The Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC)

We arrived at the MTC Monday, May 27, 2013  

We are so excited to be here with about 60 other senior couples.

The spirit is strong here as we bear our testimonies and get to know one another.

It is so interesting to hear the other couples stories and how they decided to serve a mission.

You can see that we are really going to the end of the world to serve the Lord in Mongolia

I would like to share with you why we decided to go on a mission.

Last fall our son Joe and his family came to live with us for awhile.  At the time I remembered thinking," Too bad it isn't 5 years from now when Alvin is ready to retire and then Joe could stay in our house and we could go on a mission.  Then some events started to happen. Alvin's job wasn't as fun as it used to be and ATK announced another layoff so Alvin could see the writing on the wall. He was feeling that maybe he should take the lay off.  We both independently went to the Lord and asked if it was time to go on a mission and we both felt that it was time.  So Alvin volunteered for the layoff and we submitted our papers. However, nothing seems to come easy in this life.  We waited 9 weeks before we received our mission call and the "English" speaking mission we requested was to MONGOLIA?!  We then had to wait another 3 months before reporting to the MTC.  The wait has been long, but we can see the Lord's hand in this also.  Alvin's mother became sick in February and was in and out of the hospital for several months.  We were able to be here with her while she was sick and be here when she died.  We are so grateful for our Heavenly Father's watchful care!

We are here at the MTC the same time as Elder and Sister Lasson. 

The Lassons went to Mongolia 4 years ago and served in the same calling as we will be serving;

Directors of Deseret International Charities in Mongolia.

The Lasson's will be serving as Asia area directors over humanitarian missionaries.  

They will be our direct supervisors.

We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Provo 

Alvin in front of the Mongolian flag

 Wednesday, May 29 2013 There were over 700 new missionaries that arrived today!  It was fun to watch them being dropped off, give hugs and be excited to get to work.

We have been studying Preach My Gospel all week.  

We have had the opportunity to give a discussion to some "investigators"  It is a humbling and also a very spiritual experience.  You want them to be able to feel the spirit and the love that our Heavenly Father has for them.  You want them to accept the invitation to come unto Christ so much because I know how important it is to me and in my life.

We are now Official Humanitarian Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

WE were set apart as Humanitarian Missionaries to the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission Sunday Evening, May 26, 2013 by our Stake President, President Ronald Frandsen.  

We were blessed to have some of our family there:

 Daniel and Connie Nay with their children, Bethany, Andrew, Jorgen and Violet

 Brian and Paula Decaria with their children Damon and Dominic

 Joe and Kandice Nay with their children Emmaline and Abigayle

Also Alvin's father was able to attend along with Alvin's sister Sharlene and husband Ed Washington
We so appreciate the love and support of our family.  We LOVE ALL OF THEM!

Bethany's Picture She drew all of our grandchildren

Andrew's Picture

Jorgen's Picture

We received our "EIL" course completion certificates

Alvin and I completed our "English as an International Language" class today.

We received our official certificates from our instructors 

Dr. Neil Anderson and Dr. Norman Evans.

Getting this training and certificate is very important because it will enable us to get a visa to get into Mongolia. 

We had a great experience teaching English to the missionaries at the MTC.  They were focused, motivated, humble, sincere and very hard working.  They wanted to do their best so that they could be instruments in the Lord's hands.  One humble Elder from Brazil was trying so hard to say the word "Baptized".  He just could not do it.  He took out his Portuguese to English dictionary and pointed to a word saying that this is what is tongue was.  My tongue is being "CONTRARY!".  

After working with these Elders, I believe in the gift of tongues.  The Elders were working hard and doing their best and it was amazing how the Lord was blessing them with amazing English abilities

Teaching a practice grammar lesson in front of our Class

I hated grammar in school.  It is always interesting the paths that the Lord takes us on.  Maybe there is something that both Alvin and I need to learn.  I know for myself that this is a very humbling experience.

