Arriving in Asia - The Smells Always Get Me

My dad always said that of all our senses, the sense of smell is the strongest - with the ability to bring back long lost memories enveloping us like fuzzy blankets, stirring the soul and enlivening the intellect.

I wait for it. The doors of the plane open and travel-weary passengers stream into the modern Taipei airport, complete with modern ventilation systems. The air is fresh. No memory streaming just yet. 

Our mission president and his wife greet us enthusiastically.

We head outdoors into the sultry night air. I anticipate the moment. 

Ah -  there it is! The warm cloud hitting the nose and mind with seeming simultaneous precision, then gently enveloping us like a heavy, pungent perfume-laden quilt. 

Memories flood my soul. Childhood playing on the back alleys of Saigon, exploring the beaches in Thailand, riding the ferry to Kowloon in Hong Kong. Then the adult-born memories of hubby-accompanied humanitarian trips to Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Timor-Leste, with previous missions taking us back to Hong Kong and Vietnam. Yep - the smell is still there. 

Saying goodbye to MTC companion and long friend
who traveled with us on the same plane to Taiwan.
 She and her husband are serving in the
Taiwan Taichung mission, to the south.

The thing is - it smells so good! Like an old friend never forgotten- a warm embrace, a soft touch, mingled with a touch of salt air from the China Strait, flowing between China and Taiwan.

We are taken to our apartment, resting behind a rusting metal gate and up one set of stairs. While the blue gate doesn't exactly look like much, and the inside courtyard and dimly lit peeling staircase look like something out of National Geographic, the three bedroom apartment is nevertheless spacious and comfortable. We live like the locals. We relish in it! 

Our apartment is literally a 1.5 minute walk from the door of the church building, which is right next to the temple, which is across the street from the Mission Office. We are pretty spoiled! 

We see the temple as soon as we step outside our apartment gate. The beauty and grandeur of the Taiwan Taipei temple gleams, with tropical palms and fragrant flowers perfuming the humid night air.

The mission president and his wife treat us to shou zhua bing (Taiwanese pancakes) and bao bing (shaved ice - ours with fresh mango and a scoop of mango ice cream on top). 

Making shou zhua bing - thick pancake type breads with delicious fillings

Bao bing - big enough to share the tangy
 sweet Taiwan-famous dessert

Each evening, Fur Elise or other pleasant tunes comes floating through the air up and down the streets.

A bright yellow truck blocks the crowded intersection. Music cascades down its sides and floats melodiously through the neighborhood. The local residents have been gathering, waiting patiently.

An ice cream truck at 8:30 at night? It’s worthy of an investigation, peering through our balcony window to the street below.

No ice cream here – it’s the local garbage truck! 

Imagine if everywhere in the world garbage was soothed with music from the great composers of all time. It's a change of perspective worthy of much contemplation.

So we are welcomed to Taipei through our senses, both physical and spiritual. Our mission has begun!

Inside the Missionary Training Center – Discovering Its Miracles

 “Good morning, Elder and Sister! Welcome to the MTC!” 

Young missionaries greet 

us and show us to our 

room. We don't have to

lift a thing!

A pair of friendly hands effortlessly lifts our heavy suitcases from the car as if they were pillows and lines them up on the sidewalk. 

Greg's brother-in-law drops us off at the MTC, and immediately the welcoming begins.

Inside the lobby we are greeted again – “Welcome to the MTC!” – where a host finds our information and welcome packet and pins our missionary tags in place. 

Outside, 39 flags fly at equal height.
We scan all 39 until we find ours – not Old Glory this time – but another red white and blue banner. 

Flag of  Taiwan, courtesy of
flickr/Alan Wu

The flag of the Republic of China –  known as Taiwan. The flag that will fly in our land and our hearts for the next 18 months. The MTC has 139 flags that get rotated regularly, representing countries throughout the world where the Gospel is preached.

“Good morning, Elder and Sister!  Welcome to the MTC!” We are greeted yet again. Everywhere we turn there is someone to help us in case we get lost or can’t find our next class.

