Week one!

Well, we're just beginning our second week here.  We have stayed busy at the Institute, meeting with Brother Mackay and cleaning up our office and kitchen.  Brother Mackay is orienting us to the teaching methodology for the Seminaries and Institutes Program, and we have been reviewing the Handbook so that we are fully familiar with it.  It's a fabulous way of teaching the gospel - studying the scriptures in sections, finding the principles and doctrines in them, and helping the students apply them in their lives.

Tuesday, we met with Brother Mackay and the secretary, Lori, for a couple of hours, then went to work.  He's new at this Institute, and it will be just him and us. So he's still orienting himself to what needs to be done, and we will have a better idea later how we fit into that picture.  

Wednesday, we attended his night class on Isaiah.  It is well attended, the room was packed with about 40 students.  He informed us that he will be out of town in August, and will need us to teach the class, so what a way to jump in!  Isaiah - here we come!

Could there be a more beautiful temple?  Thursday, we were able to go there, and perform Initiatories on the names that our granddaughter, Emma, was baptized for when we were at the MTC. We're hoping to do a little family history work here in our "free time" and temple attendance is encouraged at least once a week.  With family that can do the baptisms, hopefully we can get some names completed!

As Elder McGuire stated earlier, our apartment is on the second floor.  There are actually only 5 apartments here, the rest of the area is an RV park.  I was getting very tired of the stairs until they kept us dry when the downstairs apartments flooded! Elder McGuire tells me that the problem is that it seems like we go shopping for something every day, and then have to carry it up the stairs.  Hopefully we're pretty well stocked with what we need now for awhile, so the shopping can slow down.

Tomorrow we speak at the YSA 1st Ward Sacrament Meeting.  We're getting to know some of the Young Adults and are anxious to know more.  We went to a Stake Pioneer Day breakfast this morning and talked to the few Young Adult's that were there.  We'll continue to learn what we're supposed to do to serve them!

The First Week

Well we've been here a week and we are still settling in. There is only one Institute class going and the Director, Brother Mackay, is teaching it. We are just getting some things done at the Institute like cleaning out two refrigerators. That took about four hours on Friday. We have been trying to go to activities and catch some of the YSAs we met on Sunday. We seem to run into some at stores and have chatted with them. It has been nice to get to know them better. Two of them are scheduled to be baptized on August 8: Lei and Katherine (Kat).  Lei is from China and has been here about five years. She is living with a member family and got acquainted with the Church through them. Kat's boyfriend, Nic, got baptized almost two years ago and is now looking at going on a mission. She comes from a Catholic family and her father is having a hard time with her getting baptized.
One of the real challenges is to get to know the YSAs. Bishop Goff wants us to help plan some Firesides   He is really trying to provide a lot of activities for them to be involved. He also wants us to be involved with fellowship efforts. We will meet with the other Bishop, Bishop Skaggs, next Sunday to see how we can help them.
We hope in the next few weeks to get a better idea on how to spend our time. We feel like we are unsure about what to do, but other senior missionaries have told us that is what happens when you have the assignment we have. You have to feel your way and figure out what the Wards and the Institute need.

Sister McGuire mentioned the rains, but failed to tell you that the apartments we are in were subjected to some flooding from a nearby drainage canal. The two missionary couples on the lower level got some water in their apartments, but not too bad. We're high and dry on the second floor except for the puddle on our landing.
Sunny San Diego has been wet and humid; unusual for July. But it has been fun getting to know the area - gps is wonderful!  Our apartment is small, furnished with great used furniture.   The YSA's are fun to be with and it will be great when we get to know their names. So much for old minds to learn.

We arrived!

We just got out of the car at the Mission Office! Obviously, Elder McGuire is happy to be here!

We're in beautiful San Diego! However, we brought the rain with us - San Diego has been drenched with rain since we got here! California desperately needs it though, so maybe our arrival is bringing them blessings!

We moved into our apartment. It's very similar to newlywed life - a little bit of used furniture and used kitchen supplies. They were so excited to show us that they found 4 matching plates for us - check out the pattern - 

I guess it will be Christmas every day at our house!

On Sunday, we attended both of the Young Adult Wards that we will be working with. What a wonderful mix of cultures, new converts, investigators, and longtime members.  I think we're going to really enjoy working with all of these eager young people. (It will keep us young, right?) We're being put right to work, one of the bishops has asked us to speak next week already. Sunday night we attended the Mission President's Fireside. We heard many testimonies from new converts plus listened to many musical numbers provided by the missionaries, including a missionary choir.  Very inspiring!

Our new office at the Institute Building

Today we went over to the Institute Building at San Diego State University. The Director was not there, but we met the secretary and got a tour of the building. Elder McGuire and I will have an office that we will be able to use. It will become a home away from home, I'm sure. We feel so very lucky to have such nice facilities, most Senior Missionaries are not as fortunate.

On Our Way to San Diego!

This is our last day at the MTC. (My daughters tell me I need to work on my "selfie skills", so sorry for how goofy we look!)

We have loved it here! Last week, we learned about being a missionary and using Preach My Gospel. This week it's been all about teaching. We have learned so many wonderful things, things I wish I'd learned 40 years ago about effective gospel teaching. It makes me very excited to go to work, doing what we have been called to do!

