MTC

Today is Saturday, June 2 and we have completed our first week at the MTC.  It has been a wonderful week!!!  Last night we had a short meeting where the Elders and Sisters were invited to stand and tell their most memorable experience about the week.  The first thing that came to mind was the devotional on Tuesday night when I sang in the choir.  Of course there were many more Elders than Sisters, and I cannot tell how wonderful those men's voices sounded.  The harmony was outstanding - even with just one practice.  Elder Zwich from the Seventy was the guest speaker.  He is a twin of my friend Connie Allen from the temple.  Carolyn Ristrup (Darren's mother) was there passing out music, so we were able to visit, and she introduced me to the organist, I think Bro. Mendenhall who knew Susan.  It was all so wonderful.


Another highlight of the week was to have met a first cousin Howard Ashby, Uncle Rod's youngest son.  What a sweet reunion, one of those tender mercies.  We decided we must have seen each other at family reunions 55+ years ago and maybe played together while our parents visited.  I remember going to his wedding reception and thinking what a lucky beautiful couple they were.


 I will include a picture of us and our spouses at the MTC in one of the blogs (when I can get it off the camera).  Howard (Elder Ashby) will be in charge of medical treatment for all the missionaries in the North West: Washington, Oregon, up into Canada, and over into the Dakotas.  (I would guess like cousin Richard Ashby's assignment was when he served in Russia).  I like to think Grandpa and Grandma Ashby were aware that they had two grandchildren missionaries in the MTC that week!


We have been studying "Preach My Gospel" all week, which ended Friday.  This morning opened up our instruction for Welfare Services.  The meeting was very touching with the information they gave and the scriptures they included.  I was in tears most of the meeting.  Monday we will be bused up to Salt Lake City for a tour of Welfare Square, then have lunch at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and be taught by Glen Rudd (Wayne's former Mission President when he served his mission in Florida).  Elder Rudd has been very instrumental in building up Welfare Square and wrote the book Pure Religion, which I have mentioned to in a previous blog.


Tuesday and Wednesday of next week we will receive instruction from the Brethren from Church Offices (they will come to the MTC) and Wednesday afternoon we will leave to come home and pack, and then off to Turkey.  Its hard to believe after seven months, since we received our call, it is finally time to leave.  With all we have been told we will be doing, I'm already feeling very busy.  That's all I ask, that they keep us busy.  

Elder and Sister Edwards - First Day at MTC - 28 May 2012 (Monday)

Sister Edwards and First Cousin Elder (Howard) Ashby
(Youngest Son of Rod Ashby)