Day 2/3 in the MTC

I didn't know what to expect during our time here - I envisioned a large auditorium filled with senior couples and one outstanding speaker after another (a la Education Week). I guess I didn't get the part about MTC standing for Missionary TRAINING center, so I hadn't thought about them training us to be missionaries. Duh! We are using the Preach My Gospel book, and each day we learn another lesson. We talk about it in the big group, then practice more in the smaller groups (8), and then each afternoon a "volunteer" comes to our room and Steve and I give the lesson, as if that person was a non-member. We need the practice - we understand all the principles, but to teach them with simplicity and clarity is still a challenge. We pray for the Spirit to be with us in our teaching, and then find that each time we bear testimony to the truthfulness of a principle we become emotional.

Last night we had the MTC Devotional. Carl and Melanie had dinner with us (they are in a Branch Presidency here) and sat next to us at the devotional. They put all the Senior Couples in the seats right up at the front, and then fill up the rest of the huge area with missionaries. They have a missionary chorus we thought about joining, but found out that the choir takes up half of the bleachers--probably 500 people. Wow! And the woman playing the organ for the hymns sung before and during the devotional--I don't know how to describe the accompaniaments. It's officially called "free organ acc." but the music goes everywhere. I loved it. Can I get into training with her???

Steve and I have been side-by-side now for several days, and we really like it. It's a new experience for us to work together on these assignments. We're having a great time!

Today was Wednesday, the day the new Elders/Sisters come into the MTC. Our large meeting room is the one where they hold the meeting before the parting of the ways. Just seeing the signs on the wall this morning "Missionaries This Way" "Parents This Way" gave me anxiety.

As we came back to a final meeting this afternoon, there was a note that there was a package for us in a room. When we went to see about it, it was a gift bag from Sandy Webb filled with things, but in the bottom, yes, a container of sugar cookies! I am in heaven (and almost to a sugar induced coma). I bought a container of milk from the treat dispenser in the dorm and will enjoy some of them before bed. What a friend!

Love to all of you from the MTC!

Day 1 at the MTC

I don't have much time - but want to give you our reflections on our first day at the MTC. (yesterday). This letter will go to many different people, so there may be references to people you don't know. Sorry.

All the Sr. couples are in one building, just next to our meeting places, so very convenient. We have a nice little room, queen sized bed, bathroom.

We are with 63 other senior missionaries, going to assignments for CES, the Perpetual Education Fund, Mission Office staff, Military relations, and proselyting...and going, of course, all over the world.

One over-all impression we had yesterday was how kind the Elders and Sisters are to the Senior Missionaries. At each meal, someone came to take our trays to the clean-up area for us. They insisted! And the Elders open doors for us every time. And if they see us looking confused, they offer to help. Very impressive.

I pictured the cafeteria as one long line with hundreds waiting, but the food areas are spread around more like a food court. There are many choices, and a short wait to pick up anything. Plenty of food, of course. We even found an ice cream cooler in a far corner.

This week we are being trained as missionaries, using the "Preach My Gospel" book as the text. We have big meetings with all 63 of us (taught by a very qualified man, but in a gentle and thoughtful way), and smaller classes with just 8 and an RM as teacher. We have reading assignments in the evening. (read:homework)

Tonight there is an MTC Devotional with a general authority as the speaker. Carl and Melanie are joining us for dinner and that. They are branch presidents for a branch here of non-english speaking missionaries, so they come Tuesday nights and on Sunday.

I saw Brock Stringham here today. Kt or LL, please tell his folks. Still looking for Brooke Condie.

We went to the gym last night and walked for an hour. When we have class breaks we go outside and walk around a little bit.(youth from our ward here at the MTC)

Adele, the man in charge of our small group is from Sugar City. His daughter is the dispatcher for BYU-I, so perhaps you talk to her sometimes. I can't remember her last name - maybe Peterson, or something with a P. She's married, has several children. His name is Hibbert, and he has taught at BYU-I and knows Bro. Walz. Always a small world.

As you can see, we do have internet here and can use our lap tops and cell phones. We won't be on either very much, but we can still stay connected. We're really enjoying the experience here.

Love to all of you - Dad and Mom, or Steve and Kris

Called to Serve

Steven and Kristine Harris have been called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Rapid City, South Dakota mission. They will be primarily based in Bismarck, North Dakota working with the Church Education System (CES). They report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on January 26th. They will arrive in Bismark by Sunday, February 8th. They will be serving for 23 months, and should return in December of 2010.

What will they be doing as CES Missionaries?

Elder and Sister Harris will start out on Monday, visiting a seminary, then travel to another town and visit the next day. Travel to another town, maybe visit an Institute that night, and Seminary the next morning, etc. The previous couple have put on about 47,000 miles in 16 months. When out of town the previous couples says they stay in hotels and eat "out", and CES pays for it all, plus some of the gas. Will they teach Seminary or Institute? No, plenty of local people to do that. Elder and Sister Harris will spend the first week of their mission receiving further training from the Church Education System in Minneapolis.

There is a LDS Temple in Bismarck, and they expect to also be spending a lot of time serving in the temple.

This site will be used to post their news and pictures while on their mission. They will be able to get on and see everyone's comments and reply to questions posted. Please feel free to use this as a way to keep in touch and support Steve and Kris on their mission.