Monday

I am very surprised, in only two weeks, how much love I feel for the fifty three missionaries in our MTC. They will all depart tomorrow and my heart is a little broken about it. I find myself wishing they were all our missionaries, and that I would be able to spend the next 18 months - 2 years with them, serving with them, observing their growth, and building life long relationships with them. I will never forget them!

We have had six districts of missionaries; Alma (German-speaking), Nephi (English as a Second Language), Lehi, Jacob, Ammon and Abinidi. The Nephi district classroom is very close to my office. I see them a lot during the day. They are from Italy, Colombia, Tahiti, Ukraine and Hungary. It is amazing that when they arrived, six weeks ago, they spoke no English. They have come a long way, and they are happy, happy missionaries. They are nervous to all split up and go to different missions and have to start speaking all english. I am so proud of them! They have incredible testimonies and desires to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch their progress in the next six months! I love these beautiful people!

Then in the Lehi district we have missionaries from South Africa, Idaho, Namibia, Italy, Netherlands, England, Latvia, Philippines, Germany and Ecuador. They all came speaking varying amounts of English. They have all worked together and helped one another, It is quite a blessing to watch. In our other districts they have mostly been very good English speakers. We have missionaries from America, Germany, Taiwan, Uganda, England, Ukraine, Australia, Portugal, Spain, Canada, Norway and Fiji. Some have been members all of their lives and some only 2-3 years.

We sat down in our little chapel last night (the Heber C. Kimball room), and had a departing testimony meeting with this little band of brothers and sisters of all colors, nationalities and backgrounds and felt an incredible unity as children of our Heavenly Father. They have grown very close to each other and have felt love and support and encouragement and strength as they have prepared to teach and serve the people of England, Scotland/Ireland, Germany, and Norway. My heart is full to have been present at such a sacred meeting. I feel so blessed to be able to have this experience with my dear, sweet husband. I have missed serving by his side for the last 4 1/2 years.

Sundays are long days in the MTC, but it is the good kind of long and tired that I feel when the day is done.