MTC Week

June 10, 2012 What can I say about the MTC week? It was busy, intense, spiritual, challenging, tiring, wonderful and a week not to be missed! There were 92 senior missionaries in our class - 44 couples and 4 single sisters. I have to say "Seniors Rock"! Elder Holland says seniors have to "Lengthen your Shuffle"! The oldest couple were 78 years old and this is their second mission! Our class were assigned to missions ranging from Hawaii (3 couples) to Kuala Lumpur, Estonia, Croatia, Argentina, Brazil, across the U.S. and Canada. Serving missions doing proselyting, welfare, health, humanitarian and office. Some were in the MTC for one week - as we were and some were there for two weeks. We quickly grew to know one another, love one another, practicing teaching one another. We ate together, prayed together, sang together and learned together. There is a spiritual depth in seniors that strengthens and stabilizes the areas in which they serve. Some couples were driving to their missions. There were some big motorhomes parked by our car and they left within 15 minutes of the closing prayer. One couple were driving to British Columbia (in the Calgary mission) to strengthen a branch of 8 active members. They would receive a different assignment during the winter when the branch was snowed in. After the MTC week, we finished packing and spent Saturday and Sunday with different members of the family. Todd and Loreen were at Loreen's family reunion until Saturday night. They had hoped to see us Saturday night and/or Sunday before we left, however on Friday night, members of her family at the reunion became ill and it spread like wildfire. They thought they had escaped the illness, but Garrett got sick on the way home and Todd became ill by the time they got home. We didn't get to see them before we left, but have spoken to them and have felt of their love and support for us. Shawn and Vanessa brought their kids over to say good bye on Sunday afternoon. We were all doing fine until family prayer. It was very emotional to hear Shawn pray for our safety and comfort. Quinn and Paul then showed us the video of everyone wishing us aloha. Thanks Quinn! Brook and Lola came to see us and we were able to spend time with them. Thanks to our girls for the hardest job before getting out of Dodge - cleaning out the freezer and pantry. By then, my brain was fried. I don't want to say I'm a hoarder, but it seems I still shop like I have four kids at home and still feed all their friends. At least I didn't find any corn dogs! I had been emptying the pantry for weeks! Several of the kids and Lola came on Monday morning to see us off. Shawn drove us to the airport, keeping it humorous on the way. By then, we were so ready to be on our way. Delta from SLC to LA and then on to Kona. A darling sister missionary and a couple of members brought our car to us. It was quite hilarious to us to try to put four 50lb. duffle bags in a Corolla! Do you know how big a 50 lb. duffle is?? Do you know how small a Corolla is?? We knew we would be tired and it is a 70 minute drive to our home from Kona. So, we had booked a room for the night. Tuesday morning, we hit Wal-Mart for pillows and a few grocery necessities and we left for our home. It is a cute little cottage, which had been on a plantation. The missionary couple before us had furnished it and fixed it up with cute curtains. We are so fortunate ti have an extra room for an office with two desks. Elder Rapier has his laptop and reports on his desk and I have a small corner desk for my ipad and keyboard. I miss my big Mac, but this will serve me well. More sonn! xx Sister Rapier