First Days in the MTC

Wow and Wheu! Two days in the MTC and we are thrilled, motivated, inspired and exhausted! We start Cebuano language training with a private tutor tomorrow evening and then our heads will really be spinning. We had a wonderful devotional tonight with Elder Larry Gibbons of the Seventy speaking; I wonder if the MTC presidency tells the speaker what the senior missionaries will be studying or if Elder Gibbons was inspired--he spoke on so much of what we were discussing and presenting to investigators today. (and that was a humbling, overwhelming experience, trying to give an overview of the Gospel hitting 8 different points in 5 to 8 minutes! transitioning from what your companion--Daddy--just said to the next topic, bearing testimony at certain places and then inviting our investigator to ask questions, finishing up with an invitation to read the Book of Mormon, attend church, study and pray and even commit to baptism--our investigator was wonderful and did say "I will" to all the invitations! After our role play, she told us she had really felt the spirit which made us feel good, because the spirit filled in all the things we forgot! We have met four others couples who will be going to the Cebu Temple with us. They are wonderful. The Richies are returning for their third mission to the Philippines-one proselyting mission to Cebu, one temple mission to Manila and now to the Cebu Temple. The Ganeers are from Oregon and served a proselyting mission to the Philippines under President Mortimer (He is now our Temple President). The Ashers are from Vancouver, Washington, are both converts to the Church and have served in the Portland Temple for several years but this is their first mission. We will be traveling with them on the plane. The other two couples are flying to Taipei, Manila and then Cebu. We fly to Hong Kong and then Cebu. Even though their flight is longer, we will arrive about the same time since we have a 10 hour layover in Hong Kong.....And I can't even go shopping! There are 30 senior couples going all over the world. There are other temple missionaries going to Washington, D.C., Mexico City and somewhere in South America. There are proselyting missionaries going to Poland and Canada, London, Peru, Iowa, Virginia and you name it! There are two couples going to the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii... The teachers here are powerful and amazing. Some are young and some are seasoned, but they all are excellent teachers and involve us in their presentations. Our testimonies are growing. The food is great with lots of choices of salads or main courses. We drive home each night so get to sleep in our own bed. We have to get up early again...so I'm going to bed. Know that we love you all so very much.