NICE SURPRISE!

Devotionals are on Tuesday evenings at the MTC.  We do not know who the speakers are ahead of time, but the speakers are inspiring and fun to listen to, so missionaries arrive 1/2 an hour early and the Lorenzo Snow auditorium is always full to the brim. Those who want to sing in the choir come an hour early, yet sound as if their rehearsals began in Heaven before any of them were born!  The music and the sea of missionaries manifest an aura of marvelous.  It really is a scene quite singular and special.  

The nice surprise this evening is that tonight just happened to be the Celebration of the Jubilee year (50th Anniversary) of the Missionary Training Program!  Previous MTC Presidents and wives were present, plus many honored guests and our speakers were Elder Nelson and Elder Holland!!!  What a time to be in the MTC!  We loved being in that meeting!

And again, while the congregation is singing: "Called to Serve" I wipe at my chin and wonder why everyone else seems to have the 'D' word down.  (The D word: 'Dignity').  Everyone around me (and as far as the eye can see) stands tall and sings happily...while I am bent over using my hem for a hand-towel at my profound joy!  It really is touching to me to be a missionary.  I love to put on my little black name tag and represent 'A Igreja de Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Ultimos Dias'.  That song represents everything 'family' to me and I want to serve with honor, the way our children and parents have.  It makes me want to serve the whole world and then hug each of our children and grandchildren until Eternity happens. I love our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ.  I love our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness that makes it possible for families to be together forever. 

Tomorrow we will finish up our Seminary and Institute training.  It has been great fun to spend the last two days wading knee-deep in scriptures and sharing them back and forth with new friends. Thursday we will go to the Church Office Bldg. in Salt Lake for training on Perpetual Education for youth who want to get a college education, but cannot afford it.  What a great work!  Friday morning we will finally get up around 5:30 a.m. after a night of "just in case" checking our alarm clock to not miss the airport shuttle.  

The time flies here.  I was just pulling the curtains aside to see other missionaries leaving with their suitcases.  In just 2 days it is our turn to weigh our suitcases again, (one each... and each one only 44 lbs. according to the yellow tag from Cape Verdian Airlines).  We will arrive in Cabo Verde on Saturday morning.  The thoughts of far, far away are getting closer and closer.