July 16, 2011

Saturday was a busy day. I made a last run to the store where I bought some books for the long flight and made my last visit to Weight Watchers. Bruce and I worked on packing and Lindsey and Dean, Don and Karla, Amie Cragun and her children all came buy. We met Kevin for dinner and then came back to visit. It was nice to have some company to take our minds off leaving.

Mission Training Center July 11-15

These pictures are out of order but this is a picture of 3 of 4 couples that were assigned to different areas of Africa.

This is Elder and Sister Asay assigned to Gauna Africa. They are a very young and committed couple and we enjoyed them so much. Great examples.

Sister Imedia, this adorable sister is from Nairobi Kenya. We had such an amazing experience just meeting each other and I know it was a blessing as we were leaving the MTC in 1 1/2 hours. She is so wonderful and will be serving in the New York mission. We plan on meeting her family

She was as excited to see and meet us as we were. She loves President and Sister Broadbent. Of Course!

We just had to do this pose. . . the famous map photo.

These wonderful couples were in our District at the MTC. All couples were so friendly and we met with them daily for class. We practiced and did role plays and even cried when the spirit was so strong. What a great learning experience for me. I love "Preach My Gospel"

Love and Respect but NO Touching. Another one of the awesome Gordon Boys. Steven Keith Gordon Will be a wonderful missionary for Heavenly Father. One of my favorites :)

July 15, 2011

Friday was our last day at the mission home. By this time the food at the cafeteria has lost a lot of the appeal that it had the first day. We ate very little for breakfast and then went and put a couple of cards in some of our new friends post office boxes then reported to class at 8:00. We did more role playing but this time each mission couple used an inactive person in their family the opposite couple acted as the missionaries and tried to visit and learn about the situation. We then went back and made a plan or lesson to present to the less active family. It was a great learning opportunity. Then we switched roles and we role played a family we are acquainted with. We then took pictures of our district, went to lunch and I tried to take pictures of any Weber High students that I could round up. With less than an hour and a half left before we set for home, we had the blessing of finding an amazing sister missionary from Kenya. Sister Imedia was so excited to find that we were going to her area. She was emotional and I was too. She gave me a message for “the couple that she loves” The Broadbents. She also asked us to visit her family. Oh it was just wonderful and I feel so strongly that she was guided to our path. We then met as couple missionaries for a closing meeting where experiences and testimonies were shared.

We left at 3:30 and went to see Mom and Virg at Greenwood Estates. Mom is experiencing low sodium and kidney failure and was having a hard time being really alert. Deanna,Gary and Laura, Don and Karla were there also. It was an emotional goodbye for me.

Once we got home, some of the kids came by. It was quite calm as we un-packed and started some wash.

July 14, 2011

Today wasn’t as physically tiring as yesterday. We had a excellent speaker Brother Judd this morning his topic was the Book of Mormon it is book of revelation about revelation one that does not repeat by the overlapping of principals. Brother and Sister Tree spoke this afternoon about their missions they have served four. They said the most important responsibility we have is to serve and not to be managers of the people.

Tonight we went to see Addy, Cameron and the kids over in Lehi. We spent an hour with them it was a good diversion and a chance not to feel overly confined.

We also have had some very enlightening and spiritual teaching experiences as we have prepared lessons and testimonies to share. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and gives us the opportunity to learn how to return to live with our Heavenly Father.

July 13, 2011

Today was one of the hardest for me I couldn’t go to sleep last night until very late and then I just had bad dreams that kept waking me. Bruce hasn’t slept well since we got here but life at the mission home goes on. We both have very tired rears from sitting so much and glad we don’t have another week here like many of the couple missionaries.

We gave our lesson on the restoration today. It was recorded and reviewed by our district teacher and then we were critiqued. We felt good about or experience and learned some good things to work on. The investigator we worked with was hard and kept asking various questions. It threw us off but Bruce seemed calmed and was able to bring it around to the restoration. In the afternoon we worked on another lesson the Plan of Salvation. This one is a little more involved and we don’t feel quite as prepared so that will be our nights project. We were able to meet Karla and Don, Kent and Betty Tucker and her nephew and wife for dinner. It was nice to get away but we hurried back, knowing we had to prep for tomorrow.

July 12, 2011

Today was filled with study of the Preach My Gospel Manuel. We learned how to prepare a short presentation and a longer presentation for those who we will have the opportunity to teach. It is very surprising how tongue tied you become trying to explain what you know to be true.

Each day we get up at 6:00 am, breakfast is from 7:00 to 8:00 am classes begin at eight and go all day until 4:30 pm. Dinner is from 4:30 until 6:30 pm. After dinner it is back to our room for reading assignments and lesson preparation until about 10:00 pm.

We will get pills to take for malaria and we both needed another shot $64.00 and $90.00 going on a mission is not cheap. We met a couple here that has saved enough money to go on a mission they have not retired. He is 50 and she is 47 they just quit their jobs because of President Monson’s challenge after they return home they will look for work again.

July 11, 2011

Sunday evening July 10, 2011 Bruce and I along with our family, went to the stake building to get set apart as missionaries. Casey was ordained by Bruce to be a High Priest. Johnny and Rick Lyman, Casey’s father-in-law, stood in also. The Stake president talked about the Hall name and Grandpa Denton and what hard working legacy he had passed on. It was so sweet and very emotional. Then he gave some remarks about serving in the mission field and setting examples. Then all the boys and son-in-laws stood in while Bruce was set apart as a missionary. It was a beautiful blessing and he was given much council and instructed to write in a journal to keep his eyes open and be aware of the needs of the people. My blessing was equally as sweet and so meaningful to me. President Griffin commented on my past calling with the Young Women and how much I loved the youth and I felt very validated. He also blessed us that we would be safe and return home well. I just wish I could have had a recorder.

We went home that night and packed.

We left at 8:30 and arrived at the MTC at 10 ish. Most of the day was filled with information and instructions. There are about 26 couples, most from the western states, going to all parts of the world.

We were surprised how many were going on Young Adult Support Missions. Also a lot of CES missions in many different countries. One couple was assigned to a military base in Florida where they would be military support missionaries. They are all extremely friendly and so far all seem quite positive.

We attended the fireside this evening until 8:30 and then hurried back to the apartment to get ready for our discussion presentation tomorrow.