Our Last Week in the MTC

 This was a quote our teacher gave from John Wesley. This is now our new motto!     

Sunday was our day to give the combined Priesthood and Relief Society Lesson in church. We studied all Saturday afternoon and left it in the Lord's hands.

 It was interesting because we had it all planed out and as we sat waiting for church to start Veva said, "I want to start by reading the lyrics to the song, 'Search, Ponder, and Pray'".  I was surprised but later was so glad. Our assigned topic was, "What Role does the Book of Mormon play in Conversion?" It was done so perfectly.

These are the Potters. After our lesson Sister Potter said, "I want to go with you two to the Philippines!". She really won't because her husband makes her laugh too much. They are from Ivans. They are going to Japan where Brother Potter served 45 years ago. Sister Potter is a Bundy. 

The lines keep growing longer. We had over 400 missionaries come to the MTC this week. One hundred and twenty-five of them (one third) are going to the Philippines. 

                    Food is scarce in the MTC now. All were left with is this!

                       

Ice Cream Sundays:) 

     * How is a divorce like a tornado in Arkansas...                

                                                 

                                        Answer: They both lose a trailer.

This is what a couple of the missionaries did in their spare time. The sad part was that the ground keepers came in afterwards and took them down.

How many of you can balance rocks like this?

Pretty Cool Huh? We thought so!

* Being a Mission President is like having 150 Boy Scouts all driving automobiles.

Yes, we learned about Transportation in the Mission Field and putting 18 year olds behind the drivers seat.

     * Here's a story we heard while in our class: 

  David bought a parrot and found it had a bad attitude and terrible language problem. David tried everything to correct his behavior. He was positive, he only said nice things and never used foul language.

Nothing changed, the parrot was still a terrible embarrassment to David.

One day David could not take it any longer and he grab the parrot and through him in the freezer. For several minutes he heard the parrot squawking, cussing, kicking and flapping his wings. Finally it was silent. David was worried that he had hurt the parrot so he opened the freezer door. The parrot calmly stepped out and said, "I am so sorry if I offended you. Will you ever forgive me? I promise I will try hard to act civil". 

David then started to ask the parrot what had changed he attitude when the parrot said," May I ask what the turkey did?"

There is a strict policy in the mission field for the missionaries to keep their homes and cars clean. Mom's start preparing those young men and woman now to make their beds, clean their rooms and always have a clean car!

                     

Veva and I want to share a few examples of unclean cars in the mission field.

Even the Book of Mormons on the back seat didn't save them from being called to repentance.

I'm sure some of you parents have seen worse with your teenagers at home. Gee, I'm sure some of us parents have had worse!

*Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit.

Understanding is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Our teachers pointed out something interesting. It is...that the Lord calls people to come serve when they can be the most selfish in their lives.

When kids are fresh out of High School and when seniors have just retired!

Happy Days! 

We were told so many stories about the sleeping arrangements in the MTC that Veva and I were concerned. Guess what? We were given our own rooms. 

Don't get too excited because we have NO idea what to expect in the Philippines. 

Laundry day was good. The place wasn't too busy. 

I love that they have a giant fan trying to cool off that room that has so many washers and driers going.

Our first day here we were told to check the mail. Veva and I thought that was funny because we wouldn't get anything while we were here. One thing that some of the wards do is have their youth write missionaries and leave cards in boxes of missionaries that aren't getting much mail. 

One day we checked our mail and my daughter Jamie's in-laws, Kurt and Julie Shillig had sent us a care package. Mary Taylor was here so we all opened and shared the treats. The Shillig's are such a thoughtful bunch and I want to thank them for that sweet, sweet and thoughtful gift:) 

       

This is our second and last week in the MTC. Many of the other missionaries in our group has left for their missions. This is the group of us who stayed to get office training. Most of these couple are from St. George so some of you may know them. You've already met the Potters from Ivins so we will look at the others.  

                                             Our classroom for 4 days.

Meet the Bailey's. They are from Northern Utah. Brother Bailey served a mission in Sweden as a young man. When they put in their papers they felt they would go where ever the Lord wanted them to go-

You guessed it, they're going to SWEEDEN!

Sister Bailey was the best. She had been a homemaker all these years so the computer scared her but she is given it her all.

                               This is the Petersons. He is a jokester!

                    *Why did the Prophet tell couples to stop using water beds?

                              Because couples were drifting apart!

