently about 1,200 young missionaries and 100 senior couples.  The excitement and enthusiasm of everyone is contagious….as we all anticipate where we will be living over the next 12-24 months.  The church is sending missionaries out to teach the Doctrine of Christ in over 150 languages in countries all over the world.  Our mission is to invite people to come unto Christ.  While we are focusing on our mission, there will be office responsibilities, humanitarian projects, teaching assignments, medical advisors, dental work, Pathway program, reaching out to young single adults, working with members in various assignments, housing construction, etc…….the list goes on and on.  There are actually 109 different assignments for Senior Couple missionaries, so there is  lot of opportunity for everyone to do something globally. 

Our assignment will be to work in the Mission Office as the finance secretary and mission secretary…..which will include a lot of other responsibilities other than the flow of money and the administration duties of the mission.  The Ghana Accra West Mission has about 170 missionaries currently.  There will be a lot to do to keep all of them going strong.  As I mentioned above, the spirit of what we are doing is felt 24/7 on this campus.  You can see from some of the pictures below what it looks like and some of the people we are working with.  The sister missionaries that have been assigned to our group are amazing……Sister Allen and Sister Willis. And Elder Brunjes is awesome. They are all returned missionaries and work here in the MTC.  There are about 1,700 employees that teach and work at the MTC.  It is an amazing place.  We have been in classes all day this week and devotionals at night.  Words cannot express the feelings we are experiencing, the spirit we have felt, and the joy we have as we are taught not only how to teach, but also reminders on how to love the people we will be around.  One couple in our group will be going to Peru, one couple to Spain, and one couple to Alaska. And of course we have been talking to people going to Europe, Asia, and South America.  Pretty incredible.  There will be a lot good work done not only for the people of other countries, but also what it will do to each of us as we serve others and invite them to come unto Christ. I know Jill and I will come back “changed”…..in a good way.   We are excited and anxious to fly to Ghana the end of next week. 

MTC

The Family after our Farewell Sunday

Saying Goodbye from Hiddenwood Ct.

Saying Goodbye from the Abillas

Our Grandson Clayton teaches at the MTC

Our Bishop's son, Thayne Merrill, also teaches at the MTC

Our Teachers...Sister Allen and Sister Willis...both returned missionaries working at the MTC teaching Senior Couples

Provo Temple

Our District. One couple going to Peru, One couple going to Spain, and One couple going to Alaska.

The MTC is amazing and words cannot express the feeling and the spirit that is here on the grounds. We are having a wonderful experience and we haven't even reached Ghana yet.