Behold, the Army of Helaman (Alma 53:20-21)

The Provo Missionary Training Center is a world unto itself! The largest of 16 MTC’s around the globe, the facility houses a mix of 2500 young and senior missionaries. They are tall and short, black and white (and every color in between), even some who are blind, deaf or in wheelchairs, but all are handsome young men and beautiful young women, eager to “invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”

Our class of 24 senior missionary couples and 3 single sisters are from everywhere in the United States and will soon be traveling to all parts of the world - Cambodia, Tonga, South Korea, Micronesia, Samoa, Canada, Hawaii, Argentina, Rumania, California, Virginia, South Carolina and of course, the West Indies. They are retired bankers, nurses, accountants; state, federal or church employees; business people, school teachers - even a sheep herder - all who have left family, homes and other interests behind for at least a year to serve the Lord.

The winter weather is bitter cold and our apartment is small - probably less than 400 square feet - but we are pleased to be here and housed in the Jacob Hamblin Building (an appropriate choice since we are from St. George), one of 19 buildings on the MTC campus with another large addition currently under construction. It is a "total immersion" experience, with classes all day, devotionals and various training meetings in the evenings. We are falling into bed every night grateful for the experience, but exhausted.

Our travel plans are in limbo at the moment, but last we heard, we are flying to the Dominican Republic for another 4 days of training on PEF on Monday, January 17. When we finally arrive in the West Indies, we will be weary but eager for the opportunity to serve the Lord.