Wednesday, Feb 8th- Today was our day for the TRC- most all of the seniors are nervous. Our class was slotted to be in the first group to go.  Our "investigator" was a R. Guillon- Description: He has no religious training. His family didn't belong to any church. His parents never talked about God at home. He hasn't investigated any church and doesn't know if there is a God.
Craig and I had a good visit with him, we didn't use any of the helps that we had planned on. We also flowed easily from one of us talking to the other taking over. We used the scriptures, testimony and stories and we asked him questions.  We didn't always wait for him to completely answer us. We did teach him about prayer and he was willing to try with our help. We did place a Book of Mormon with him and he accepted our challenge to read Mosiah 3. He also committed to come to church on Sunday if we would pick him up.
After a break we met two-on-one with our teachers for evaluation. They thought we had done a good job.
Now to prepare to do this again on Thursday afternoon, this time about the Plan of Salvation. This was our study focus that night.

Tuesday Feb 7th- Picture taken in front of the famous MTC map. Everyone tries to get their picture taken here pointing to where you are going. You notice that I can't reach Nova Scotia- guess I'm going to the Bermuda Triangle. Today we start our "Preach My Gospel" classes. We have 4 couples in our class. Our morning teachers are Brother Barney and Brother Keddington.  Afternoon teachers were Brother Pike and Wozniak. All are returned missionaries and are great.

Elder and Sister Harris

Elder and Sister Bond

Elder and Sister Jorgensen

Elder and Sister Edwards

We are preparing to present a lesson on the restoration. On Wednesday we will have the opportunity to go to the TRC  and teach a "reccomend-holding" investigator. Our instructors will record this so that they can give us feedback. Gulp!!!!
Tuesday evening was the weekly devotional. Pres. Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric and his wife spoke. The mission choir was so beautiful. The opening hymn for the evening was "Called to Serve". This is the song that Craig and I met on during our first missions over 40 years ago.

Grandma is trying to increase her "technology intelligence". To help in the mission field and to help with her balance, we have invested in a "Kindle Fire"! So far, so good! My sons are skeptical, but I am determined to use this and use it wisely. Shauna showed us a sweet cover case, we paid her for a new one and have hers , thanks so very much dearest Shauna!

Our brand new "Kindle Fire"!

Small on space, but oh so great on tast- Bruge's

Natalie and Dad in back; Daeja and Trevan with Grandma!

Well, it was a wonderful week with dinners at our children's houses.  On Saturday, Natalie, Phil, Trevan and Daeja took us to a brunch at Bruge's. It's a very small restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City that serves French/Belgium waffles and some wonderful French Frites (French frys). We had an awesome time. and the brunch was so very delicious.
 
We so enjoyed the delicious food that was cooked each night by our daughters and their families, and the time spent with our children and grandchildren.  Sunday was a full day, at church we learned that all the ward boundaries in our stake will be changing on next Sunday (of course we will be gone). So we will be leaving from one ward, and not totally sure of the ward we will come home to. But we have no doubt, that our stake and general church leaders are men called of God. Change shakes us up and helps us re-balance our lives with prayer and testimony.  Then we headed to Sandy, Utah. Grandson Taylor was ordained a teacher today by his dad. It was Taylor's birthday. What an awesome young man!  We enjoyed some time with Shauna and her family. About 5:00 pm the rest of the family arrived for a big family dinner.

 Good food, terrific and wonderful family it was a wonderful evening. The hard part for me was when they all started to depart for their own homes and grandchildren realized that this would be the last time they would see us for a year and a half. Several of the granddaughters were in tears, and Grandma (me) was crying with them.  I love all of my grandchildren so very much!  I know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that great blessings will be theirs because we leave them and go to serve our Heavenly Father.

No shopping today, except online. We are considering getting a Kindle Fire, but are still checking it out. I got to exercise this morning again. I have lost over 3 of the 4 pounds I gained while at the MTC and its oh so good food!  Tonight we drove back to the MTC for one last devotional. To be there in an auditorium packed with young men and women, and the senior missionaries too as we sang hymns to praise God, it was a beautiful, humbling experience. For the 3rd week in a row the opening hymn was "Called to Serve". This was the song that I lead and Craig played the piano on over 42 years ago when we met in the old Salt Lake Mission Home. The speaker tonight was from the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy, Bro. Larry Y Wilson. He and his wife did an very awesome job. He spoke about helping those we teach and fellowship and being Book of Mormon "mentors" with them, or getting them ward members to mentor them. We had a nice dinner at Cafe Rio's before we went to the devotional. We also got some hot cocoa to drink on the way home. All in all, its been a great day. Sorry Jerry and Jeri Jo. We will be there next week on the 28th.

Tonight, we went to another daughter's for dinner. Tonight it was to Jaralynn and Bodey's house. They have 2 beautiful daughters. Dinner was delicious (it was pork tenderloin.) Jaralynn talked to me about a new-to-me website Pinterest. Will check that out tomorrow. We also had a wonderful family home evening lesson with them. We made great progress on our trip itinerary, got some reservations made that will be needed. We also made progress on consolidating what we hope to take. I think the pile is getting too big, and I'm gonna have to choose to leave behind some of what I wanted to take (a Saturn Ion is only so big, and we need room for the driver and me!)  As of now, we plan and leaving next Tuesday- so a lot to do.
We are still working on studying to be ready for this, but I'm afraid that any French lessons will have to wait till we are traveling.

Wrote a new poem on the 13th, while at the MTC.

Go Forth and Serve

A prophet of God has given you a call

To go and teach God’s children one and all.

You have a special message you must share

That God lives and for His children He cares.

It is time for you to go forth and serve them!

To a special part of His world you need go

To those who are seeking about God to know.

Where you are called is just right for you.

There is plenty of work just waiting to do.

They are waiting for you to go forth and serve!

You never need worry that you are ever alone.

For God’s angels watch over wherever you roam.

He’s always close and listens when you pray.

He will guide your steps throughout each day.

He is waiting for you to go forth and serve!

Your load He will lighten as others you serve.

You acts show others that Christ is who you serve.

Prayer, faith and charity are tools you daily use

So that you never will God’s pathway lose.

Now it’s time for you to go forth and serve!

Charlotte P. Edwards 2/13/12

Of course, this deals with going out as a missionary and the MTC was a wonderful, inspiring experience.