Yes that is just one of Brother Peterson's jokes. Sister Peterson grew up in Kanab. They have been called to the Taiwan mission by their son. Well not really but their son is the Mission President there and he asked them to come and serve in the office. Sister Peterson told us that her Patriarchal Blessing said she would serve missions at home and abroad.  So now at 81 she is finally fulfilling that blessing.

Meet the Seegmillers. Brother Seegmiller grew up in St. George. They live in Henderson NV. He is the CEO of a rental company. When the Seegmillers married they set a goal to serve a mission together in Columbia where he had served as a young man.

His good friend who is also part owner of the company took a sabbatical and went on a mission a while back. Now Brother Seegmiller has taken a sabbatical from work and they are going to serve their mission for a year in Colombia.

As the Seegmillers were driving to the mission home, the Church headquarters called and told them that their visa had not come through. The Church asked if they would like to go back home until the visas got there?  They told the Church that they had sold their home and both of their cars so they had nothing to go home to. They will serve in Salt Lake for about a month until their visas come through.

These beautiful people are the Deans from St. George. They are going to the same mission their son served in 18 years ago. They will be going to the Philippines like us but to a different area. 

                                                

This week we had, I was told, more missionaries than last weeks 400. There has been lines everywhere since they came in on Wednesday.

     

Friday night is pizza night so the lines were extra crazy even at 5:30 when supper is almost over.

                 Brother Peterson says, "I spilt spot remover on my dog"!

                                           He's gone!

There are white shirts everywhere!

      Brother Petersons says, " I put skylights in my apartment in New York. 

                                           They look Wonderful"!

                                        The couple upstairs are furious.

Classes ended Thursday afternoon. We have been able to attend the Provo temple...

and the City Center Temple.

This has been a very spiritual and growing time for the both of us. We have felt the spirit each day. We are trying hard to keep the spirit that we have felt here by diligently studying the scripture together everyday. 

It is reassuring in this troubled world to see so many young missionaries, giving up their time to pray, ponder, study and attend class.

From this view the world is in good hands.

We love the work, and the gospel and the joy it brings to us.  We are grateful to be able to serve at this time in our lives. The Lord has blessed us and is still blessing us as we move forward.

We had a most wonderful and glorious 2 days! Before we go into what I call, that "Black Hole" where we're not sure anyone will hear from us again, I'd like to tell you about our experiences.

First, our first week Veva was lucky enough to have a couple from her ward in our week long classes. They were the Housers. It made the classes fun to have friends from home taking it with her.

                     

As for me, my meeting old friends came yesterday and today. 

Yesterday as we went into the Provo City Center temple for a session, our first follower was a friend that I taught with in Palmdale Cal. We were also Visiting Teaching Companions. I was able to meet with her after the session and reconnect. 

What a joy! We just held each other and cried. It is always fun when you meet old friends and they are still- or even stronger- in the gospel. What a wonderful experience and a sweet blessings for the both of us.

                                                   

Today we had plans to go with Mary Taylor to finish our shopping. Mary called and asked if we wanted to go to the temple. Veva and I had hoped to go back to the Provo City Center Temple. Mary said she would like to take us to the Payson temple because it is so beautiful. Mary set the time and we headed to the temple. We knew we were quite early and talked of taking pictures before the session. When we arrived we forgot everything and walked right in.

As soon as I entered, I saw standing by the desk, my dear old friend who was raised in Mesquite but had moved down by Nogales Az. Again I walked right over to her and gave her a big hug. It was such a tender mercy to be in that temple at that time, for me to be going in as she was coming out of her daughter's wedding. We just had to get a picture because we knew we were granted this special blessing before I left.

                       Veva, Doris McCain Castleton, Rita, Mary Taylor

Inside before the session we found they don't rent clothes. There are special circumstances and they must get permission before giving you clothes. One sister saw our name tags and said, "Those name tags clear you". She then took us to the clothing and gave us a tour of the baptistry also. She told us that the Payson Temple was built on an apple orchard so there are apple blossoms everywhere in the decorations. 

Mary was right. It is a beautiful temple. They were having 27 weddings that day in this temple. Apparently it is a very desired temple. One reason, Veva reminds me, is because there are about 7 sealing rooms and they hold about 100 people each.

To end our perfect day we went to visit Mallori (Mary's daughter) and her family and to say Hi to Taylor one last time. Our course Mary's brother Jay was there and we had a blast visiting with them. There were no crocodile tears this time except for when we finally said goodbye to Mary!

Goodbye to you all until we meet again. 

We love you all and will miss you terribly!

May God be with you until we meet again!