Training Week

I want you to know I'm keeping a journal for the first time (at least regularly). Thanks to the Ashtons for the birthday gift! It was so good to read through the week's happenings. There were many sweet reminders of things I would have not remembered. 

Monday was Labor Day and so we had the day off. I ran some errands and finished setting up my apartment. As I had experienced on Saturday, I'm still a little self-conscious about wearing my name tag away from Temple Square. I get a few side glances and polite smiles. I'm so grateful for the scripture that came to my mind from the Apostle Paul: Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. . ." I realized that I am wearing His name, and I need to represent Him well in all that I do. I had the same experience yesterday when attending Jonathan's football game at Weber State. Again the scripture came to my mind. Thanks to all my family members for their example who have served missions and are currently serving. I'm becoming more brave!

While unpacking I came across my patriarchal blessing. One of the lessons given to me in the MTC included an invitation to read my blessing with my mission in mind to see if I could find something there relating to my mission, and I did. There is a paragraph that begins, "In faith you shall perform your mission well and successfully." I think every other time I have read that paragraph, I was thinking in general terms of my "mission in life," never dreaming that I would actually serve a mission. Now I can read it with a whole new emphasis as I think about the next year. I'm so grateful for that blessing I received so many years ago!

The next three days were very compacted and quick training on FamilySearch. Thankfully, I was already familiar with most of what they taught. I felt a little sorry for those who had very little experience! I did learn a few new tidbits that I've already started using. At the end of the training, they included some fun activities to do with family history. One was a game similar to Jeopardy, which links to your own FamilySearch account. I'm proud to say that I won the prize - by more than 2000 points! But who's competitive? 

On Wednesday, we had a morning devotional that included a thought by one of the young elders. He talked about building on the rock-firm foundation of the Savior rather than the sandy foundation of the world. He closed with the third verse of "How Firm A Foundation":

    Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed

    For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

    I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

    Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

It felt like a personal message to me - from Doug because of what that hymn means to our family, and from God, because I know that I'm being strengthened and helped and held up as I serve Him on this mission. It was a sweet experience.

That morning we were interviewed by each member of the mission presidency and their wives. We had a chance to express what we might like to do for the rest of the mission and for them to get to know us. Based on these interviews and their inspiration, we were given our assignments on Friday morning. It was at a special meeting they call "Go Forth." President Fenn first talked about the Holy Ghost being with us to help with the work. He talked about how thin the veil is, and that our loved ones will be helping us. I'm so grateful for that knowledge. My assignment is to serve in the mission office as the full-time missionary coordinator. I'm not exactly sure all that is involved, but I'll be sending out information to new missionaries, working with church travel to make their arrangements, and keeping track of everyone through spreadsheets and databases and lots of files. There currently are over 500 full-time missionaries! I'm really excited! The office is on the third floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. And the fun begins tomorrow!

Yesterday was my day off, better known as P-day when you're 19. I got to go to Sarah's soccer game and spend the day at Coray & Mindy's. Then Saturday night we drove to Weber State for Jonathan's first home football game. It was so fun and exciting to be at the stadium cheering them on and watching him play! They won 41-24. 

OK, I have to share my most embarrassing moment of the week! I spent the night at Coray's and then came home Sunday morning to get ready for church. I'm just getting out of the shower when my doorbell rang. I decided to ignore it as I dried off.  It rang again. Still ignoring it I put on my first layer and towel-dried my hair. It rang a third time. So I timidly walked through my kitchen less than half dressed with wild hair, and said at the door, "Hello?" It was my two friends - ministering angels - bringing me some jam and peaches. They apologized for their persistence and told me that they didn't dare leave because my keys were still in my door. Well, I was grateful for sure, but more than a little embarrassed for being so ditzy!

My favorite quote from the "training zone" this week was on the wall in front of me. It's from Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone: "I promise you that all who faithfully attend to temple work will be blessed beyond measure. Your families will draw closer to the Lord, unseen angels will watch over your loved ones when Satanic forces tempt them, the veil will be thin, and great spiritual experiences will distill upon this people." That's why we do this work. There are so many blessings associated with finding and knowing our family, and I know that angels are attending us.