"EIL" Training at the MTC May 20-May 24, 2013

We have the opportunity to learn how to teach "English as an International Language".  We need to be "certified" EIL teachers so that we can get a visa to get into Mongolia.  The Mongolian people are eager to learn English, they recognize the need to be able to function globally and that English will help them to do that. The children and younger adults already know a lot of the English, but what they don't have are native English speakers that they can practice with.  So,(we are told), the people are really excited to talk to the new missionaries and to attend English classes.

           

 Our professors are Dr. Neil Anderson and Dr. Norman Evans   

                                   

This is Elder and Sister Orvin

They are headed to Shanghai China as English teachers and also

to help with the Church's Humanitarian division.

This is Elder and Sister Fredley.  They are also going to Mongolia the same time we are. 

 They will be serving in Mongolia as Member strengthening Missionaries in the city of Darkhan 

which is about 3 hours north of Ulaanbaatar. Elder Fredley will be the Branch President there. 

 I really admire their faith and willingness to go where ever the Lord needs them.

They will be on there own out there with the Lord to guide and direct them

These are the cute Elders and Sisters that will also be going

to Mongolia.  They stay in the MTC for 9 weeks learning the language.

They will be great missionaries.  I love the spirit, faith and enthusiasm that all

of the young missionaries at the MTC exhibit. The spirit here is so wonderful,

touching and enthusiastic!

(Elder Clement, Elder Hayter, Elder Stanley, Elder Nay, Sister Ackley, Sister Magleby, Sister Nay)

The Whole EIL Class and Instructors

Mongolia Here We Come

We are ready to serve and to teach!

Talking in Church on May 12, 2013 Mother's Day

Alvin and I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday, May 12, 2013

 prior to going on our mission and entering the MTC. 

 I spoke on receiving personal revelation.

 Some important things we need to remember as we seek personal revelation are:

We are our Heavenly Father's Children, he loves us and wants to help us return to him and become like him

He loves us so much he gave us our agency and he will not intrude on that agency.  He can nudge us, but we need to ask him for direction and help.

We need to "ask" and "knock" in going to our Heavenly Father in humble and reverent prayer.

He answers us through the gift and power of the Holy Ghost which speaks with a still small voice and feelings of peace.

We can receive direction and inspiration as we fast, read scriptures, pray and ponder.

We counsel with the Lord not to the Lord

I know our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.  I have felt his promptings.  I have had it confirmed that it is the time that Alvin and I are to go on a mission.  He will help us do His work as we humbly study, work and pray for direction.

Alvin talked on prayer. 

Alvin again reconfirmed the importance of asking and thanking our loving Heavenly Father in prayer. 

The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and others the blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional upon our asking for them. We pray in Christ's name, when our mind is the mind of Christ and our wishes the wishes of Christ. When his words abide in us. We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ's name at all; they in no way represent His mind but spring out of the selfishness of man's heart.

All of our Children were here today! What a great bunch of Children

We love all of them very much!

Our wonderful family

All were here except for Geoff

We miss him and want him to know we love him

and want all of our Family together forever

  

WE FINALLY RECEIVED OUR MISSION CALL

After waiting nearly 9 weeks we received our Mission call on January 28, 2013. The only stipulation we had when we sent our mission papers in was to be assigned to an ENGLISH SPEAKING MISSION.

Boy, were we surprised when we opened our call and saw

MONGOLIA ULAANBAATAR MISSION!

We were in SHOCK!

We could not even say the word and all I could think of was, "Do they speak English there?"

It was a good thing that we did not have to report to the MTC until the end of May.  

We needed the time to get use to the idea of going to Mongolia

We were to serve as Perpetual Education Fund Specialists

The reactions from all of our children were all about the same as Joe"s

"Yea, okay, now where are you really going?"  

But after the unbelief they have all been supportive and excited for us.

Change of Call

A few weeks later we received a change of our mission assignment. We were now to serve in the Mongolia Welfare Country Office serving as humanitarian specialists.

One of our man responsibilities is to develop, maintain and evaluate humanitarian projects.
This is a very humbling call.  We know that we will not be able to do this without the help of the Lord.

Creating a new blog

Alvin and I are experimenting in how to create a blog.  This is our picture for our mission taken April 2013