Joan and James Holiday

 On Sunday December 30th we began our missionary experience by speaking in our Sacrament Meeting in Rock Canyon Ward. We were touched by the outpouring of love from friends and family. The choir sang my favorite hymn, "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands" by John V. Pearson. It was beautiful!

Steve, Maria, David, Kenna Smith

After the meeting family and friends met at our home for a light lunch. Later that evening our stake President, President Robert Jackson,  arrived and set us apart as full time missionaries in the New York Utica Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. President Jackson advised us to write in our journal. This blog will help me do that.

Williams Family

 The following morning Tisha, Matt, Ben and Isaac Williams saw us off at the MTC. It was a cold, frigged morning. We will miss our family but are grateful for the opportunity to serve our Heavenly Father. We have been so blessed.

Entering the MTC

After saying our "good byes" we walked through the gates into a new life as missionaries. We were met by President Gordon Brown, President of the MTC, a neighbor. The staff of missionaries made us feel loved and welcomed. The following day we discovered that we were in the middle of an epidemic of flu. In all, 250 missionaries became ill. Joel and I managed to avoid the plague for which we were very grateful.

Our MTC District

We were divided into Districts and assigned to wonderful young returned missionaries to be taught. The first week we were instructed from "Preach My Gospel". We were given opportunities to conduct missionary discussions to "investigators" on the restoration of the gospel and the plan of salvation.  It was scary at first but ended up being a wonderful experience.  The second week we were moved to another building and received training from other young returned missionaries on the different programs and responsibilities of the Mission Office.  They taught us with love and patience.  We enjoyed eating in the cafeteria with hundreds of senior and younger missionaries. They came from all over the world and were going to far off places to serve. I will never forget how I felt while at the MTC. It truly was some of the best days of our lives.