Mission Training Center (MTC)



We arrived at the MTC, Provo, Utah on November 7th and we left or if you read this today, will leave the 21st November.  During the 1st week, were were taught how to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We would meet in smaller groups and have practical exercises teaching different principles of the gospel to each other and to "investigators", who were roll playing volunteers.  These smaller groups were called districts.  There were four  couples in our district, including us.  The Hambelton's are going to Scotland as Employment Specialist, the Johnson's  have gone to Guatemala as Area Dentist, as he is a dentist, and the Kellems have gone to Kenya as Employment Specialists.  We learned to love these couples and have become good friends.  Just as a side note, Sister Johnson's niece and her husband are currently living in Moldova, in the city where we will be living.  Also, the Kellems know the niece, as they are neighbors.  It is a small world. 



Large picture, left to right, Kellems, Us, Johnson, and Hambelton.  The top left is Brother Barney and Us.  The lower left is Sister Hale and Us.

Sister Hale and Brother Barney are both return missionaries and would teach us in our small groups.  In addition to classes during the day, we also had 2 hours of language training at night.  We are trying to learn Romanian, which is a Latin based language.  Thus our limited Spanish has helped.  We did this both weeks while we were in the MTC.

Sister Statley and Brother Lyons.  Sister Statley was our language tutor to start, then Brother Lyons took over.  Sister Statley served in Romania and Brother Lyons served in Moldova. 

The 2nd week we were again divided, this time into welfare missionaries, which we are because of Humanitarian call, office missionaries, those that will work in the mission offices, and temple missionaries, those that will work in the temple.  Our welfare group went to Salt Lake City on Monday and visited Welfare Square.  This is where the church has a Bishop's Storehouse, which is similar to a grocery store.  Those that are in need of assistance can come here, after being interviewed by their Bishop, and obtain the necessary groceries and some clothing for their families or themselves.  In return, they are required to perform some type of service as designed by the Bishop.  Also, there is a bakery on site that bake many loves of bread used in the storehouse and is staffed mainly by church volunteers.  There is also a facility that was bottling applesauce to be distributed through out the church.  They also have a milk, cheese, and other packaged drink mixes facility, that package the various products and then are shipped to all the church Bishop Storehouses for distribution.  In addition, some of these products are used by other non-profit organizations, such as the Catholic Charities.  Further, there is a quality control lab that is used to test the quality of the products produced at Welfare Square and a cannery where members and non-members can dry pack goods.

 

The top left is the quality lab, the Welfare missionaries at the milk processing.  Upper right is the cheese production and below it is the more Welfare missionaries.  The center is a Catholic charities vehicle and the the loves of bread waiting to be sliced and packaged.  The lower left is a Humanitarian Aid package that might be sent to various parts of the world that have suffered a disaster,  The next photo is all the different items that are packaged and the next photo is the cannery.

The rest of the week was spent learning about the various projects that we would be responsible for.  They are clean water, vision, wheelchair, neonatal resuscitation, and food initiatives.  We will be the project managers over these projects and make sure that they are completed and are following the guidelines set out in the contracts.  We will work with short-term specialist in the various specialty fields.  The church will partner with various governmental agencies and other charitable agencies.  In addition, we had an over-view of family services and addiction assistance.  As we were told, we will be the Welfare experts and are there to assist the local church leaders and the people of Moldova.  We are anxious to get going and to be of service where ever we can.

This is the group that went through the welfare training with us.  Left to right, Fred and Candy Berthrong, gone to Chile, Us, John and Donna Wollenzien, gone to Mozambique, and Richard and Anna Lee Johnson, gone to Guatemala.

As I said earlier we are leaving on the 21st, at about 8:00am from Salt Lake City and fly to Dallas, TX for a 3 hour layover.  We hope to see some of our children for a short period of time while we are there.  Then we go to Germany for three days of additional training and to celebrate Thanksgiving with the American Senior  missionaries.  Then it is on to Bucharest, Romania and meeting the mission president and receive instructions as to what he wants us to do.  Then on Saturday the 26th, we take a train, overnight, to Chisinau, Moldova, which we will call home for the next 18 months.  Therefore, the blog will not be updated until we arrive in Moldova.







Pre Misson Training Center in Utah

We left for Utah on the 3rd of November, to visit Kathy's father, John and step-mother, Leta Harding, who are living in Pleasant Grove, Utah.  We were met at the airport by a couple we knew in Cuidad Guzman, Mexico.  Paul Baker was a missionary there and his wife, Erica, was baptized there.  They are married and are living in Utah and have a son named Matthew, with another child on the way.  It was very good to see and visit with them. 



Us and the Baker's

 They took us to Pleasant Grove, where we stayed until we entered the MTC.  While in Pleasant Grove, Kathy's brothers, Ken and Dale came to visit, along with their wives, Harriet and Lana, respectively.  We were also able to go to the Salt Lake Temple during this time.  Yes, that is real snow on the trees in the background.
 


Ken, Harriet, Lana, Dale and Kathy at the Salt Lake City Temple

  We were able to meet with some of the missionaries and their spouses who served with us in Argentina.  Those that came to dinner Friday night, 4th of November, were Manuel and Rubi Legizamon, Gianna, their daughter, Chris and Leticia Bishop, Tucker, their son, Myntille Nash, JJ Steadman, Jeff and Brittny Lee, Ruth Liebel and Carolina, Myntille's roommate.



JJ, Brittny, Jeff, Chris, Tucker, Leticia, Ruth, Manuel, Rubi, Carolina, Myntille and Gianna


Then on the 5th, we were able to have a family dinner, to include Tami Criddle, Kathy's sister, her daughter and her husband, Matt and Alia Maw.  Also, Ken's two children came, Suzan Wallen and Patrick Harding.  We were able to visit with Suzan eariler in the day and meet her two daughters, Mindy and Abbey.

Mindy, Abbey, Suzan, Tami, Matt, Alia, Patrick and Suzan

Then on Sunday, the 6th, we attended Kathy's father's ward where her uncle Wally and aunt Carol Harding also attend.  We were able to corral everyone long enough to get a group picture.

Dale, Ken, Patrick, Lana, Harriet, Leta, Dad, Uncle Wally, Aunt Carol, and us

The last few days

We have been busy preparing to leave by getting things in order around the house and visiting family.  It is hard to say good-bye, but we know that we are doing what the Lord would have us do.  We have been able to visit all of our children and the grandchildren, except those who are far away .  We have also been able to say good-bye to good friends and extended family.  We will visit other extended family prior to going to the Mission Tranining Center, in Utah.

We were set-apart as missionaries on Sunday, the 30th of October, by our Stake President, President Peterson.  This is done by someone who has the priesthood authority, bestowed upon him by the leaders of the church, to give us the authority to be representatives of the church.

President Peterson, Kathy and Ray

 He pronounced may blessing upon us to include protection for our families while we are gone, good health, the ablility to assist the people in Moldova, and the inspiration to know what the Lord would want us to do for the people of Moldova.  It was a very spiritual and comforting blessing.

So now it is off to the Mission Training Center to learn how and what we are to do for those in need in Moldova.