Basically, we had a combination of group sessions where all senior missionaries of our entry date meet together for training, then we spend a lot of time in our "districts" receiving individual training. The training is from the Preach My Gospel manual and we worked a lot in doing role-plays of how to get to know people, how to listen and to determine what is needed in our teaching. Even though role-playing involves some pretending - taking parts, it is amazing how much the Spirit of the Lord is with us in the process. We all learn a great deal in the process.
On Tuesday evening we attended a devotional, with Elder Caussé as the main speaker. His wife also spoke and talked about superheroes, especially missionaries. She spoke of the missionaries who converted her family in France. She spoke about how influential the missionaries are. He spoke about his experiences as a new Seventy, especially mentioning his experiences with traveling with President Packer to a Stake Conference. Elder Packer taught them principles, especially the second chapter of First Corinthians. The main theme is that we do no rely on our own wisdom in our work and teaching, but upon the Spirit. Humility is the key. We do not rely on our personal abilities, but upon God. He talked with us about being bold as missionaries, but bold in being true to the direction of the spirit, not in our own strength and knowledge. He told the story of Enzio Busche in his first encounter with the missionaries, especially that the elder was very positive, even when Enzio said he would not be interested in joining the church. Being bold is being humble and obedient. He quoted the end of D & C 121, about the strength we receive by being virtuous, giving us confidence through the spirit. He also quoted President Monson, "When you are on the Lord's errand, you are entitles to his help." At the end, he played a piano duet with a man he met in Rome, Italy, the music was an arrangement of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" and "The Spirit of God." It was wonderful.
We especially enjoyed getting to know the other missionary couples and some of the couples who came to give us guidance. One of the couples gave their name in the introduction, mentioning that the name, Finlinson, came from Oak City. I instantly realized that he must be a relative. I soon discovered that he is my second cousin, his grandmother, Ida Jane was the sister to my grandfather, Eddie Mathias Jacobson. We enjoyed talking about our shared ancestry and our similar mission assignments.
One of the couples in our "district" is Elder and Sister Towers. He has served as president of the Cambodia mission a number of years ago and will be serving with his wife in Hong Kong. They will be assigned to the Victoria 2nd Branch running the "Everyday" church. They will be taking care of setting up and running 3-hour block meetings on Tuesdays through Saturdays for the domestic workers, mostly from Philippines who work in the homes in Hong Kong. These women do not usually have Sunday's off.
This whole experience really gives us a spiritual boost in preparation for our upcoming service. Sister B and also learned better how to teach together. We are looking forward to a wonderful time in service.
The pictures in this blog entry are of people we spent time with this week. As you can probably imagine, this mission may not have the same type of landscape pictures that we had in our mission in Germany. Oh well. The experiences will still be wonderful.
This is our district, posing in front of the famous world map at the MTC:
The Fenskes, the Buchanans and the Towers.
My newly discovered second cousin and his wife.
Our district with our morning instructors, Sister Yazzie on the left end and Brother Smith on the right
Our afternoon instructors, Elders Swallow (l) and Teuscher(r).
