Connecting and Learning (Humility) at the MTC

We have had a marvelous week at the MTC with 29 other couples from the western U.S. and Canada whom we have grown to respect and love for their sacrifice and dedication.  These couples have been called to serve in a variety of capacities, principally office specialists, CES Youth Centers, Perpetual Immigration Fund, and Member and Leadership Support, and they will be going to foreign shores from Cyprus, to Panama, New Zealand to Russia.  Some will return to their homes and serve from there as activation missionaries.  Combine these sweet folks with the power of the 2500 plus young elders and sisters preparing to go forth from this place, and then reflect on all those already serving throughout the world and those who will surely be entering the MTC tomorrow to begin their preparation, and it gives one a sense of the awesome volunteerism in the Church and the great good that can be effected around the world by this great Army armed with power and authority from the Lord. 

Our training here is not simply a passive exercise.  We are regularly nudged out of our comfort zone in role playing scenarios wherein we teach actors, playing the part of investigators, concepts we thought we were prepared to teach.  Sometimes the "investigators" throw us curve balls, and sometimes the surprises come from our own companion who monopolizing the teaching, hands off to you when you are least prepared to catch the ball, or heads off in a direction you are not prepared to go.  It has been a humbling experience for me and I realize I have much to learn.  I love the scriptures but have much to learn about using them effectively in teaching situations.  The last day we exchanged with another couple in our larger group but not from our four-couple study group.  We each took turns

King James Celebraton

Yes, it has been more than three months since I have sent any images of our marvelous experience here in England so that now it will require a Herculean effort to catch you up.  As you must now be aware, I am not the one who first thinks of whipping out the camera to document the moment and I am even worse at translating those pixels into images on the computer, but I will try to share a bit today (in honor of Jared's birthday) and do better in future. 

My birthday present last June was being able to participate in a 200-voice choir to celebrate the publication of the King James Bible 400 years ago.  The event was produced on a large field on the Preston Temple site.  Rehearsals were held every Sunday eve for four months.  I was able to attend about half of those practices because of the distances and time involved, but it was always a joy to gather with the saints to sing this beautiful music.  I did feel at one with them.  I decided to sing tenor on any of the pieces which were new to me.  Tenors were needed, and if I were going to learn a new song, I might just as well learn tenor as alto.  I felt I made a difference in that section. 

My favorite was the Mendelssohn "He, Watching Over Israel".  I had never sung it before, and I marveled at how Mendelssohn kept mixing his melody anew.  He could have ended the piece at several points, but I could imagine him getting excited about a new idea and writing in one more glorious swell.  So grateful that he did!  We also sang a beautiful "23rd Psalm" by Crimond and a fun tune which apparently is very popular here, "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing." 

Here I am with the two lovely young ladies who invited me to make my entrance with them.  We walked down a rather steep hill path to get to the marquee (tent) where the choir was seated.  Although clouds were blowing by much of the afternoon, our prayers were answered and we did not get a drop of rain.  We were dressed in the usual black skirts and white blouses, but I had long underwear top and bottom because we had nearly frozen at rehearsal the night before.  Can you tell I am excited?

Here you can see the setup.  We are under the marquee.  This is about the first third of the field.  The sound equipment was under the little green ramada.  I understand the sound was best on the sidehill which was also day of music and the beautiful words of the King James Bible. 

      

The Weather

We are experiencing "technical difficulties" here as well as "weather difficulties"!


We've had 57 degrees and a steady mist of falling moisture.  It has been raining now for three straight days---all day long.