Launching!

Yes, it's true, we are back in the MTC. As documented in Lizzie's post, we dutifully arrived on Wednesday afternoon. Actually, we arrived Wednesday morning to drop off Elder Close, then enjoyed malts at the Malt Shop with the Close's, then Lizzie drove us back to the MTC.

Just getting started was quite an experience. As we entered the MTC, the brother directing traffic greeted us with "Pres. Hinckley, welcome to the MTC." He had a booklet with photos of all the new mission presidents which he was diligently studying so he would recognize them as they drove in. He directed us to park near the entrance and said a sister would meet us at the car with further instructions. She also provided a bottle of cold water, an MTC parking tag and the information that we would be housed at the Provo Marriott, then took us to the front door and handed us off to a brother that sat us down in the lobby, gave us our name tags, meal cards, and schedule for the next four days, then took us to Station 1: Photography.

At the entrance to Station 1 a sister took the items we were carrying (water, extra name tags, hotel information, agenda) and informed us that we could pick them up on the table as we exited Station 1. She then showed us the full-length mirror where we could do a last minute hair and tie check, after which the photographer placed us on the X's on the floor with the backdrop behind and the Softboxes above and took a series of photographs. We then took ten steps to a table where a brother seated us in front of a computer monitor, showed us our photos, and had us select the best. We then exited the room, picking up our items as we left.

The exit from Photography led directly to Finance, where we were greeted by name (we now had our tags on), given our debit cards, signed them, and received an instruction book of mission finances. We saw a brief video and had a briefing from the financial staff, then exited Finance and entered Medical.

In Medical we were again greeted by name and given some brief information on dealing with healthcare costs for both us and our missionaries. We then picked up a one-year supply of Kathleen's prescription medications and received some specific instructions from the pharmacist. (The good news here, by the way, was that Kathleen's package was one of the smallest ones!)

From Medical we went to Travel, where we received our final flight itinerary, our passports and our visas, and a sheet showing photographs and 24/7 contact information for the Travel Office staff.

This completed the in-processing routine, which ran with the precision of a Swiss watch with a staff friendlier and more helpful than the cast at Disneyland. We lingered for refreshments, available every ten yards in the hallway (fruit, veggies, cheese, chocolate, sodas), found Dick and visited with him, and visited with several of the other presidents, including the Cleggs. The MTC has never looked better!

With WHO still issuing a pandemic alert on H1N1, we are completely segregated from the other missionaries here (sad). Purell dispensers are found ten yards apart in every hallway. And they ask that we do not shake hands. This sounds like a simple matter, but try going to stake conference (or General Conference) and not shaking hands with anyone. It's harder than it seems! But the system works. Swine flu, which appeared at the MTC a few weeks ago as reported in the press, is practically eliminated at this point.

We checked into the Marriott about 3:30 p.m. - it has the disadvantage of being a 5-7 minute drive from the MTC, but the distinct advantage of having daily maid service. And the bed is vastly superior to MTC-issue, for which we are very grateful.

In the evening we rode back with Dick for dinner at the MTC, spent some time meeting and visiting with other couples, and generally having a great time. Needless to say, the energy level here is very high! Came back to the hotel about 8:00 and crashed.

That was Wednesday. The real seminar began on Thursday with Pres. Eyring's opening address which was nothing short of incredible. It was classic Pres. Eyring. Also present were six members of the Twelve, the Presiding Bishopric, the Presidents of the Seventy, and numerous members of the Seventy and the general auxiliary presidencies.

Elder Perry led off the second session, after which Dick introduced every couple. It was no small undertaking - he has been studying the pronunciation of the names for several days, and it was a challenge. There are 104 couples; the youngest president is 29 - from Haiti, assigned to Haiti.

We then separated into smaller groups for training and instruction. It would be impossible to do justice to any of this in a few paragraphs. Elder Causee from Paris and member of the Europe Area Presidency was in our group, so we had a chance to visit with him personally (we spoke on the phone a couple of weeks ago).

The day ended with a general session at which Elder Ballard spoke. As he concluded his remarks, he had two missionaries from the Utah SLC South mission come up a teach an abbreviated first discussion (partly in Spanish), which was pretty amazing.

Tomorrow the day begins with Pres. Uchtdorf, followed by Elder Perry, then a series of workshops, and a devotional in the evening with Elder Holland. Saturday begins with Pres. Packer and Bishop Edgley, ends with Elder Cook. We then have dinner with Elder Perry.

Sunday we have Sacrament Meeting in which Pres. Monson is the only speaker. This concludes with a benediction by Sister Kathleen Hinckley from Salt Lake City, going to the Spain Barcelona Mission. Yes, she is the last participant of the entire seminar.

Then, if we have the strength, we will drive home to finish packing. Right now it feels like we have started down a steep slippery slide - we are going at breakneck speed along a controlled path with very little effort. But Wednesday night we sail off the end of the slide into the deep end of the pool!

Who knows when we will blog again? Until we do, que vaya con Dios!