First day at the MTC....a good day!

Provo, Utah

We had a wonderful week renewing old friendships and shopping, shopping, eating, eating, shopping, and eating. I think we both gained 5 pounds. It was wonderful to see people we love and enjoy the beauty of Utah. It has been about 80 degrees all week. I thought I would not like the heat, but I think I could get used to it real fast. I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, and even the first pear off the Young’s tree. How can I thank all who have opened their hearts and homes to us while here? What a treat to stay with the Burkers! So many have gone out of their way to make our stay so delightful.

Today started with the Burkers driving us to Krispy Kreme. We could not leave Utah before going to the Krispy Kreme factory on the way in to Orem on University Parkway. Have you ever tasted glazed doughnuts when they were still warm? I think it is worth the trip to Utah just to taste them.

We checked into the MTC about 10:30 AM, were assigned a room, given our name tags, provided with lots of instructions, and then enjoyed introductions to others who were beginning similar missions. For those who are not familiar with the vernacular, MTC stands for Missionary Training Center. We will be here for one week and then head to Jamaica next Monday, October 5th. We will spend the week in classes, studying and learning what we are expected to know once we get to our destination where we will serve.

We were so impressed with the organization and kindness of all who work here. For those of you have left your children to start their missions, I learned that it is much easier to leave on a mission than to drop off your child. For the missionary it is a new adventure. For a parent, however, it is losing their baby. It is a time for children to grow up, develop their wings, and have the experiences that will shape their lives. (I am wondering if this means Mike and I are supposed to grow up now!) We ate a delicious lunch and dinner. It is amazing to us that the food can be so good when they are literally feeding thousands of missionaries within an hour and a half. Of course, it may have something to do with the fact that I neither had to cook or clean up any of the meal. I could get used to that! We were done with our classes by 5PM and then were free to go back to our rooms to unpack and study for tomorrow. (For those of you who were ever students of Mr. Herbert or myself, you may find some joy in knowing that we will have much more homework each night than you ever had from us). The young missionaries that are here are kept busy from the time they wake up at 6:00 until they go to bed at 10PM. Mike and I were going to go to the BYU creamery after dinner, but we were tired and just went to our room. While we are here at the MTC, we stay dressed in our Sunday best. Mike is required to wear his new black suit and I need to stay in my dress until we go to our room at the end of the day. For those of you who know us, you will understand that this will be a big adjustment for us.

We are very grateful for this opportunity to serve. We have been given so much in our family, community, church, and country. Some times I get discouraged with political issues, but am so grateful to live in a country where we have freedom of religion, and the opportunity to change things with which we disagree. We live in an amazing time. I am adding some pictures of our first day. For those who have been here before, these pictures will look familiar.

Love to you all.

Elder and Sister Herbert, Mike and Bonnie, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Papa....etc.