More of the MTC

It's Sunday evening as I write this, after a full week in the MTC. We have had some profound experiences here, teaching and learning. We spent time this week in the TRC, which stands for Teaching Resource Center or Terrifying Retired Couples -- actually both, I guess. This is where they bring investigators into the MTC for us to teach, who are generally members role-playing because investigators are hard to find around here. But we stay in character and teach them, trying to respond to their questions and concerns. We did this on Wednesday and Thursday, followed up by evaluations from our trainer and more study and preparation for more teaching. I have to tell you, I read all of Preach My Gospel a few years ago when it was pretty new. I made lots of notes in the margins and looked up scriptures and thought I pretty much knew what was in that book. But we have explored it in a whole new way this past week and I feel like I'm seeing what it's all about for the first time! What a great resource! I'm so glad we're learning to prepare in our personal study, but that we don't teach memorized, canned lessons. Rather, we respond to people's questions and needs and seek to teach by the Spirit -- teaching people, not lessons. We have all been a little surprised that we feel that Spirit so strongly in a role play (when we know our "investigator" is playing that role, too), and our trainer said the Spirit is there because we are teaching truth.  I love it!

Before we came here, I was apprehensive about teaching. We won't be proselyting on a military base, it's not allowed, and that was a bit of a relief to me. We were told we may teach new member lessons or institute classes, which would be great, but I told Bruce I hoped we wouldn't be called on to teach investigators, that was just out of my comfort zone. Now, after the training and experience here, I'm hoping we get to teach investigators!

We've also met just wonderful people, heard inspiring talks, had wonderful discussions together and have enlightened and edified each other. I taught the senior missionaries girls' camp songs at Family Home Evening ("I saw Esau sittin' on a seesaw..."), as well as the new verse to "My Heavenly Father Loves Me".  Meal time is delightful, not because of the cafeteria food, but because we have a chance to visit and learn about our fellow missionaries -- people from all walks of life who are putting a wealth of wisdom and experience to good use. A few examples: the couple going to Tacoma, Washington -- he's on oxygen. I don't know specifically what his difficulty is, but he's pulling an oxygen tank around everywhere we see him. His wife told me he's struggling here in Provo, but he does much better at sea level -- they live in California, Sacramento area, and they're serving in Tacoma, and they're confident he'll be fine. Another couple are serving with the Church's legal counsel office -- he's a retired attorney. And he has cancer. His doctor cleared him for missionary service, but the Church Missionary Department was still concerned. So he and his wife are going to Chile for a month for some specific assignment and will then return to Salt Lake and assess his health. They may spend the rest of their mission in Salt Lake working with the legal counsel office in the Church office building, or they may do more traveling. The Church is willing to work with him and allow this couple to serve in whatever way they can. What an opportunity for all these retired folks to serve and do something really meaningful, and for the Church to take advantage of their skills and experience. I'm so grateful we get to do this, and that many of my siblings have served and/or are planning to serve. We are loving it and feeling so blessed!

Here's one third of our senior missionary group (I'm including this one because we're in it!) It's a pretty happy bunch!