Mexican Moments with Greg and Peg: Life at the MTC!

11/13/14
Well, we have 4 dots stuck on our mission timeline! This week has gone by fast even though the days are long and it is a real struggle to stay awake!
Yesterday (Wednesday) we had a long lunch break so we stood at the front door and watched the poor, sad mothers (and fathers)drop off their adorable children at the MTC. I felt so sad for those parents. I wanted to go out and hug them all. All of us that were watching had tears in our eyes and we didn't even know these kids. I wish all parents could come inside the MTC and watch their children from our viewpoint! They all are matched up 2x2 and going to and fro with someplace to be and happy to be doing it. I love to sit and watch the young elders and sisters. They all stick together and support one another.
They are studying their lessons or language, exercising, doing laundry, visiting in the big hallways or eating in the cafeteria. When I dropped off my sons, it seemed they disappeared into a big black hole! Of course, that's all I could see through my tears! Now, to hang out with these elders and sisters with all their enthusiasm is totally delightful! The spirit in these kids is outstanding!
The spirit in the senior couples is almost as outstanding! The seniors are so amazing with their deep love of the gospel and service to others. We have met a couple going on their 3rd mission to Armenia to do humanitarian stuff, probably water ways for villages. This couple can't wear name tags that have the church name on it because it is strongly muslim. Another couple is going to Iraq. WOW! No thanks! Another couple going on their 3rd mission to New Zealand to do records preservation. Bummer! They will be in such a beautiful place and have to sit inside a room all day! A nurse and her husband going to Accra Ghana, Africa to be the mission nurse. Scary with all the ebola stuff going on there! Anyway, the people we are hanging out with are such great examples. I feel blessed to only be going to Mexico right now! While here in the MTC we have been trained to be missionaries - including how to talk to and teach investigators. Tomorrow we will talk to people acting like less actives and try and learn what to say to these people. The food in the cafeteria is not half bad and great that I don't have to fix it!!
I still miss my darling grandchildren. I hope they don't grow up too much without me! They are my treasures!!!
Thank you Newman family for the wonderful care package we received today. The cookies are perfect and so yummy! I am going to drink my diet cherry pepsi tomorrow after morning classes, just to make it through the afternoon! The letter from the kids was the best part of the package. We showed it to everyone and they are all so jealous!
Last night we had plenty of time so we decided to do a temple session in this crazy busy Provo temple. Of course, we got picked to be the witness couple, so we had to stay awake and pay attention!
Tonight we got to spend an hour or so with some dear friends we lived next to in Arizona! James and Ann Tanner have just moved to Provo to be the area genealogy specialists! James has only been doing this for about 10-15 years and is quite the expert! It was so fun to catch up on their family and good times from our stay in Arizona!!! The difference between us moving to Utah is that I was very excited to be home to the seasons! The Tanners are not quite sure with the snow we got today and this cold weather we have had this week!
Best of luck to you ...staying warm and all!
Talk to you soon! love y'all!!