We actually arrived at the Provo MTC later yesterday afternoon after driving down from Rexburg, Idaho and a visit with our youngest daughter, Meredith and her family. We stayed four nights with the Winters, after three days of training last week, Monday through Friday, with the Office of Legal Counsel on the second floor of the Church Office Building.
It was interesting that my oldest brother, Larry, also works in the Church Office Building as the Director of the Temple Department just a few floors above where we were. He came downstairs in the morning to say hello to us and meet a few of our new friends. Then we bumped into him again on the street later in the afternoon and chatted briefly. I am looking forward to going to dinner tomorrow night and my youngest brother’s home, Stan, in Pleasant Grove, just north of Provo. Stan is going to barbeque and his wife, Roslyn will be there as well as Larry, Lynne (Dow’s wife) and Stan plus Jason and I.
After checking in at the MTC, getting a brief introduction, finding our room number 311 in Building S-2, we drove to have dinner with friends from Oregon, Joel and Tracey Christensen. They live on Grandview St. in Provo and have an awesome view of Utah Lake and Utah County from the back of their home. Their children Colby, Logan, and Cooper were there, as well as Nancy Wilson, Tracey’s Mom who lives in their basement.. We had a wonderful meal and time with them. Logan played a piano solo for us, and then he accompanied who plays violin, in a couple of beautiful arrangements of some church songs. Joel is the Bishop of their ward. He and Tracey started a non-profit organization called Now I Can, when their daughter, Colby, was born about 17 years ago with some disease like MS. It has been successful in helping Colby plus several other handicapped children.
We went back to our apartment at the MTC which is quite similar to a hotel room. It is very comfortable and we will enjoy it for 8 nights until we fly out to Moscow a week from today. We each unpacked our two large suitcases of about 50 pounds each, and got organized. Since doing so, I have decided I brought too many clothes, so I am already preparing a bag of things I want to send home. It has been challenging for me to pick outfits that would be appropriate for the hot weather here in Utah now, and to then go to Moscow and prepare for the winter to come. It was about 90 degrees today here in Provo and 69 in Moscow, so therein you can see the difference in the climate already. Moscow is the largest and furthest north Eastern European City. Hopefully I will get this wardrobe issue resolved. I do know that I will be buying my heavy winter coat and boots over there. My friend in Albany, Rochelle King, who has lived in Japan knit us some hats and scarves from 100% wool to help keep us warm.
August 24, 2017
Time has been flying by with us in class from 8 am until about 4:30 or 5 pm every day. We have had some superb instruction from young female and male returned missionaries who work at the MTC as Teachers. They are very skilled and experienced, even when teaching we senior missionaries which can be a bit intimidating!
Brother Haight is one of our favorites. He is from Boston and served in the Salt Lake City Mission. He has a visible scar across the middle of his head from ear to ear, kind of like a hairband, from the surgery he had as an infant. I told him the other day how my grandsons liked having lines cut in their hair for their current hairstyles, and asked if that is what his was sporting. He then went on to explain that when he was an infant, he did not have the soft spot on his skull like he was supposed so, so the docs had to perform this surgery to allow his skull to develop properly. Brother Haight’s insights, questions, and knowledge are incredible, as is that of the other teachers. We have also had Sister Nelson, Sister Richens and Brother Webber. The young teachers average in age about 22-23 years old, many of whom are students here at BYU, working and some married, some single. The girls are very attractive. I think the Church is very inspired to match us senior missionaries up with these talented young people.
\Yesterday we had some technology training with the LDS apps and learned how to tag scriptural references. Today there is more of that on the schedule. We are organized as a Branch and Dad is one of the District Leaders. There are eight of us or two couples in our district. We are together learning all about Preach My Gospel in first large group in the early morning but then divide up into small groups after that. I played prelude and the opening hymn on the piano with our large group yesterday morning. Each couple is assigned to one other couple to get to specifically get to know them. We also are paired up with them in teaching and learning scenarios.
Elder Robert and Sister Zelda Allphin from Lehi, Utah are our partners. They are about in their late 70’s I would say and have just been married a year. They wanted to serve a mission at some point, but were surprised when their Bishop called them in earlier this year to serve. They responded to the call. She has served in Nursery and Scouts for many years and was a beautician. Somehow she has money and has travelled the world extensively. They are a very handsome and wonderful couple.
