Hello Friends!

Hello Friends,

We have been having incredible experiences the last 9 days in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.   There are 1,700 young missionaries 18-19 years old, and there are 83 "senior missionaries" (ages 55-80).  

We have become good friends with most of the senior missionaries during this short time.   These new friends have come from all over the U.S. and will be leaving to  serve all over the world---Utah (22 people),Las Vegas, Atlanta, Tampa, Kansas, Arkansas, Washington DC, Ukraine, Albania, Philippines, Beijing,

 and the Congo.   We are the only ones going to South Africa.

 Some will be teaching college, some will help high school age kids graduate by enrolling them in an online diploma program and helping them for the next year, some are delivering wheelchairs that have been custom made for the people in the area, some will do other humanitarian projects, etc.    We still do not know what we will be doing or where we will live.   But we will find out when we arrive.

We all eat together in a cafeteria and you can imagine the energy that comes from the 1,700 young men and women!  I kept thinking of my days doing "lunch duty" as an elementary school teacher with 60-100 students eating at one time....that was nothing! They treat the "senior missionaries"  like royalty and let us go to the head of the food line and open the doors for us, etc.  

Each day we have had classes from 8-5 with a break for lunch. After dinner we study and/or have inspirational speakers.    For the first hour each day we are taught by someone our age.   For the rest of the day we are taught by young men and women ages 23-26 who have served missions!!  They are knowledgeable, kind and very patient.   They are one of the highlights.    The first 4 days we studied Jesus Christ.   We were supposed to leave after that but my Visa had not arrived.   Larry's had arrived a month earlier......I have always been the troublemaker!!!   So we have been here a few more days that we originally planned.   

We just found out an hour ago that my Visa arrived and we fly out early tomorrow morning (Thursday).....Salt Lake City to Atlanta to Johannesburg to Durban.    We will arrive Friday night at 10:00 PM if all goes well.

We had been told not bring bring an engagement or wedding ring if it had a diamond or precious stone because theft is such a problem.  We were told to buy inexpensive wedding bands.    We had left that task until the last minute.    We ran into Walmart and went to the jewelry counter.    I asked the young clerk if I could  see the wedding bands.  As she brought one out of the case,  I kept asking how much it cost.    After she replied,  I would say, "Do you have anything cheaper?"   Finally she pulled out a band for $27 and I said, "Great".    It was a little big but they didn't have anything in my size.    She asked when we needed the band so she could order a ring my size, but I said "Now" (we were leaving for the Missionary Training Center.  ) Flippantly I said to the clerk, "Oh, that will do."   I pushed the ring toward the clerk and said, "I have to go to the bathroom, he will pay for it .  (I pointed to Larry)."   And I ran off. 

 Next, Larry said to the clerk, "Do you have something similar?"   She gave him a matching ring and he paid the total bill of $58.00.    In 5-7 minutes we were on our way.   The clerk who looked like she was in her early 20's probably thought, "That man is such a cheapskate!"   or, "How sad they are only spending 5 minutes to buy rings that they don't even care about."    We laughed as we drove away.

We are so excited to have the opportunity to serve the people of South Africa.   We feel so blessed.   We still don't know what township we will be in or what we will be doing.   

Disappointed/Blessed!

Hi All,

After our computer class this morning, Larry saw he had a message on his phone.    He immediately listened to the message.    It was from church travel and they said that there still was a problem with my visa.    He said, it didn't seem like it could be resolved soon so he suggested we contact our daughter in Kaysville (Angela) and see if we could come and stay with her for a month while they waited for the visa or found a new mission for us.    I knew Angela would welcome us and that her family would be so loving to us, but Larry and I were devastated.   We have learned so much and have such a desire to serve now!

Larry returned the call to the visa department but the person was gone.    We knelt and prayed again.    I prayed for the Lord's will to be done, but if it was his will, could my visa be approved.     Thirty minutes later, Larry checked our email and found a message saying:  MY VISA HAD BEEN APPROVED!   They will begin to make travel arraangement for us.

