MTC Moving On

It seemed like it was going by so slowly!  Only 12 days total...but then it's here!  Departure date this Tuesday, July 29th!  She said she can even call us from the airport at a layover in Georgia.  Elizabeth and I will be at Laurel's Conference and Ken and the boys here, so I told her if she can only make one phone call, it has to be to MY phone!  I know, so selfish, but I think I have a right as mom! She shared a wonderful MTC miracle with us in her email today.  I watched the computer all day!  And it finally came in after dinner.  I guess waiting's the name of the game these days :)  Here's an excerpt:

"Last Tuesday Elder Lindsey and Elder Young (Missionaries in her district) were gone for a large portion of the day. No one really knew where they went, but there were rumors that they had gone to the health clinic. Later that night, after several hours of not knowing where they were, we found out that not only had they gone to the MTC clinic, but also the BYU health center and then to the ER.

Elder Lindsey had 8 open-heart surgeries before his mission, so when he started having pain in his chest Monday night, he knew he should probably get it checked out. Elder Lindsey is an INCREDIBLE missionary and has gone through a lot to get here. It probably wasn't wise, but just exemplifying how dedicated he is, he didn't get his pain checked out until he taught his two investigators that were scheduled for that Tuesday. After his last appointment, he went to the doctor and eventually the hospital and had several tests done to find out what was wrong.

The doctors told him that it looked like something they had put in from a previous surgery was broken off. They scheduled him another appointment for Friday to do some more tests and if needed, would admit him for surgery that night. He was told that there was a chance he could stay, but it was likely that he would have to go home.

Our district took action and turned to the Lord through many many MANY prayers and on Thursday we all did a group fast. We privately asked our teacher if he would put his name in the temple for us and then we had to simply trust in the Lord. And what better, stronger group to do it than 9 representatives of Jesus Christ?

Friday was our infield orientation and it was an amazing program; however, you could tell that our district just wasn't there. We were all thinking of Elder Lindsey in his appointment. Towards the end of the orientation, our district was outside on a table reading a case study together. No one had any expression in their voice and the mood was solemn. At one point, our district leader looks up and sees the Elder Lindsey and his companion, Elder Young, walking back to their residence. We all sit up straighter, suddenly alert and call them over to us, each of us eager to hear the results.

After a long day of tests, they reported that they couldn't see the broken piece anymore. In fact, they couldn't see anything wrong with his heart anymore! Truly a miracle had taken place, and we all knew it. The downside was they found other things in his lungs that will need to be taken care of, but he would still be able to serve in Houston after a short (hopefully!) delay.

This event strengthened everyone's testimony and faith in God. There was one elder who had never fasted for 24 hours making this an incredible experience for him and our district became very united. We are all still praying for his lungs, but we will never forget the miracle that we witnessed only a week into our mission.

District Motto: "God is good" "All the time. All the time" "God is good"

1st Email and MTC Pics.

The day after we dropped her off the boys began playing in a soccer tournament in Layton.  I was sitting by a mom who had just sent her daughter off to Alaska to serve about a month prior.  She said to me, "Has she sent you her first email yet?"  I was puzzled because I thought they could only email on P-Day...but she said they allow them to email the first night they're in the MTC.  I said that we hadn't and that maybe her district didn't do that or something.  But I felt a little gyped!  But sure enough the next day, we got that email!  She had sent it late the night before.  And then on Saturday we got a little longer one since it's her p-day.  Here are some excerpts and pics:  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa who bought her a nice camera with wifi so she can quickly send them to an email and they come directly to us!  
 "Well....... I'M ALIVE!!! :) I am just concluding my first full day at the MTC and whew! am I tired! Today was so incredibly long, but so incredibly rewarding. I feel like a have a to do list as long as the one I had when I was getting ready! and that's pretty long..... ;) but all of it is a part of strengthening my testimony and becoming the teacher that God needs me to be. I cannot wait to go to Tennessee, but I am loving my experience here."

"Honestly, the MTC is great! Leaving all of you was hard, but I was put to work and didn't have any time to think about that! Seeing a missionary friend (a sister from my BYU ward) as we drove in and then having her be my host was a tender mercy. I was so excited to see her and then it made me so excited for the whole experience. As we walked through the MTC, I saw several people that I knew from my past ward at BYU and even a few friends from high school."

"Yesterday was the best! The spirit was so strong the whole day and I felt like I learned a lot! after I learned, I just wanted to go back and have a do-over of our lesson! I learned so many things that we could improve on! But I guess that's kinda the point - I mean, it is the missionary TRAINING center after all :) 

We were finally able to exercise!!! All of us sisters were sooo excited to have gym time. The first two days we didn't have any kind of physical activity! and after sitting in a desk for several hours a day, you just want to get out and move! I think it was really a game changer. I had a lot more energy throughout the day because of it.  I have loved how much we are in the scriptures and preach my gospel is truly amazing! The spirit is really testifying of truth here all the time!

They had them teaching a mock investigator the 2nd day they were there!  Thank heavens she was diligent about studying Preach my Gospel before leaving.  I don't remember doing anything like that until I was there at least a month!  How things have changed...and how strong our children are!

Her companion is from Idaho!

MTC, HERE I COME!!

This is just a few of the 100 t-shirts Rachel had to decide among! 

 Even though she was advised to pack a day early, she didn't, and this was the scene at about 8 p.m. the night before she left! 

