11/30/25 – 12/7/25
On Friday, November 28 – our 38th wedding anniversary, we were set apart as full time missionaries by President Rainey. On Saturday, November 29, Alyce, Nathan and kiddos dropped us off at the airport at 6:30 AM with a tearful good-bye.
We entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) the same day, very tired from getting us so early and hanging out in SLC. It was very exciting entering the gates of the MTC and getting into our room.
The MTC experience was amazing! We got up at 6:30 am, got ready for the day, read scriptures together and joined the junior missionaries for breakfast in the MTC cafeteria. It was fun to see so many young men and women who had just left their homes, families and friends to serve the Lord full time for 2 years! There were around 2000 missionaries there! Our first class started at 8:00 am and went until lunch, where we ate again in the cafeteria. After lunch we had more classes then were done about 4:30. Dinner time (a couple times we left campus and went out to eat) after dinner there was some type of FABULOUS devotional each night-with beautiful, uplifting music and talks centered on Jesus Christ. We would finally get back to our room around 9:30, write in our journals, pray together and go to bed! We were ready for bed by 10:00 each night!
One of the best parts was meeting other senior couples. We got to know them, learned together, laughed together, and built forever friendships!
Leaving the MTC
The Friday of our last day at the MTC, our son picked us up and drove us to Cedar City to spend the weekend with him and his family! We were so happy to spend a couple more days with our family (especially the grandkids! 😉)!
Some things we learned this week:
- There is so much to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ but the blessing is, “if ye have a desire to serve, ye are called to the work!”
- The young returned missionaries who were instructors were INCREDIBLE! Their knowledge of the scriptures, their love for the Lord, and their passion to serve was so inspiring and motivating!
- The Spirit was so strong at the MTC – through all the classes, devotionals, and church services! What a blessing to be there!
- We CAN get up early again AND stick to a schedule! Ha ha!
The Helland's Down Under 