Speaking in Church and SLC MTC

After completing our week at the Provo MTC, we made a visit to the Scribners whose son, Noah, had been tragically killed in a motorcycle accident earlier that week. We had a wonderful visit and cried with them as we visited. They shared many tender mercies and small miracles that had occurred to reassure them of the love of the Lord and His abiding presence with them. They seemed to be doing amazingly well, and I felt like they were consoling us, instead of the other way around. What a comfort the gospel is in times of trial like this!

We were also able to attend our granddaughter, Elouise’s dance recital performance of “Peter Pan” Friday evening. She did so well and is so talented! We loved it!

Saturday was filled with lots of packing and last-minute preparations, including putting the final touches on our talks for Sacrament Meeting the following day. It turns out that because of Mother’s Day, Fast Sunday, Stake Conference, and Easter, the Sunday after we were in the MTC was the only week available for us to speak. We offered to forego speaking, but that didn’t fly with our bishop! Well, it was worth a shot.

Saturday afternoon, we were very surprised to see that someone was outside in our front yard installing a large “Called to Serve” missionary yard sign. We had briefly considered doing something like that but decided against it. As it turned out, Tam’s mom had arranged and paid for the yard sign installation. We were touched! It was so kind of her to do that, which is perfectly in line with her character and fun, kind, loving personality.

Sacrament Meeting was filled with many old friends, neighbors, and relatives in addition to our beloved ward members and current neighbors. Two members of our stake presidency were there, and it was really wonderful to see so many dear friends. Many friends who were unable to attend in person were able to participate remotely via Zoom. Both Tam and I had independently decided to speak on the Savior Jesus Christ and how and why to place our trust in Him and His promises. Though we addressed essentially the same topic, we each did so in a different way, and there wasn’t too much overlap. We both felt good about how our talks went and the spirit we felt. Our love for the Savior is an easy thing to talk about, and any talk is better when it is over!

After the meeting, we had a small brunch open house at our home for family and friends. It was so nice to be able to visit a little longer with our fantastic friends and relatives. We served fruit cones and sweet breads with juice, and we ended up with lots of extra food, which we mostly gave away.

Saying goodbye to so many dear friends was very difficult and emotional, but we are so excited to serve!

We also were able to celebrate the 15th birthday of our oldest grandson, Ryder Briggs. His birthday was not actually until Tuesday, May 20th, but we wanted to celebrate with him, as we were uncertain of what our schedule would look like Tuesday. He is such an incredible young man, brilliant, creative, athletic, good-looking, kind, and spiritual – the whole package! We love him so much and are so very proud of him!

We drove up to Salt Lake Sunday afternoon and checked in to the Residence Inn downtown, which is where our assignment-specific medical training for the next week was held. The hotel was nice, and we had a one-bedroom suite with a kitchenette. It was nice to have a little extra room to spread out. The training began promptly at 7:30 am with wonderful training, assistance, and support from many full-time and service senior missionaries who have previously served in the roles in which we are now serving. There were probably about 20 other missionaries in our training, all of whom are called as Mission Health Advisors, Area Mental Health Advisors, and one other called to serve as an Area Medical Advisor in Ghana, Africa. Most of the training was all together, but there were also a number of breakout sessions specific to our individual assignments. There was a great sense of collegiality and comradery amongst all of the participants, as most of us shared similar backgrounds and had many of the same anxieties about our service.

The training included both general medical review topics organized by specialties and organ systems, as well as lots of orientation to all the various websites, applications, and online technology resources that we will all be using regularly as medical missionaries. We were oriented to the administrative structure of the missionary medical system and briefed on many of the policies that have carefully developed over many years. We had the opportunity to be taught by several former mission leaders, a former IFR (In-Field Representative), and lots of missionary insurance and medical policy specialists. The seminar utilized a lot of role playing of various interactions with missionaries and mission leaders as we strive to assist and support them in their medical needs. We saw demonstrations of various medical councils that we will lead and participate in.