Such a HUGE tender mercy!   The Lord has blessed us so much.    We are filled with gratitude.    Our children just replied and said they fasted for us on Sunday that my visa would come!   I know he heard our prayers. 

Love, Sister Todd

Trying to Learn Patience

Good morning,

My visa has still not arrived, so yesterday we began new classes.    We are now being trained as an "office couple. "    Yesterday we sat in a computer room from 8:00 am until 5:15 pm with time for lunch.  For those of you who know my computer skills, you will realize this was challenging. However, like everything else at the MTC, they made it as plain and painless as possible.    Our young elders (teachers) were so patient, kind and helpful.

The church has developed a new computer program for the mission office.   It is quite comprehensive and helpful to the mission president.  

There are only 4 couples left from our original group.    Most everyone left last Friday or Saturday morning, one left yesterday at 2:30 am.      People are coming and going 24/7 at the MTC.   Yesterday 104 senior missionaries arrived.  

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and feel so lucky to be serving a mission.    The people we have met are wonderful.     I am reminded that Jesus Christ is at the head of this church every day.   I feel the spirit here so strongly.....the challenge will be to keep this spirit in the mission field.

Love,
Sister Todd

MTC is Incredible!

Happy New Year to My Dear Friends!     (This is a similar emai to another one I sent.    I am writing emails to different groups of people and may repeat myself---sorry.)

What an incredible experience we have had at the MTC!   The spirit is so strong and manifest in many ways.   I wish I could convey the love, dedication, hard work and genuine caring that is evident  everywhere from the missionaries to the teachers to the volunteers and office staff.  I am filled with awe and gratitude to be among these men and women.

   

There are 1,700 young elders and sisters and 83 senior missionaries (3 single sisters and 40 couples).   One of the highlights has been getting to know many of these people.   How interesting and varied their lives are.

We were supposed to leave Monday but my visa has not arrived.   Larry's is here but there was some problem with mine.   We are extremely disappointed but we know the Lord is aware of our situation.    Almost all the senior couples have departed for their missions...there were only 5 couples at dinner last night.    We spoke to the Director of Senior Missionaries and he  asked us to begin taking the Office Couple Training beginning Monday morning.  

Back to the beginning:  We arrived last Monday morning in a blizzard and felt blessed to arrive safely.  Angela and her kids drove us down and dropped us off.    We were met by young elders who unoladed our bags, opened the doors for us and showed us where to register.   From there we dropped off our bags in our room and went immediately to Orientation.   Everything was soooooo organized.    We didn't stop for the rest of the day except to eat.    We returned that night to unpack and study our assignment for the next day.  

Our teachers are incredible.   We begin each morning being taught by someone our age.     He is funny, direct, wise and he understands senior missionaries.   I always leave feeling uplifted.    For the rest of the morning we have Brother Herman who is 26 years old.   Our training for the entire week is Preach My Gospel----nothing else.  Even though none of the senior missionaries were called on a proselyting mission, we were all instructed our first obligation is to "Proclaim the gospel and bring people to Christ."   Back to Brother Herman, he understands the spirit and how people are converted.    I loved learning from him.     We had the following format every morning:    Direct teaching from Brother Herman, role play teaching an investigator, debrief our experience.   We repeated this again. I  dislike role playing greatly, but it was the most powerful learning tool during this week.   I felt the teaching/learning experiences here are the best in the world.    After lunch we had a 23 year old brother who taught us until dinner...more role playing.  

After dinner on Tuesday we had a devotional from Elder Antony Perkins of the Seventy.   

Saturday we went to the Mt. Timp temple (Provo Temple was closed).

Can you imagine the spirit you would feel from 1,700 full time young elders/sisters?    Well, that is what we feel here everyday.!!  There is no place like it on earth!   We feel like the luckiest couple to be a small part of this.

We are amazed at the variety of senior missionary opportunites:    Preserving historical records in Houston, digitizing books in SLC, helping young adults take online college classes in Albania, tutor failing college students at BYU Hawaii, office couple in Las Vegas, sewing costumes, and stay at home missionaries.   There is a pilot project for seniors serving full time missions and staying in their own homes---these are proselyting missionaries and we have 8 couples on this pilot project.    These seniors are all from Cedar City or St. George.   Couples don't have the stress of what to do with their homes, it saves the couple and the church money, and couples serve in a place and culture they understand.

