MTC

Must stand for Mighty Trainers for Christ

What an awesome week! Let me share some highlights. 

Tuesday, day 2:

Today we prepared to teach a discussion to an investigator. Our investigator was Mr. Wright, a little gray-haired man of 85 years. He told us immediately that he had lost his wife 2 years ago. She had always been a church member and had raised their 5 children in the church. Now that she was gone, he really missed her. Her bishop was encouraging Mr. Wright to come to the MTC and take the lessons so he could learn more about the church so he could be with her again someday. 

Our hearts went out to him and we taught and testified with all our hearts. Mr. Wright was so sincere, so dressed the part of an elderly lonely investigator, right down to the food stains on his green golf shirt, so meek, I bought the entire story. We taught the first lesson about the Restoration and encouraged him to prayerfully consider it. We testified to the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

In the end, "Mr. Wright" asked if he could say the closing prayer. It was all a set-up. He offered a beautiful prayer in our behalf, told us he had been an ordained temple worker for 20 years, and gave us hugs, wishing us well on our mission. 

We returned to our evaluation meeting and told the group that a certain Mr. Wright should receive an academy award for his acting skills. The next day, Mr. Wright showed up at our teaching station to say hi and share another hug. Two days later, after teaching a "recent convert", one of the couples in our group commented that Brother Wright really should receive an academy award for his acting skills. They too had been douped by him. 

Our weekly devotional on Tuesday night was a spiritual high for the week. Just singing "Called to Serve" with 2200 other missionaries was a hugh rush. Elder Clate W. Mask of the 2nd Quorum of Seventy was the speaker. Both his message and his presentation were amazing and so filled with the spirit. 

Brother Ed Pinegar was our guest speaker Thursday afternoon. 

Park of his message was: Number them - Name them - Nurture them!

Having the spirit is the key. The spirit is the 1st teacher, Love is the 1st commandment, and Obedience is the 1st law of heaven. Brother Pinegar used his scriptures like they were his best friend. At one point, he licked his scriptures (at least it looked like he was going to), and then said, "They are so yummy! I just can't get enough of them." The way he used them, we totally believed him. 

Three slogans used by businesses currently that apply to us in missionary work: 

1.  You can do it, we can help. 

2.  Let's build something together. 

3.  If we don't have it, you don't need it!

*and finally, You've made the decision to serve, now get your money's worth!