We survived our first week of working out of "Preach My Gospel." It was amazing. The best part was interacting with all of the other missionaries and the teachers young and old. It was better this time because we knew so many people.
Saturday a friend of mine (Cheri Tyler) who lives here in Provo picked us up so that we could go to a couple of different stores and then she took us home for lunch. It was such a pleasant surprise to learn that her husband Tom Tyler worked with both John and Carl in Chile (about a million years ago). He also knew Richard Raymond. He had great comments to make about all of them. It really is "a small world" in the church.
This week our focus has been on medical missionaries. We have four doctors in our group and several nurses. We will be covering a variety of assignments. Three couples are Area Medical Advisors (McIff, Rees and Hamilton). One couple will be serving in the MTC in Brazil (Hall). One Sister is the Mental Health Advisor in Central America (Thiebauld), one (Turner) is teaching nursing in Chinle, AZ, one will be a Medical Coordinator in Chile (Demers) and us! We have a mixed bag of backgrounds--2 OB-GYN docs, an Anesthetist, a Radiologist, Neonatal nurse, etc. Everyone is out of their comfort zone and we will all rise to the calling the Lord has given us. One doctor will be covering all of the missions in Russia (seven time zones)! It has been amazing to learn some of the inner workings of the missionary department.
Tomorrow we will be learning about PowerPoint presentations. Justin Bauer (my computer guru when we served together in Garden City) bought and installed Microsoft 2007 and a mouse for me (we need it for the PowerPoint "stuff"). What a lifesaver! It was so wonderful to visit with him. He also brought several ties for Spencer--they had great fun trading back and forth in KS. Justin gave us expensive ties and Spencer gave him crappy ones. Seems fair, right?
Friday we start on the "English as an International Language" training. We will be in Spencer's area of experience.
Today, President Fotheringham met us at the Church Office Building Cafeteria for lunch. It was WONDERFUL to see him again. He is an incredible person. We love him so much. His wife is in Hawaii with old friends, so our visit on the phone will have to suffice (for now at least).
We have had fun learning to use Skype. We have been able to "see" Adam's family and Janae, Brigham and Aly. Do any of the rest of you have a webcam on your computer? Even if you don't, we can call you and you can see us on the computer if you sign up for Skype. It is free to you and we are happy to "talk" to you with the video going--unless Spencer is just getting out of the shower or something. :)
We love you all. We have loved your blogs. Carolyn what is your blog address? I want to add it.
2 comments:
Sounds like you are running into old friends and lots of people that you have become acquainted with over the years! I had been grateful for our blog as it helps me to keep a record of our lives in a quick sort of way since I have been terrible about journaling and besides, you know what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words!!!
Keep up the good work!
So happy to hear from you. When do you depart for the mission field? I'm so amazed at the service the missionaries give, and it's wonderful that both of you are so well prepared. The Terry Dodds family is doing well and very blessed. We plan on a family reunion at Aspen Grove over New Years. We're hopeful that all of our children and their families will be there. I finished chemo treatments three weeks ago and am feeling good. The neuropathy in fingers and feet remains, but I proceed with a full life, anyway. The hair is growing back, but I've gotten used to how easy the wig is! It'll be several months before there's enough of my own anyway. Best wishes to you, Spencer and Jeanine.
Love,
Cathy
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