The MTC is a remarkable gathering of nations.  We met an Elder from the Marshall Islands who is on his way to Orem, Utah. A sister from China who will also serve in Utah.  Another sister from Guatemala who will serve in Puerto Rico and another to Vancouver, BC.  And senior missionaries preparing to serve in a wide range of places such as Vanuatu, Kansas ranch property, New Zealand, New Jersey and the Baltic States.  In every corner, hallway, classroom, bench and sidewalk, missionary discussions and gospel principles are being studied and discussed by the young missionaries, whether it be in English or in French, Portuguese, Japanese, Hungarian or Spanish.

During break times, senior missionaries gather and build friendships.

Often we catch Mandarin phrases floating on the air as we pass missionaries in the halls – stopping to chat with them.  We’ve found many going to Taipei. We’ll already be in Taipei when they finally finish their language training and arrive in August. We'll be ready to greet them again!

In no time at all the MTC feels like an oasis of a home away from home where friendships are secured for life – especially in the dining hall, which feeds thousands of hungry missionaries every day with amazing efficiency,

including the 92 senior missionaries who all started the same time as we did - cheerfully ready to take on a new day of training.

It’s one of the great miracles of the MTC – not the learning of languages or operating serene and well-organized traffic control and class training for thousands of young people every day - (although those are miraculous events all in themselves) – but rather the transforming of ordinary young men and women from all walks of life into disciples of Jesus Christ, bearing His name over their hearts, ready to take on the world.

We love the MTC.  This is our third time coming here.  Each senior missionary spends their first week studying Preach My Gospel, learning how to invite people to come unto Christ, studying scriptures about Jesus Christ and His restored church, and sharing our testimonies and faith-filled experiences with each other.

While some senior missionaries head off to their missions at the end of the first week, others spend several days of the second week being trained in their specific areas of emphasis – public affairs, office, self-reliance, Church Education System, military relations, etc. We will receive office training next week, then fly out to Taipei on July 12^th.

Exercise and fitness is important for healthy missionaries. Everyday they are given time for sports, exercising, fitness equipment and fun. Seniors can use the exercise equipment too, and also have their own private gym in their residence building - just in case anyone wants to work off the huge meals provided!

But this week we get to witness a historic moment in Church missionary history. Meet Sister H’s missionary companion – faithful, smart, obedient, loyal, - and a dog.

Brother Leo, a service dog

Sister H has a rare coronary blood clotting disorder.  Brother Leo has saved her life 6 times. When he detects she is in trouble, he dials 911 with his nose. He’s also the most popular missionary companion here in the MTC!

Brother Leo is the first ever service dog to enter the MTC on a mission. And it looks like he is loving every moment.

In spite of his human companion’s serious physical condition, he accompanies her faithfully as she serves the Lord in a way made possible just for her. She was called to serve as a medical adviser, serving from her own home. What courage! What faith! There are no excuses for this amazing missionary pair.

Our District, with our instructor in the center

Our days of training run from 8:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Our instructors are young returned missionaries with patient enthusiasm, gently guiding us on the principles of being a witness of Christ. 

Our evenings are free. Tuesday night we attended an amazing MTC Devotional with Elder Kim B. Clark and his wife as speakers. 

Wednesday we walked over to the BYU Creamery on Ninth to buy some treats (my chocolate run!). 

Thursday night we watched the fireworks of the nearby 4^th of July celebrations. 

Friday we took a walk around the Provo temple. Some of the sisters or couples have their car with them still, and leave to go visit family or friends.

Today (Saturday - our P day, preparation day) we will be spending the afternoon with our daughters, a future son-in-law and a granddaughter hiking the Y mountain and enjoying food and fun.

Tomorrow we'll attend Church together with them. So grateful for our family! Senior missionaries can leave the MTC throughout their stay, and spending time with family is one of the best things to do!

The missionaries here are incredible people with incredible stories of how they got to this point in their lives. It is hard to explain how it feels to be surrounded by such faith-filled servants of the Lord all the time. The missionaries, young and not so young alike, are walking miracles. You don't have to look far to discover that it’s the people – it’s always the people – (and in this case a dog, too) who are the miracles of the MTC. I imagine this might be a bit of what heaven is like. 

Our MTC Group of Senior Missionaries

“Welcome to the MTC!”

 **This blog is dedicated to sharing with others what it is like to serve a senior mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to increase faith in Jesus Christ. You can follow our missionary journey to Taiwan Taipei by adding your email to the box in the upper right hand corner of this page.  If you have questions, we would love to hear from you!  Contact us at: coffey58@gmail.com.