Provo Utah -- Missionary Training Center!

The famous MTC map!

We flew to Utah on Sunday night, June 10th after a very long few days of fun with family and friends. Saturday, June 9th we had an Open House at John and Marilyn Johnsons house and on Sunday June 10th we spoke at church, had lunch with family and then headed to the airport! Needless to say it was very emotional and we certainly felt the love from everyone. I think about the thousands of missionaries doing this every week and it sure takes on a new meaning now that we have.

We stayed with one of Joes friends in Provo, UT Sunday night and he took us to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) Monday morning. It was a surreal experience! We walked in the door, stood in line with couples MUCH older than us and then they put our missionary tags on us. "Sister Kwan" with the name of Jesus Christ's church under it. What an honor to wear His name over my heart.

We got settled into our room in a building where the couples stay which is very nice. There were only about 30 couples in our group. They set us up in "Districts" like they do with the young missionaries, which ours consisted of four couples. We were also assigned another couple who we would work with during the week. The Edelman's are from Utah and they are going to Japan to be the Mental Health Specialist and Nurse for that mission. GREAT people and was fun to spend a lot of time working with them.

The first day in the cafeteria was quite amazing. We just happened to be sitting by two Elders (male missionaries no matter their age) who are from mainland China, (Shanghai and Guangzhou) who were baptized as kids in China. This is pretty amazing! There are over 100 missionaries from mainland China serving missions in the United States right now. This is a country whose government is still communist and it is illegal to share the Gospel with anyone other than your family in that country. The church is growing there. Hong Kong is a totally different system, with different rules, but that was a cool thing. We have met missionaries from India, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Thailand, France, and on and on. Over 1100 missionaries at the MTC! It is an army of young people preparing to go out and share the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ literally to the whole world.  

Our teachers were impressive and the oldest one was 23 years old :). I can speak for both us us and say we both have been members of this church for decades and we learned a lot!  It was a five day course from the book "Preach My Gospel" with a lot of real life teaching and preparing lessons. More importantly, reminding us that this is not about us nor is it our work. It is the Lords and we are just instruments in helping others feel and or remember what they know. God plants the seeds in hearts and prepares. We just need to listen and be the conduit for Him.

Over the weekend we had an opportunity to see some family and make some special memories with them that I will treasure forever. (We spent Saturday at John and Michelles which was the last time I saw him. I had some alone time with him, as well as a very special dinner with Dave/Linda and David Kwan/Angie). During this week I have definitely had many different feelings and missing those I love. Yet the undercurrent of all of this is, as difficult as it is to be gone for a period of time I know that this is what we are to be doing at this time in our lives. We are both excited to get to work and serve. We leave Monday morning for the airport headed to Hong Kong!

We love you all and can feel your prayers, love and support!

Sister Kwan

Shell shocked at the door of the MTC ready to go in. All I could think was, Is this really happening?

First day, exhausted in every way but excited

This is one of the 12 life-size murals that are back lit in the huge new MTC building.  On the opposite side of the picture, is an explanation of the scripture story it goes with.  There is always a question at the end to think about.  This one is Martha from the New Testament.
The question at the end is:  Are my priorities aligned with the Lords?

Our exceptional MTC teachers!

We were able to see my Uncle David, Aunt Sue and cousins Karin and Sterling Brown.

Making memories with my brother John and his wife Michelle.

 John and Michelles house.  A chef came and made us an incredible Italian dinner. My other brother David and his wife Linda as well as Joe's son and girlfriend were there.

Our MCT companionship, the Edelman's.

Joe and his son David

Our weeks MTC agenda.