I know this email is way too long but I want to give you just a little info about our experience here.

    I feel so blessed to have your influence in my life.   You have each been a blessing and a strength to me.   You have added to my testimony and you have added to my happiness.    I can't thank you enough for your friendship. 

The MTC is the best!    The church is true!

Love, 

Sister Sandy Todd

Can You Stand Any More?????

Hi!

We slept in this morning for the first time.....there was no breakfast served so we didn't have to hurry to be to breakfast by 7:00.

We attended church in a branch with young elders and sisters.   What a sweet experience...the branch president asked every young missionary to bear his/her testimony.   It was very spiritual.   Some are so ready and prepared.    Several were really struggling with self doubt, loneliness or culture shock.    One elder was from Johannesburg South Africa (Caucasian).    He said his world was turned upside down since he arrived in the U.S. and he didn't like the food, self flushing toilets, the language, etc.    He was trying hard to get his bearings.    Interesting.   Others had incredible testimonies of prayer and/or the restoration.

You are probably so sick of my emails.   Forgive me.    I want to share this wonderful experience with you.

Love Mom

Hello AGAIN!

You probably feel like I haven't left----but I just had to send out a short email again.

Larry and I just returned from 2 devotionals (back to back) from 5:30 -8:00 PM.    They were completely different.   I feel so filled with the spirit that I have to tell someone. 

One speaker said, You will be able to tell your children and grandchildren (mostly speaking to the young missionaries) that you participated in the exciting era of the "Hastening of the Lord's work."   The speaker said, we don't fully appreciate that we live in the times foretold by prophets for ages.    THIS IS IT!   She said, "Pinch yourselves every once in a while to remind yourself that these are exciting times for members of the church and especially for missionaries."

The MTC President spoke and really held up a high bar for everyone in the audience.   

He gave the following advice to all missionaries.   I thought this would be good for all of my grandchildren, your children, and Carol's Sunday School class:

1.  A MISSION IS HARD!   You have rejection constantly, broken promises and loneliness...just to name a few.   He said, You must push through it.   You will want to quit.  Don't.    You can make it if you rededicate yourself to more prayer, love, obedience, submitting to the Lord's will and WORK.

2.   No Regrets......don't do anything that you will regret...not even small disobedience.    He said, when he was mission president this caused much heartache even after his missionaries returned home.   

3.    Increase your testimony of Joseph Smith.   It must be strong.

4.   Learn how to bear a true testimony...and do it without fear and with confidence.

The next speaker is in charge of all media relations for the missionary department.   Just a few statistics:   

In 2014:

200,231,061 unique visitors to Mormon.org (they only counted each person once)

388,500 visitors decided to "chat"

118,254 referrals generated

He is the Gift Initiative:  33,489,505 viewers       200,000 referrals so far

Isn't the church wonderful?  I know it is true.   I am realizing more and more how much the Lord wants to bless his children......all of us.

I love the calendar the ward gave us.   I love the notes and birthdays.  LeAnn I love your thoughts.   All the days blur together so we really need a calendar to have any idea which day it is. 

I love you all.

Sister Todd

P Day

Today was our PDay.     We went to a session at the Mt Timp Temple.    It is a gorgeous, large temple and it was packed!     The Provo Temple was closed for a month for repairs and cleaning so we had to be creative to get to the temple.

We got back too late and missed lunch.    I was so starving and finally found somewhere where I could buy some candy and bought a bag of chocolate covered peanuts......they were not as good as the Costco Chocolate Almonds but they did the trick.
Larry did laundry (isn't he nice), then we went and worked out, then study, eat and study.

The "role playing" is not my favorite part, but it where I learn the most.    It is easy to think "I know how" or "I understand", but applying it is another story......humbling.   I have more and more admiration for the young missionaries and what they do.