As with many of the missionaries here, the Allphins will live in their own home and serve as Member and Leader Support missionaries in their own stake. I knew their name was familiar and remembered the Allphin family who Whitney’s family knew in Missiouri , and I remembered meeting them at their wedding. This Brother Robert Allphin is the brother of the Chapman’s friend also named Allphin who live in Missouri. Robert said that in the past he helped his brother(s) set up a business in Missouri. Elder Allphin was a real estate developer here in Utah, after majoring in Chemistry and from BYU.
Our friends and family have been so generous in inviting us over for meals since we arrived here in Utah. Last week, during our legal training in downtown SLC. we enjoyed a dinner with Dad’s cousins, Pat and Mike Case at the Sizzler in south Provo which is surprisingly a very big and good restaurant. Then last Sunday after we checked in at the MTC, Tracey and Joel Christensen had us over to dinner with their children, Joel, Tracey, and Cooper, plus Mom Tracey’s Mom, Nancy Wilson, who lives with them.
Night before last we drove to my brother Stan’s home in Pleasant Grove and had dinner with he, Roslyn, Lynne, and Larry Wilson. Isaac, Rachel and Hadley were there too. We had pork ribs with Mesquite flavoring that Stan grilled and they were yummy. We all got updated on the latest from each of our families. Then last night we drove to Salt Lake to have dinner at Karen and Richard Nelson’s home. Her brother, Harland and wife, Julia, plus three of the five Nelson children, Izzy, Ethan, and Jamen were there. As is customary Karen prepared a delicious meal of homemade Cordon Blue, Pasta, Salad, Steamed veggies, yummy bread, and chocolate mousse for dessert. It was great catching up with these cousins. We also stopped by and visited Aunt Janet at The Lodge, her senior residence, last week while in SLC. She recognized us but was not tracking very well. She weighs about 80 pounds and has not been eating much at all for about two months. After talking to Karen last night, she isn’t sure how much longer her Mom will last.
Our daily schedule is like this: 7-8 breakfast, 8-12 small and large group training on PMG, 12-1:30 Lunch, 1:30-4:30 Teacher training in small and large groups from principles in Preach My Gospel. 4:30-6 Dinner at the MTC although we haven’t been to many of those since we have had our invitations out. Then Personal Time in the evenings. We had a pictures taken with all the missionaries, actually in two groups
Tonight I am looking forward to going to the musical, Brigadoon, which is being performed at the DeJong Concert Hall. BYU Education week is going on this week too, and Lynne is teaching at that, but we have been so busy we have not even been down on the regular BYU Campus. I hope to go there tomorrow or Saturday. The MTC is a world unto itself. Then you can imagine how BYU, another world, is just next door, then also, the Provo Temple is another world. The resources here are incredible. We will get to attend a devotional this coming Sunday evening with a general authority, then fly to Moscow next Monday morning about 8:30 am. We will do some laundry and maybe a little shopping this weekend. Marci Romney has also invited us for dinner sometime, and I have tried to contact my second cousin, Martha Hunt, but haven’t heard from her yet.
Well, time to go shower and get ready for the day. Thank you so much for all your love, prayers and support so far. We send hugs to all our wonderful posterity!
Sister Carlile, Sister MaryLou Holman (retired nurse snd Mother of 5 from SLC going to Kauai, Hawaii to serve in Member and Leader Support), Sister North from Hildale, Utah, (Mother if 9, living at home and serving the FLDS Community), Sister Dana Rempp (mother of 4) going to a different Russian mission from us which is about 800 miles south of where we will be located, to serve in the office. Back row: Bro. Webber (MTC Teacher--RM which served in Barcelona, Spain and BYU student), Elder Carlile, Elder Holman (retired attorney), Elder North (retired physical facilities director of Veteran's Hospital in SLC), Elder Rempp, retired from the Pharmaceutical Industry, Stake Pres, in Boston, lived there for 40 yrs. but recently moved to Far West, Utah, Sister Nelson (RM from Billings, Montana, BYU student majoring in Gerontology with an emphasis on teaching seniors technology).
We got very close to these people in our week at the MTC and learned if our purpose. We learned much and did lots if interactive teaching scenarios, and had fun doing so!
Elder Robert and Sister Allphin are from Lehi, Utah and will be living
at home and serving in Member and Leader Support in their area
Passing through the BYU Bookstore
All of the Senior Missionaries in the MTC from August 21-24.
Our MTC District
