What A Way To Begin!

Our training actually started early in September after receiving our call.  We were able to go twice a week to the Mount Timpanogos Temple and spend time, sometimes together, beginning to memorizing the ordinances in Portuguese.  It seems no matter how well you know the language each mission provides opportunity to increase your vocabulary.  In this case it is the sacred vocabulary of the temple ordinances.

On Saturday Sept. 14 we checked into the Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake in preparation for our MTC training in the Salt Lake Temple.  On Sunday we attended the Tabernacle Choir broadcast and later a Stake conference in the Tabernacle.  Monday was the start of our training and dressed in our white clothing we met in the large chapel in the Temple under the direction of Brother Robbins of the Temple Department and brother Carlos Santos, assistant temple recorder.  I found it hard to keep my mind focus as the Temple itself was so all consuming of my attention.  Each day we were instructed in one of the ordinances and then participated in that ordinance.  Our training ran from about 8 to 4 each day and included lunch in the temple cafeteria.  One day they were serving turkey and all the trimmings.  I decided that that day would be my Thanksgiving Dinner that we would not have in Brazil.  It was delicious! We loved hearing all of the stories of the good and not so good things that happen in the temples and Brother Robbins' constant reminder that "that doesn't invalidate the ordinance".  I wondered why he was emphasizing that so much until we began our service and came to appreciate the fact that mistakes do happen.

There were 19 couples and 3 single sisters in our company who will be serving in England, Korea, Bolivia, Russia, South Africa, Washington DC, Samoa, Philippines, Colombia and of course, Brazil. I think only 2 of the couples had not served previous missions.  We were probably the oldest couple in the group!  As a finally to the week we were taken on a guided tour to some of the special rooms in the temple.  I would some day consider it an honor to meet some of the faithful servants who built this holy place. 

Our day ended with a short visit with Elder Ulisses Soares and Elder Carlos Godoy at the church office building where they are currently serving.  Two men that we dearly love.

Donna, Ken and family came up Wednesday night and we went to the Red Iguana for dinner.  Had to get our fill of Mexican food before we left.  Generally it doesn't exist in Brazil unless we make it.  Thursday afternoon Sept. 19th we were on our way to Recife, Brazil by way of Atlanta and São Paulo, a 24 hour trip including layovers.