Thatcher Missionary Adventures: Paradise here we come . . .

Our last day at the MTC. It has been 5 days of watching and learning at this remarkable place so full of missionaries. They have multiplied since we arrived on Monday.

This morning I heard my name called out from a group of missionaries and saw this darling Sister headed my way. It was Alison and Greg's neighbor Sister Sheridan Jaussi. I had forgotten that she was coming to the MTC this week and was delighted to see her. Eric had made her promise to try to find us. We took our picture and I think I'll impart (or import) it to you now.

Sister Jaussi
"Oh the people you'll meet!"

It was a day of last instruction and saying good-bye to our teachers. We spent the morning in class with Elder Staheli.

District 13 Thatchers, Jurgaitus's, Blamires, Jorgasons, and Elder Staheli

Towards the end of the morning we met with a total stranger - he was a member of the church and a returned missionary. Our assignment was to visit for 15 minutes getting to know him. Then we had 10 minutes to prepare a lesson we felt would help him and then 15 minutes to teach him the lesson. It was a hard experience for us and a bitter sweet one. He was a wonderful young man but was struggling, and though he was doing everything he was supposed to be doing; reading his scriptures, praying, fulfilling his callings and attending the temple at least weekly, he couldn't seem to feel anything. Our hearts ached for him. We tried to comfort him and have no idea if our lesson helped or not. There are so many people who are hurting. How kind we should be to all we meet.

We ate our last meal at the cafeteria and wondered if we would ever eat at a place that had the same intensity of decibel. That many missionaries filling tables and waiting in lines while visiting enthusiastically with each other can create quite a sound, a low rumble.

Our final meeting was a large group meeting in one of the tall buildings in the new MTC complex. The man who welcomed us said that there had never been such a large and enthusiastic group of Senior Missionaries ever assembled there and of course we were the only group of senior missionaries to be there period! It was an inspiring meeting where we heard Elder and Sister Hawks who have served many missions including 6 years in Samoa at the church school there. They taught us about the joys of serving the Lord, the sacrifices and the miracles they had seen. This church develops people. There is such goodness in those that love the Lord and serve him with all their lives. They glow with goodness.

We said goodbye to our dear friends the Slades and returned to our room to pack up our bags. Then we wheeled our luggage behind us as we walked our last sidewalks at the MTC. Our training had ended our memories are warm and tucked away.

Driving away from the MTC

There really is no place like home. We loved driving up the hill and being home. If we loved it after less than a week we wonder how good it will feel when our year is up and we can come home to Paradise. We carried our luggage upstairs, started some batches of wash, began watering, and dad got onto his lawn mower. Have you noticed how fun work feels if you have been doing everything but work for a while?