Missionary Training Center, Provo, Utah

After so many months of waiting and preparation we checked into the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Friday afternoon, April 24th (one day before Connie's birthday).What a wonderful place.  We are surrounded by hundreds of other missionaries (both young and senior) who all exude happiness.  Joy seems to abound What fun it is to observe all the young missionaries with their youthful exuberance, energy and excitement to do the work.


View of the Wasatch Front from Provo, Utah

All the walkways at the MTC are covered

Dining at the MTC with the Chamberlains and


On Sunday we drove to Heber City, Utah to attend church with Morris & Nancy Christensen. They are great friends from 25 years ago when we were raising our boys in Tempe, Arizona.  After church we went to their home for lunch and had the added pleasure of visiting with their daughter, Jill, her husband Ben and their children.

Upon return to the MTC we attended a "devotional" meeting where we pleased to hear from Vai Sikahema.  He was a football star on the BYU team that won the national championship.  He also played several years in the NFL and was honored to be selected to play in a couple of NFL Pro Bowls.  He is now a news anchor for a Philadelphia TV station and is also serving as a Stake President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He gave a very entertaining talk on missionary work in which he shared several personal stories that were very interesting and impactful.