The MTC is such an amazing place. You feel so removed from the world that it's almost a spiritual shock when you have to leave it. 

We had the opportunity the last night to go to Mapleton and visit with Bill's Dad's cousin, Rupert McGuire. He is 91 years old, and remembers so much about his family. His grandfather was Patrick Henry McGuire, who was the first member of the church in Bill's family. We were able to gather a lot of information that clarified family records. I'm grateful that Kristina lives in Mapleton and can continue visiting with him and gathering his memories.

We only had 24 hours at home to finish packing up and visit with family. I thought this picture was so cute - Julianne took it of her baby, Ellie, while she was having some "Bumpa time." Packing up was hard, but the hardest part was leaving the family. So grateful that I know that this what the Lord wants us to do, or it wouldn't make any sense at all. I know that the blessings my family will receive will far exceed the challenge of our absence! Besides, they're all planning trips to come see us! Yay for San Diego!!

We drove to St. George last night. The condo was ghastly hot, so we sweltered for most of the night. This morning we got up and left shortly after 7:00 am, hoping to get to San Diego before the traffic gets bad. The Senior Missionaries in charge of housing have been working hard to get our apartment ready. Mission, here we come!

Sister McGuire - First Week

It's Saturday evening.  Our first week at the MTC is done!  What a wonderful experience this has been. We were with about 100 Senior Missionaries this first week, learning how to be emissaries of Jesus Christ and studying the materials found in Preach My Gospel.  We had fantastic young sisters working with us daily in our District, helping us train and bringing their testimonies into our classroom.
Friday, we were privileged to view the funeral of Pres. Boyd K. Packer.  The spirit was very powerful as we joined with all of the other missionaries, honoring a man who spent his entire life in service to others.
I'm posting both a picture of 1/4 of our large group (the one we have been in), and our smaller District made up of 4 couples.  Bill and I made lifelong friends, some of whom we will continue to train with next week.

This morning we were able to attend the Payson Temple with Emma, Kristina's daughter, and Kristina's husband, Nate.  This was Emma's first time going to the temple, and we were able to provide 8 family names for her to be baptized for.  It was a very special experience for all of us.  I had forgotten how strong the Spirit is in the Baptistry.

A Week Out

Our first week is finished!  We spent all week going through Preach My Gospel.  It was a wonderful experience.  When we got here they randomly set us in Districts and we were lucky enough to be placed with Elder and Sister McDonald, Elder and Sister Nordfelt and Elder and Sister Hendrickson.  They all have great testimonies and were fun to be with.  We were reminded during the week that we are no longer teaching long time members, but people who know little or nothing of the Church.  We had to simplify our teaching and go to the basics.  It was a good reminder.  We also were able to simulate teaching situations on two occasions which was a lot of fun and yet somewhat stressful as well.  It is interesting that the Spirit comes even in such simulations.  Whenever we talk about the gospel and bear testimony you can be assured that the Spirit is present.  Diana (oops - Sister McGuire) and I have had a great time, but it is difficult to get used to dressing up every day all day.  I love my casual comfort.  I'll just have to live with it for 18 more months.  One last thought: it was wonderful to see all the senior couples and their dedication to the Lord.  They all sacrifice to be here, but would have it no other way.  In the same way, it is great to see the sea of young Elders and Sisters.  They are happy and dedicated and bring such enthusiasm to the MTC.  I am sure it will be the same in the mission field.

First Day at the MTC!

Today was the day!! Checked in at the MTC at 10:30 am.  What a wonderful day!!  We both felt such peace and joy with the opportunity we have of being Representatives of Jesus Christ.  It's quite an overwhelming experience to be here in the MTC with 2000 other missionaries - all righteous sons and daughters in the service of the Lord.  The MTC Mission President described the MTC as a Holy Place, only exceeded by the Temple.  When you consider that everyone there is a "temple-recommend holding" covenant-making individual, it feels like you're in the midst of the Army of Helaman! Brother McGuire was asked to be a District Leader, which means he will be responsible for 4 couples as we continue our training for the next week.

This is a picture of Elder McGuire and myself just as we were leaving our house. 

End of our first day, love the nametags!

Missionary Farewell

Our missionary farewell (or rather, opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting) was held Sunday, June 28.  Following that, we had a very nice family gathering at our house.  Bill and "sons" braved the 100 degree heat and cooked hamburgers on the grill, while we all sweltered and sought refuge in the house. We enjoyed so much being able to see family that hadn't been together for awhile.  Both Sue and Jim (Bill's brother and sister) were there, plus many of their family members.  The picture below shows not only them, but two of Bill's Myer cousins (Brenda and Carolyn) plus spouses.  How grateful we are for family!!

The  topic for our talks was "Temples".  Because there were two youth speakers also, the time went quickly, and Bill had to give one of his "short summary" talks!  Our favorite part of the program, however, was the 15 grandchildren singing "I Know That My Savior Loves Me".  So cute!!  Melted a Grandma's heart!  If you count in the picture below, however, you'll see that we picked up an extra kid since one of McCoy's neighbor friends (Brigham Burns) decided to join in the singing!  Cutest thing I've seen in a long time - I love his attitude of participating when there's a need to "go and do"! I hope I can do that on our mission!