It was very informative, and we took lots of notes, but it was a little bit like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. The vast amount of information that we were given in such a short period of time was quite overwhelming, and we were very grateful that we had been diligent with our studies and preparations prior to our mission. I am sure that we have already forgotten a lot of what was presented, but fortunately we were given digital copies of all the presentations to refer back to as needed. Those leading the seminar were wonderful and caring and seemed so eager for our well-being and success.

The culmination of the week was an opportunity to meet and hear from Elder William Jackson, General Authority Seventy, who heads up the Missionary Medical Department. He was so inspiring and encouraging, and hearing from him gave us great comfort that we would be able to be successful with our best efforts and the help of the Lord.

We finished up the seminar Thursday afternoon, May 22, and got checked out and headed home for Orem. We had lots to do to finish packing and make all of our final preparations. While we had originally been told that we would fly from Salt Lake to Brisbane on Monday, May 26, when we actually got our official flight plans, we discovered that we were flying out on Sunday afternoon, May 25. Friday and Saturday were filled with lots of final packing, final yard work, visiting family, and a host of final preparations. Trying to figure out how to fit everything that we thought we might need for 18 months into our limited luggage was challenging to say the least. Sister Nelson especially fretted over what to take and what to leave behind. We packed, weighed, rearranged, weighed, rearranged, weighed again, in what seemed like an endless tedious cycle. After much trial and error, we finally figured out an arrangement in which each of our suitcases was at or near the weight limit and we had what we felt were all the essentials packed! Hurray!

Saturday morning, we had the wonderful privilege of participating in the baby blessing of our youngest grandson, Bodie. It was a neat experience and Bodie looked so cute in his little blessing outfit. Our son, Tyler, gave him a wonderful blessing. The only sad part was that Robert, Alyse’s dad, could not be there in person, as his flight from Southern California was cancelled the night before after multiple delays. Fortunately, he was still able to watch remotely on FaceTime.

Saturday evening, we gathered all the family up American Fork canyon above Tibble Fork Reservoir for family pictures. While that sounds like a relatively simple process in principle, in practice, it was anything but simple. Trying to coordinate the schedules and activities of 22 people, find a time that works with the photographer, and get everyone’s color-coordinated outfits arranged was quite a complicated process, and involved rescheduling at least three different times in the end. Saturday evening was our final option and fortunately it worked out. The weather was perfect and pleasant, and the setting was gorgeous. Everyone coordinated well and we just loved being together.

Saturday was also our oldest granddaughter Riley’s 18th birthday, and she was headed down to Las Vegas with her mom, sister, and others to celebrate. But they graciously delayed their departure until we met for family pictures, which we appreciated so much! We loved seeing everyone and celebrated Riley’s birthday briefly before the pictures. Riley is such a beautiful and special girl, and we love her with all our hearts! She made us grandparents 18 years ago, starting a wonderful chapter in our lives. It is so hard to believe that we have a granddaughter that old, and it makes us feel pretty old!

The family pictures turned out absolutely beautiful, and we feel so grateful for our dear friend and former ward member, Jensen Fullmer, for her great skills and professionalism. She is wonderful, and a great photographer!

We took everyone to get a quick bite to eat after pictures and loved visiting with everybody. We love our family so much and are so proud of all of them. We feel very lucky and blessed, and hope that we can always support each other in our various challenges and struggles.

Saying goodbye to everyone was very difficult, but we know they will be watched over and blessed. And it is very comforting to know that we can communicate with them and them with us any time via FaceTime, WhatsApp, phone, text, and maybe even the occasional snail mail. What amazing technology we have been blessed with! We are really hoping and praying that everyone has the opportunity of coming over to see us sometime during our mission.

After final hugs and goodbyes on Sunday, our son, Colby, took us down to the MTC in Provo to catch our shuttle up to the airport in Salt Lake. Brisbane, here we come!