 She was encouraged to bring rain boots and these are the one she picked!  Cute, huh?!

 We found awesome luggage on Clearance at Kohl's and with more coupons it was really cheap! And she'll never lose it or get it mixed up with anyone else's!! 

 These are her scriptures that she's had since her baptism at 8!  She doesn't want new ones at all!  So our friend Erin in our ward sewed her an adorable scripture cover so they don't look quite so old!    

The day finally arrived!  We were so excited to have Grandma and Grandpa Trommlitz here for the big day.  We spent last night all together going out for a nice dinner and visiting.   I suggested Cracker Barrel because it seemed like some place Ken's parents would like.   Additionally, it had Southern type food that we thought would be a good idea and fitting to celebrate Rachel's last evening with the family.   After we arrived, we learned Cracker Barrel was started in Tennessee.  We had chosen the perfect place!  After dinner, the kids enjoyed playing checkers outside!  

After taking some pictures as we arrived in Provo at a nearby park the next day, we all couldn't fit into one car, so part of us started walking towards the MTC, while Grandpa had Sister Trommlitz's luggage in the bed of his truck.  At the corner, a gentleman told us we couldn't walk in, but had to drive to the drop-off area all in one car!  So we were going to try and all squish into the truck, when Adam said, "Hey, can we ride in the back of the truck?"  The brother at the corner said, "Yes!", so the boys and Elizabeth hopped in the back and the rest of us were in the cab!  It was great, because all of the current missionaries we saw walking waved and smiled at us and the kids ate that up!  They yelled hi back and waved and laughed.

Looks like Rachel takes after Grandma's side of the family :)

 

The 4 amigos

Sisters and best friends :)

Elizabeth and her selfies! 

  Thank goodness for Grandpa's truck, we could never have squeezed into the Camry! 

When we got to our drop-off zone and got out of the car, (I was still holding it together at this point) Rachel saw several missionaries that she knew from high school and college!  In fact the sister who was assigned to help her with her luggage and get her all settled in was in her BYU ward!  She had a hard time at first calling them Sister and Elder!  We snapped some more pictures and I gave her one last hug, and that's when I broke down!   She was smiling ear to ear!  She headed off up the hill and that was it!  Even though I was sad and we'll miss her, I couldn't help but feel so happy that she's at this point in her life, and that she's desirous and worth and happy to be taking this time to serve the Lord and bring souls to Christ.  

 

I think we were cracking up here because we had already hugged and then Ken said, "Wait!  I need a picture" so we re-created the moment! 

When I saw this picture that Elizabeth had snapped on her ipod, that's when I lost it.  The final parting!  She's a missionary now!! 

The Setting Apart

Yes, we know that it is still 5 days until Rachel goes into the MTC on Wed., July 16th.  Our Stake President, President Hollist, is a seminary supervisor and had to go out of town tonight for work.  And he won't be back by Tuesday, when she would normally be set apart.  So Ken, Elizabeth and I returned from our ward Girl's Camp at about 1 p.m. and he was scheduled to come to our home at 4 p.m.  Needless to say, we didn't unload anything from camp and Rachel and the boys did a really good job of making sure the house was clean and presentable.  In times past this would have been done at the Stake Center, but our stake has made the change that missionary settings apart will now be done in the home. Rachel is only the 2nd missionary going out from our stake to have this done.

It was a wonderful experience.  We chatted for a few minutes, with one of his questions being directed to each of the other children asking them if they are planning on serving a mission as well.  To which each responded yes!  (Well, Elizabeth said, "most likely").  That made me and Ken very happy! Then President Hollist asked if I would give a family prayer.  I did so while we were all kneeling in our living room.  (We won't mention that Tyler's neighbor friend came to the door and rang and knocked as I was praying-hee hee!)  After that, he gave Rachel a wonderful setting apart blessing giving her everything Heavenly Father wanted her to know before going out to serve.  Afterwards we tried to write down everything we could remember so she could record it in her journal.  I have to say, one thing I felt very good about was when he told her that she should follow the spirit as to where she SHOULD go as she's proselyting, and also where she SHOULD NOT go.  As a mother, them's are sweet words!  Afterwards, Pres. Hollist asked Rachel to bear her first testimony as a missionary to her family, and it was a very sweet and spiritual moment for all of us.  

He told Rachel she should follow the mission rules with regard to media, bed and wake-up times and being with a "companion" (Me, Ken or Elizabeth) at all times.  So we're now her babysitters for 5 days!  Elizabeth is thrilled to be her sister's first missionary companion!  He told her she didn't need to wear a skirt/dress at all times, but to treat the next few days like P-Days.  

He then said goodbye and headed out the door.  I had heard his flight was leaving around 11 p.m., so I asked if he was going home to get ready to leave, and he replied that he and his family were actually leaving RIGHT THEN, to drop their kids off in Orem and then back to the airport!  What a good man. He never made us feel in any way like he was rushed, or like we were holding him back or anything.  It was an honor and a privilege to have him in our home. 

We are so grateful for the restoration of the Priesthood in these latter days that helps us in every way.  I am grateful to have a worthy husband and sons who can bless all of our lives every day with this power.  As well as good church leaders to lead and guide and do for us what Heavenly Father's will would be.  

I am so excited for Rachel to get going on her journey, adventure, her mission.  It will be the time of her life thus far.  

Rachel jumps for joy with a natural glow