Well, we are finished with the MTC. Actually, I was low key finished with the MTC after the first week, but Mary decided we needed to enjoy the second week as well! That actually ended over a week ago (on September 1), but I decided I needed a week of detox before I could reasonably comply with the FCC’s Fairness Doctrine in writing about my MTC experience (even though I will probably not give Mary a chance to give her point of view, so maybe not in compliance after all). In honor of the Cougarettes’ bad life choices, I decided to sum up my MTC experience Yo! MTV style.
Some new arrivals be buggin’
Others are World Map muggin’
Veterans be chocolate milk chuggin’
Sister companions be all huggin’
Ran into two of my cousin’ (nine times removed)
Our instructors their bibles they thumpin’
Cafeteria at 11:30 be jumpin’
Shepherd pie be all nasty and lumpin’
Elders flirting with sisters be somethin’
Now its over and Quebec here we comin’ (on a slow roll, but still)
Ahem. Perhaps I should quit while I am (arguably) ahead. There were some good things about the MTC, and some, err, perhaps not so good. But today we focus on the positives! The highlight was definitely meeting many of the other couples, hearing their stories, and finding out where they were going. It was a lot of fun going “off campus” for lunch with the Richins, “fake teaching” with the Larsens and watching Sister Beck’s vain attempts to keep Elder Beck from talking too much (although, to be fair to him, is there such a thing as “too much” Elder Beck?). I am looking forward to hearing from the Peterman’s and their experiences in my old stomping grounds (they are serving in the Missouri St. Louis Mission). It was great getting to spend some final evenings playing Skull King with Adam, Kylee and Robbie (with some guest appearances by Sean and Harriet). I also enjoyed watching BYU beat UCLA 3-1 on South Field, seeing my cousin’s daughter play for UCLA, and getting to catch up with my cousins Kim and Debbie and their parents.
I also wanted to give a shout out to all of our MTC instructors, young and old. They did the best with what they had to work with. A few observations in that regard, if I may be permitted (and I may, seeing as there is no one to stop me). One, if your last name is Price, perhaps don’t give one of your children the middle name “Fisher”. Two, if you are given a three and a half hour block with the senior couples, but only have 30 minutes of substantive material, feel free to let us go early. Please. Finally, a shout out to Sister Hutchins, whose willingness to use deeply personal examples to teach left lasting impressions about the very individual and sacred nature of the impact we can have as missionaries.
Provo, however, is now in the rearview mirror. It’s been a whirlwind week since then and we are still on the road, but I will provide a full travelog in my next post ’cause I know “(You) Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (sorry, Aerosmith flashback). And don’t worry, Ben, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel:)