MTC Week

On January 6th we entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo to help us prepare for our service in Alabama.  Last time we stayed in a room at the MTC, but now live close enough to drive in each day. This allowed more time during the week to put off packing get ready to go.  For the most part our training was from the Preach My Gospel manual.

Our training district

On Tuesday evening we attended a devotional with Sister Joy Jones and her husband, Robert. Sister Jones is the general president of the Primary organization and talked about knowing who we are as children of God and the difference that knowledge can make in people's lives. Brother Jones talked about the gods we choose to worship. Our choices are indicated by where we focus our attention and devote our time. This was the kind of opportunity that can only be experienced at the MTC.

There was time before the devotional to have dinner with two of our favorite missionaries from the Philippines - Sister Cook and Sister Osumo. Four years ago, as we were eating in the MTC cafeteria on our second day there, these two lovely sisters sat down across from us at the same table. We quickly discovered that they were also going to the Philippines Cebu East Mission. As it turned out, we saw quite a bit of them in the mission field. They both served at different times in our zone in Lilo-an and both were called as Sister Training Leaders and we would see them each time they came to monthly Mission Leadership Council.

They are currently attending BYU and are doing well. It was sure nice to visit with them again. (FYI-The handsome guy in the middle is dating Sister Osumo.)

Ryan Cook, Daniel, Krystine Osumo

Now that the MTC experience is over it is onward to Alabama. Last time we flew west halfway around the world. This time we will drive almost 2,000 miles east across the US.  The Philippines were considered an 'English speaking mission'. Well. Sort of. We hear that Alabama is 'English speaking'. Well. We'll see.

Parting thoughts:

Q: Why is it called the MTC?

A: Because there are no fish there.*

Q: What do you get when you throw spaghetti into the ocean?

A: Apostasy.**

*  (Emp-ty-Sea)

**(A-pasta-sea)