MTC Week 2

February 28, 2016

Dear Family & Friends,

Last Sunday, February 21, Jim & I had the opportunity to go on a very special tour of the Provo City Center Temple.  It was offered to us by their Open House Committee because of the help we gave them when we were members of the Payson Temple Open House Committee.  They were very happy to share with us their special temple.  We stopped in almost every room where they would share stories and feelings about that particular room.  The tour, which is normally about 30 to 40 minutes, took us two hours.  What a wonderful Spirit was with us!!  We are so grateful they shared so many wonderful experiences.  It was truly a blessing!! The most special experience was the discussion that Brother Lund, who is the overall committee chair, gave as we sat in one of the sealing rooms.  He commented about the importance of the promises and blessings that are made there across sacred alters and the priceless value they have for all eternity if we live worthy of them.  Stars and galaxies may come and go, but that union is eternal. 

Then Monday until Thursday afternoon we were trained in office computer skills.  We would learn something, then they would give us simulations to test our abilities.  It was great to remember at least some of the office procedures I did in Tokyo.  Elder Hartzell had a little harder time as the Financial stuff he did in Tokyo was not what the rest of the church was doing at that time.  But he did remember quite a few things and felt more comfortable doing that than the Car or Apartment or Phone programs.

We checked out of the MTC on Thursday @ 3:00 p.m., and headed home to wash clothes and finish packing and do some cleaning.  We woke up Friday morning and loaded the Toyota Highlander totally full.  I am so proud of Jim’s packing skills—the back was stuffed top to bottom and side to side!!!  And we actually got in everything we had planned to take!!  We finished some cleaning, made sure the doors were locked, and left for our mission at about 11:30 a.m.  We drove to Grand Junction to spend the night with Shelley and Derek and their family.  They were so glad to see us one more time and we had fun eating pizza and playing a fun Disney Find It game.  Then ate pie and ice cream for dessert while they sang Happy Birthday to Jim.

We got up Saturday morning, ate, and said our goodbyes.  We drove down the beautiful Hwy 550 through the Alps of Colorado, Ouray, and Silverton, through Durango, Albuquerque, and stopped for the night in Santa Rosa, NM.  Sunday we drove to Amarillo, TX, for Sacrament meeting, getting there right at the start of the Sacrament Song—talk about good timing!  Then we continued driving to Oklahoma City to spend the night.

One more day and we will be in Little Rock.

So far all is going well!!

Love to you all—Elder & Sister Hartzell
(The Provo City Center Temple is from a visit we did in January, hence we are not in missionary attire.)