August 26 - September 9, here we go 😊



Dear Family, Friends, and Dear Ones,

Warning: This might...”will” be a long one. We have been drinking from a fire hose for 11 days and this is the first time we have had time to think. We entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on Monday, August 26. The first thing we did was register and we received name tags with our names on them. Elder and Sister Clayton. We picked up a packet of keys, passports and visas, and a schedule. We then had a welcome and went to work! Our days started at 5:45 am and we had to be to breakfast by 7:00. Classes went from 8 to 12. Lunch. Class from 1-4:30. Supper.  Then class or devotional or meetings until 9:00. Then we would fall into bed. 

Our first week was a study of "Preach my Gospel" Here's what we gleaned:
1. Get over yourself
2. Look outward not inward
3. Be bold
4. Love others unconditionally
5. Reach out
6. Be yourself
7. Most of all—
Our entire week was based around one statement:
"Come unto Christ by receiving the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism or making & keeping sacred covenants, receiving the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End." This is something we all need to do every day of our lives as it will bring us closer to Jesus Christ. To assist in accomplishing this, we need to keep the name of Jesus Christ on our lips and in our hearts continually. This is the way to true happiness. 

Since we will be serving as Mission Office Support, our second week of training classes consisted of learning our office responsibilities. For 3 1/2 days following a similar schedule as above, we learned: more about using Excel and Word in completing our tasks and communications with the 180 missionaries, their families, church HQ and within the mission including creating a news letter each month and keeping church records updated. Dwight learned about managing mission finances, 83 mission cars, 106 mission housing units and dispersing the missionary monthly support $ for 180 missionaries. All this in 3 1/2 days; it was another firehose week. 

Fire hoses and all, we loved every minute of it.  Another special blessing of being in the MTC is associating with other senior couples and young missionaries that are there. There are over 2000 missionaries at the MTC during any one week.  In our “senior couples group”  that entered at the same time, we had 56 couples. These 56 were going all over the world. We ended in a group of 7 other couples that also received office training, that are special to us. they were headed to S. Korea, Athens, France, Cambodia, Texas, Pocatello and Germany. We love them all and will follow them for the 18 months. We have a date on May 5th (when we return) in Branson, Missouri with the Dewey’s (going to S Korea) to see the sites there and enjoy the extensive entertainment in Branson (the Las Vegas of Missouri), the St Louis and Winter Quarters temples with them. 

Thursday afternoon, September 5th we were done and headed back to Dede’s house to repack again and wait for our flight Monday afternoon. We are now at the airport. Flying to LAX and boarding our flight for New Zealand around 10 pm. We have a 18 hour trip ahead of us. We arrive in New Zealand on Wednesday, 11 Sept. at 5:30am. We will never experience Tuesday 10 September 2019! We have so many pics to share, but they are on my phone not my iPad. 

We had a little hiccup on Saturday, Dwight ended up in ER and we were told that the mission needed to be put on hold and see a specialist on Wednesday. Dede took us to ER and while there she stated we needed a family fast.  Our whole family participated with even a faithful 6 year old fasting for Grandpa. Needless to say it worked. Due to the prayers, fasting, a priesthood blessing and faith of loved ones, we continue on in faith. So grateful for our children, their spouses and grandchildren. We had a grand send off and it’s a bit surreal when your 5 year old grand son looks at you and says, “I’m going to be almost 7 when you get home.” 

Thanks for taking care of your homeless, car-less parents since June 28. You all have played a significant part in getting us to this point. Next email will come from the land of the long white cloud! We’re going to New Zealand!


 Love you all, Elder and Sister Clayton

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