Fifteen Missionary Training Centers (MTC) around the world
process thousands of new missionaries through weeks of gospel and language
training. The MTC in Provo, Utah is a busy place this particular week. There are several thousand missionaries being
trained, and 400 new ones just arrived yesterday. The logistics alone are
staggering – housing all these new missionaries and welcoming new ones every
week; feeding several thousand hungry missionaries three times a day;
organizing training for them in small group settings where they can practice their new skills and
become comfortable talking to people; keeping track of immunizations needed for
each one; arranging flight plans; providing language training; handling and arranging service opportunities such as cleaning,
hosting, greeting new missionaries, and lawn care; - it is mind boggling just to think about
it. Watching it in action one feels it
is nothing short of miraculous.
In addition to residences, classrooms and the huge
cafeteria, the beautifully landscaped MTC contains a gym, medical services, a barbershop, laundry
facilities, a bookstore, a travel department, a mail room, a print and office
room, and of course vending machines in multiple convenient places for snacks
and drinks in between meals.
Senior couples or single sisters stay anywhere from one to 2 weeks depending on their assignment. Here is the group of seniors for this week!
Elder Coffey and I planning the next teaching role play. |
Senior missionaries in our district have been assigned to Chile, Japan, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Canada, England, Germany, Baltic, Spain,Vietnam, Belgium, and multiple places throughout the United States. Foreign language skills are usually not needed for senior missionaries, though many, like us, try to learn a little bit.
A husband and wife team taking a few minutes to plan their schedule. They have been called to serve in Chile. This is their second mission.
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Younger missionaries stay from 3 – 9 weeks. If they are learning a language they usually
stay the full 9 weeks. Over 50 languages are taught in the MTC!
But the greatest miracle is all of these young people who take so
seriously their call to serve the Lord.
Their countenances beam as they scurry back and forth between classes,
memorizing lessons and languages on the go, or studying quietly in personal study times. It is a delight to see. They are courteous, respectful, hard working and filled with faith. The world, truly, is in good hands with these missionaries!
Called to serve Him, heav'nly King of glory,
Chosen e'er to witness for his name,
Far and wide we tell the Father's story,
Far and wide his love proclaim.
Called to know the richness of his blessing--
Sons and daughters, children of a King--
Glad of heart, his holy name confessing,
Praises unto him we bring.
Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;
Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;
Forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing.
God our strength will be; press forward ever,
Called to serve our King.
Called To Serve, Hymn # 249
Our next post will be from Vietnam!
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