First and Ten, Do It Again, Harder, Harder

(Just trying to show a litle of the scenery which we enjoy daily. At the top is "Y" Mountain, which looks higher in person than in the picture. We were at the edge of the MTC to take it. We took all the pix today of the blogs posted through now except the one of our small group Friday. Hard to think of pictures when we are so busy with everything else.)

The title certainly describes one aspect of this week. The amazing thing is that we actually made the touchdown. Probably missed the extra point. Now that I can look back without so much stress, I see a spiritually inspiring, rather unbelievable week of intense but uplifting training. Whoever is in charge has conceived a master schedule of events. And these young trainers taught with such spirit, knowledge, conviction and super ability. We are already better than when we came just five days ago. My tears have flowed either because my heart was touched or because of painful trembling and shaking. The Spirit caused the former and healed the latter. It is an experience neither of us will forget.

Brother Sunday, our small group leader, took to Dad's tie the first day (Alyssa's Father's Day gift). He has 160 and considers himself a tie connoisseur. He liked the purplish one for Alyssa's wedding as well. We figure him to be 23 or 24 and he is getting married August 23. He said that if any of us suggested putting him in our pocket to take to our mission, he would consider he had failed us. When I left today, I said "I don't want to put you in my pocket because future senior missionaries would miss the benefit of your teaching. I'm so happy we were assigned to you."

One teacher in the large group was a very pretty Sister Andelin. Of course, we're related. Her uncle is Brian who worked in the financial office where Alyssa worked while at BYU so she would be about a third cousin, once removed to our kids. She is much more outgoing than many of the Andelins--takes after her mother she said.

Long ago the MTC was in a single building on the southeast side of campus. Now it seems a campus all its own sprinkled with trees, grass, shrubs and flowers amidst 19 buildings. The church and missionary work are growing because the Church is the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. However, we have been saddened to hear that missionaries will no longer go to Russia because Putin has limited Visas to six months. We look for a positive change in the government.