MTC - First Day / Check-In

We arrived at the Missionary Training Center, MTC Provo, Monday morning, April 21, 2025. We were to arrive at 9:42 am. They stagger everyone’s arrival so that it will be less confusing for everyone. Our son Christopher drove us there after we had a wonderful Easter weekend with him and his family.

Our kind son Christopher dropping us off  💖

A couple of younger missionaries helped us with our luggage and took us to our room that looked like a nice hotel room with a bathroom. We left our luggage there and they showed us around the facilities. 

Our room!

Everything we would need was on the “campus,” laundry room, gyms, cafeteria, kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, and dining table. We were on the third floor, and had an open air patio next to the kitchen. 

The young missionaries left us in a large room where we went from table to table getting information about what we needed to know, and what to expect while we were there.  It was much like what happens at the first day of school. This is where we received our black missionary name plaques. By now it was lunch time and we went to the cafeteria for food. 

Our many name badges.

 

After lunch we had our first class, Preach My Gospel (PMG), which was the focus of all the classes the first week. PMG is where we learn about how to teach about the gospel in a way that is easy to understand for those who are not familiar with it. Because we are not serving a proselyting mission, but humanitarian, I was not sure that it would be applicable to us, but the classes that were taught by newly returned missionaries were wonderful, and helped me feel much closer to Christ. In fact, being at the MTC almost felt like being in the temple all day long. It was an experience that I will treasure. 

Pointing at Laos, where we will serve.

All the senior missionaries that arrived that day were put in a branch, or small congregation. After a break after the PMG class, we all had a meeting with our branch leaders. This branch was divided up into small districts of three couples in each. We would get to know each other very well as we spent most of our days together. Our district had the Popes, the Kershisniks and us. The Popes were assigned to serve in Pakistan, and the Kershisniks in Paris, France. The Kershisniks are currently in Paris, but because of the difficulties in Pakistan the Popes are serving at the Church History Center in Salt Lake City while the church is keeping an eye and ear on the happenings there. They are concerned about keeping all missionaries safe.

Our schedule the first day.

It was a very long but wonderful day. We were blessed to be grouped with wonderful people and happy to have made new friends.