LAST DAY AT THE MTC!

Well, our 10 days at the MTC are finally coming to a close!  

 

We did our laundry at what's got to be the world's largest laundry  room!

Fortunately, it's even free at the MTC!

Got haircuts at the MTC salon!!!

 We packed and weighed and packed and weighed!  

50 lbs. is easy to exceed when you are going

for 18 months!!!

We had to say goodbye to our darling sister missionaries who will

be joining us in Helsinki in one month!  They are so fun...whenever we

would hear "Terve!" we knew they were nearby!  We are in awe of the major 

task of learning Finnish in 10 weeks!

We are grateful to have been senior missionaries here and the freedom we had to do things.  The young missionaries had to stay on the campus while we got to leave.  Friday night we went to a BYU basketball game, Sat. we toured the campus and saw all the beautiful new buildings, and Sat. night we went to the Provo Temple. 

Sunday was a special experience.  We had Sacrament Meeting (Our worship service) from 8-9 AM.  All the missionaries are divided into about  60 congregations or branches!  We attended an international branch filled with kids from all over the world  (Madagascar, Tahitii, Korea,  Mainland China, Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Mongolia, and many more) who are here learning English.  They had a chance to bear their testimonies about Jesus Christ in 1 minute.  It was so sweet to hear their faltering English and feel their wonderful spirits!  Then it was Mission Conference from 10-12,  Departure Devotional for those leaving the next week from 5-6, and finally a fireside from 7-8PM.  A full day that was a spiritual feast!!!

We spent 21/2 days in CES (Church Educational System) training and then we were done!!!

Our daughter Sheri is flying in from Dallas to spend the evening with us and go to "White Christmas" at BYU (starring my niece) and then taking us to the airport tomorrow!!  We can't believe we are finally going but we are ready and excited!!!  Our 13th grandchild will be born tomorrow (11-11-11) to Mark and Miranda in Puerto Rico!!!  We'll always remember that day!  Our next blog will be from FINLAND!!!!!