They use the latest teaching techniques and it really does make a difference.....they teach a concept, we discuss, then we are forced to do it, then we evaluate.      We repeat this.      We have a large group activity for 1 hour, a small group activity for 2 hours, then a video or guest speaker.     They are constantly changing things which helps so much with the concentration.

The MTC is filled with such a wonderful spirit.   The volunteers, Branch President, etc. sacrifice so much for the missionary program.   The first day, the director of the senior missionary program and his wife spoke to us.      He said we can call him any hour of the day and night.      He was sincere.    Then he said, We have told our married children that they CANNOT CALL US at night.....but the missionaries can.     They are here long hours.    

We still have not heard about our visa.   We won't hear any more until Monday at noon when the mail comes.
Today there were only 4-5 senior couples at dinner.    Most everyone has left for their missions.     Many left at noon on Friday, some left Friday night and lots left this morning.     We miss them.    We have meet the most incredible senior couples.     They have had so much church experience and bear powerful testimonies.    They are kind, interesting and I can feel their spirit.
I feel so blessed to be here.   What an incredible church we belong to.   I feel the Savior guiding this missionary program.......men and women could not orchestrate this amazing program.

I love each of you.     We are fasting for each of you specifically tonight and tomorrow.   Fasting at the MTC is helpful.    They close the cafeteria at 6 pm and don't open it until Sunday at 430 or 5:00.     I need the Lord's help that comes from fasting but it is always difficult for me to go without food for 24 hours.     I know there is great power in the fast and I am asking the Lord to bless each of you as well as hurry our visa.
Love,
Mom

Update

Happy New Year!
We are so impressed with the quality of teaching here.    Our young elders (23-26 years old) have such wisdom for their age.    Not only do they have a great knowledge of the gospel, but they understand people and building relationships.    They are so supportive and encouraging.    They force us to answer our own missionary questions (not gospel questions.....but how should I answer this or what should I do in this situation).   The last 2 days we have been doing HOURS of role playing!    No one likes to do it but it is the best teaching/learning experience of all.    We role play in our small groups a lot.     We actually have to teach in front of our group.     Our teacher does everything to make people feel comfortable.     They make you debrief after each experience .......I would rather the teacher critique me but it doesn't work that way.      After we critique ourselves, our teacher makes comments also.
Yesterday, today and tomorrow we go to the TRC (Torturing Retired Couples) rooms.    We don't know the real meaning but they call it Terrifying or Torturing Senior Couples!      The MTC has arranged for volunteers from the community to come in each day.    They are supposed to be investigators but they are members now.   They each have a true story and they become thAt character.     We have to find out their story, their concerns, their questions, their interest and discover what missionary lesson would be the best.........and then teach them the gospel.    We have 45 minutes for each of these teaching experiences.    We are evaluated in a very kind way after this.  Some of the couples are very stressed with this and some are resistant.    Larry and I don't like doing it but we don't worry about it.     We know they won't kick us out if we aren't perfect so we just do it.     We have really learned a lot.     Today we were teaching a lady and Larry kept talking and teaching.    I finally turned to him and said, "I want to tell her about this part!!! "   Poor Larry, he couldn't believe I said that.

Tuesday we went from 8 am until 8 pm.     Usually that is NOT a long day.    But sitting in classes for 12 hours seems long....we had 1 hour for lunch and 1 1/2 hour for dinner......so that was great.    During those breaks we have errands to get papers signed, pick up,prescriptions, etc.

Very bad news!!!!!!!!!!      We were supposed to leave Friday, then we were to fly out Monday.     But my visa hasn't come yet so we might not leave until Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.     Everyone else leaves Friday except those who need another week of specialized training.    So it will be lonely.   We are very disappointed and Larry has been so upset. But he finally said, I can't do anything about it.

I arranged for someone to drive us to the temple in Saturday.    The Provo Temple is closed so we had to go to Mt. Time which is a ways away and no one could find out if a bus went there.

We will keep you posted
We love each of you.   Thank you for your support and prayers.     It helps us a lot.

I have been living on ice cream, French fries and cookies......way too much.   I feel like a slug.   But I found the workout Area and I have been going each night.
Love, mom