FROM MISSIONARY TO A TEXAS FARMER'S WIFE!: March 2016

Glenn and I have sent 6 missionaries to the MTC in Provo, Utah. One missionary went straight to Brazil to their Missionary Training Center. We found out last November when we got our call to Independence, Missouri, that we would have the opportunity to stay at the MTC. But that wasn't an option for me. I wanted to experience what our kids experienced! I am so glad that we did! This is an experience that I wish everyone could have. To mingle with 2000+ missionaries is a dream come true! We have had some amazing experiences. Every meal, we walk into the cafeteria and it is full of young Elders and Sisters who are giving up 18 months to 2 years to serve the Lord. We have met young people from countries we have never heard of! And excited.....oh you can see the excitement on their faces and hear it in their voices. I guess everyone thinks it's strange for me, a Senior Missionary to be excited! Oh well...I am thrilled beyond words. I don't care if I'm 62.:):):)
We have met some other wonderful Senior Missionary Couples that are going to all parts of the world. We may not be going to some exotic places.....but I GET TO TAKE MY BOSCH WITH ME!!! Glenn and I have never been to the Midwest Church History sights, so we are thrilled to be going and getting the chance of seeing all the Church sights!!
We met a sister who is going to our mission. It was great to make that connection. It seems like no matter where you are called, someone knows someone who is somehow connected to that mission. It happened when we served in the Washington DC Temple.
We have been going to class everyday where we have returned missionaries teaching us. The Spirit in our classes is incredible. These young people are so enthusiastic and you know they are dedicated to the Gospel!! This morning we taught our first discussion as a missionary couple. They have members from around the valley who come and pose as investigators. What a great experience! In class, we do role playing. Today, another couple taught us about prayer. By the time they were done, I was crying.
Working in the DC Temple helped me realize what Heaven must be like!!! To be able to administer ordinances for people who faithfully came to the Temple is the most rewarding and amazing experience I have ever had. We made so many amazing friends, who also worked at the temple with us. We ate with them, lived with them....attended church with them and even played with them. There was always such a wonderful spirit wherever we were.
Being here at the MTC is just a continuation of that. I truly have had a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing me to have these experiences. I struggled last week being home. I told Glenn that it didn't feel right being here. The minute we walked into the MTC...I instantly got that feeling back that we experienced in DC. Glenn and I are both anxious to get back to Independence and begin our mission.
I have learned so much from being here only 3days. But the one important principle that has touched me the most is this: It is not enough just to have a testimony. We have to become CONVERTED unto the Lord to be able to endure to the end. I am grateful for my testimony, but most of all I am grateful for my Conversion. It has happened overnight. It has taken years of learning and studying. I have also experienced many trials that have occurred during my 62 years here in mortality. I am grateful for those trials. Would I want to live through them again. No! I am deeply grateful for all the wonderful experiences the the Lord has blessed me with to help strengthen my testimony, and also have helped me to become truly converted unto the Lord. It is my greatest desire on this mission to be able to share my testimony with others and help them to become converted unto the Lord.

The last two weeks have been a blurr....we packed up our apartment in DC, and loaded up the car. We headed for Independence, Missouri. We left on Saturday,March 5 and arrived in Independence in the afternoon of March 6. It wasn't a very good experience leaving the mission we loved dearly and all our friends in DC. We had so many wonderful life changing experiences. And friendships that will last forever!!
We had Monday, March 7 to unpack our things and get our apartment situated. Which we did. We had to do a little shopping. We went to a fireside at the Visitors Center on Sunday night and then to FHE on Monday. We flew back to SLC on Tuesday, March 8. Andrew left us the truck at the airport, so we drove ourselves to Chuck and Marva's. Our good friends and neighbors where we have been staying.
I really struggled all last week from leaving DC and then being back in Utah. It didn't feel right. We of course were still missionaries. The night we got home our Stake President released us from our Temple Mission, and turned around and set us apart for our Mission in Independence. We spent the week at Dr.s appointments......dentist....we had to buy me new clothes because I kinda put on quite a few pounds from living in DC. That was sad!!
March 14, 2016 Today has been the best day since we left DC. We entered the MTC. What an amazing experience. Being around 2000+ young Elder's and Sister's is an amazing experience itself!!! We were able to watch a video tonight of a talk given by Elder Bednar. Life changing indeed!!! We are now in our room for the evening. It is so very quiet. We can't hear anything.....not a sound!!
I am including some pictures that I have taken since our last post.