MTC District

Here is a picture of our MTC District.  On the far left as you look at the picture are Elder and Sister Beesley.  They are serving their second mission - this time they will live in their own home and serve as missionaries in downtown Salt Lake City.  They will work with members of the church who no longer attend regularly.  Elder Beesley looks like a kindly old man but he is fearless!  They will have no problem getting to know people who maybe aren't that interested in getting to be known!  

Next to us is Sister Reese who is one of our teachers.  She is a returned missionary - went to South Carolina - and has been a great teacher.  Yes, she does have a boyfriend but they aren't engaged - yet!  We asked is she wanted us to talk to him but she said she'd be fine!  

Our District Leader, Elder Haws and his companion Sister Haws is next to Sister Reese.  Elder Haws is a CPA and they will be serving seven countries in East Africa as Area Auditors.  Their experience will be interesting since church records are kept on paper in that area - lots of places with no electricity.  Many of the stake and ward leaders have been members for less than a year.  Elder Haws will teach them the sacred nature of church tithing funds, how to make bank deposits, how to use church fast offering funds to assist the poor, etc.  Sister Haws has been called to serve with him in the auditor capacity. As a side note I'm happy to report that Elder Haws assigned me to be Assistant District Leader between the hours of midnight and six a.m.!  So, I'm the First Assistant District Leader!  Awesome!  

Finally we come to Elder and Sister Poulson.  Elder Poulson doesn't have to wear a tie on his mission!  He will be working in facility management at Palmyra, NY.  They will oversee the facilities in that Church History site.  They will live, along with two other couples, in the renovated Martin Harris home.  For those of you reading this that don't know who Martin Harris is we will be happy to have two young men in white shirts and ties come over and explain things to you ;-)!  We are on a mission, after all!  

Most of our district leaves today - we stay another week for Church Educational System training and more language training.  I think our language tutor sensed my despair - he gave us two tickets to the BYU game this Saturday - right below the press box!   His Dad is head of Physical Facilities at BYU and they have plenty of tickets!  Sherry decided she would go - we get to stay together all the time so I can't go if she doesn't.  I love my companion!  Tonight our tutor is going to let us sit in on a language session with a group of four young Elders and four young Sisters who have been in the MTC for a week.  Since they study twelve hours a day I know they will be further along than us.  We love the spirit and enthusiasm of the fired up young missionaries so we're excited.  Tomorrow, in addition to the BYU game we get to do our laundry!  We checked out the laundry room - there are hundreds of washers and dryers!  Incredible!  Maybe I'll take a picture...