Last week was busy, as we assume all of our weeks will be here.  We finished our last week of training in the Training Zone where all Missionaries in our Mission begin their service.  The training itself is not too hard, and we get plenty of breaks, but it can be tedious.  Nevertheless, it's important in order to keep up with the changes that keep happening in familysearch.org and Family Tree.  By the way, we have another week of Family Tree training starting Monday.  It's been said that we'll never be through training while on this mission. We also had a Mission Conference this past week as well as our weekly devotional.  It can't be said that we aren't spiritually fed on this mission; almost every time we turn around, there is something of a spiritual nature happening. 

I have found a good friend in the First Counselor in the Mission Presidency, he not only looks like, but talks like and acts like President Faust.  We continue to watch over our adopted Mom and she is doing good, although working on the computer does not come easily to her. During the week we had lunch one day with one of Lorene's friends from Hacienda Heights.  Her name is Content, and she and her husband are Service Missionaries here in this mission.  I assume we will see them quite frequently over the next several months.  Also,we are heading down to Provo today for a baby blessing for my Sister-in-Law's first grandchild.  Lyla has three more grandbabies (all first babies for each of her children) expected to come over the next 6-7 months.

Friday was a memorable day for us.  At the conclusion of our two weeks of training, we were treated to a morning snack of bread and homemade honey butter with the entire Training Zone and all of the missionaries that came here with us.  At the conclusion of our little snack, we adjourned to our "Go Forth" meeting where we were given our actual assignments which would identify what zones each of us would be working in the remainder of our missions.  The Mission Presidency takes the process of assigning missionaries very seriously, having the Lord decide where we should serve based on impressions and inspiration from Him through the Holy Spirit.  At this meeting each Missionary is asked to stand up, and then the President tells them where they are being assigned and introduces to them to their new Zone Leaders.  Watching this process and speaking with the other missionaries after they received their assignments was a testimony that each of us were assigned to our various zones by inspiration, Each of us are in fact assigned where we are needed, where we can serve to the best of our ability, and where we can grow and progress.  We have been assigned to the British Services Zone where we will help others who are looking for ancestors that lived in the British Isles, New Zealand, and Australia.  Both Lorene and I have ancestors who lived in the British Isles and we may be able to find some of these elusive family members.  We are pleased with our assignment and look forward to learning what we need to learn quickly so that we can be of assistance to the patrons who will visit our floor.  At the conclusion of our meeting we went to the Temple with the other missionaries, many of our instructors from the training, and the Mission Presidency and their wives.

Two other spiritual experiences rounded out the week.  While working with her trainer, Lorene was able to find the second and third wives of one her 5th great-uncles.  Until last week, she did not know that this man had more than one wife.  Our ancestors are waiting to be found and are anxious for us to see that their temple work gets done.  The other thing happened yesterday.  For her birthday I ordered a painting for Lorene with the intention of having it delivered to our home in Arizona.  Having checked with our tenants in our Arizona home, and them indicating that they had not received it, I contacted Deseret Book to tell them that my credit card had been charged but we had not received the painting. After some research, they informed me that the painting was delivered by Fed Ex on the 27th of August and left outside in our side yard behind a gate.  I figured that of course if the painting was left outside for over three weeks it certainly would be ruined.  Telling our tenants where the painting had been left, they found it in its shipping box next to several other boxes they had broken down after they moved in. In one of the tender mercies of the Lord, the box was in perfect condition and the painting was unaffected  by the elements although the other boxes were damaged as a result of being left outside.  Our painting now hangs in our home for all to enjoy its beauty and message. (It's a painting by Simon Dewey entitled "Men of Galilee.")

We thank our Heavenly Father every day for the opportunity to serve here in this Mission. We love our work here and we love the Gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  We send our love and hope you are all doing well.

We have been on our Mission for almost two weeks now, and it has been everything that they say a Mission can be for Seasoned Missionaries.  The first week we were spiritually fed daily as were taught how to utilize Preach My Gospel (PMG).  In our group of Missionaries, we met some of the most wonderful people who will be serving throughout the world, from other locations in the continental U.S. to places such as Albania, England, Hawaii, Africa, and South America.  Out of the approximate 100 Missionaries, thirty (including us) are assigned to the Family and Church History Headquarter Mission (FCHHM) in Salt Lake City.  During our week at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) we were fed as if we were on a cruise and studied every day.  While participating in one of our training exercises where Lorene and I had to give a lesson from PMG to a person acting as an inestigator.  Not knowing his name we kept referring to him as "Brother Smith." Near the end of our role play he said his name was McKell.  After probing a little bit we discovered that he is the father our Financial Adviser!  We had met Brother McKell about two years ago in St. George, but we did not remember each other.  Lorene, as usual, was able to find someone in our group of Missionaries to whom she is related (Elder Warner, a second cousin.) There was also a young missionary, Elder Jex, to whom she is probably related, but we were unable to determine the exact relationship.  (I can't take her anywhere without her finding a relative!)

The highlight of our stay in the MTC was on Tuesday night when Elder and Sister Dallin H. Oaks. spoke at the weekly devotional on the importance of Preach My Gospel, with the counsel to use it where- and whenever we teach.  Lorene was blessed with the opportunity to sing with the MTC choir at this devotional.  One other sweet experience came when we met Sister Sharon Walker who was in our group at the MTC and is now among the 30 missionaries sent to the FCHHM. Sister Walker is a sweet sister from Rigby, Idaho who has been widowed about ten months, and the first time we met her at the MTC she was scared to death.  We adopted her immediately and will be friends the rest of our lives. We continue to look after and care for her as time allows.  In addition, we were able to help another "seasoned" missionary couple.  This sister had packed her husband's shoes and neglected to pack any shoes for herself.  We were able to provide some financial assistance to them with the direction that they are to, rather than pay us back, pay it forward.  We truly enjoyed our time at the MTC.  We were fed well, spiritually and physically.

We arrived safely to Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon (Sept. 4th).  After getting settled in our apartment (which is very nice, by the way), we started on our training early Tuesday morning.  The schedule has been rigorous, but we are enjoying it and learning much.  We will write more about that next week.  We will get our assignments as to which zone we will serve in, so we'll let you know when we write again.

Love you all!