The Mtc - A Spiritual Awakening

Elder Ronald Earl Hancock and Sister Deanne Jensen Kindt Hancock servants of the the Lord 2010. Going forth to serve.

Ron and Deanne entered the MTC May 31st and left June 16th, 2010. It was an experience of a lifetime which we will never forget. When I think of all the time we wasted doing things that were not all that important in the longterm, we wonder why it took us so long to get here.

This is the front entrance that greated us to a 2 week period of time we will always have fond memories of and of the great people and staff we worked with. We can only say go, go for yourself and find out the great blessing that awaits you there.

The Missionary Training Center (MTC) is a vast coplex of 19 buildings consisting of domitories, classrooms, chapels, cafeteria, gymn, health services offices, book store, a post office and service buildings. The buildings are connected by covered walkways providing shade on a hot summer day or protection from the snow and rain. It is a completely self-serviced small community within the larger community of the Brigham Young University.

On any given day there are between 1700 and 2300 missionaries on site. Most are young elders between 19 and 22 years in age. While the females do not make up a large group, their impact is important and they are well respected. It is thrilling to watch when a young woman sits down at a table all the young men at the table stand up to welcome her and stay standing until she sets down. Bet they don't do this at home. Tonight at the devotional these youn men sang a thrilling standard hymn "Ye Men Of God". It was like listening to Carole Dahl's boys only 200 times more in number. We are very proud of them and their commitment to spreading the gospel. Over 90 different langurages are taught in the MTC, depending upon the need. Next week 113 new mission presidents will be welcomed here.

The gymn at the MTC was a very popular place. The building serves a multiple purpose. On regular week days it served as a workout place for the young and old missionaries to work out. Deanne and I loved to go there and walk around the inside track. The inside track went around the outside of the top of the building. Each round covered 1/10 of a mile and took 2 minutes to complete. At each corner was a workout station with excercise bikes and walkers. On Sundays and during devotionals it served as a place of worship.

Here young missionaries enjoyed a workout at basketball, vollyball, dodge ball or just plain goofing off

The churches would wide Welfare Services and Emloyment Services offices are widely scttered throughout the world. The above map shows a significant presence in many of the developing nations of South America, Africa, and Asia, many countries we never knew we had a strong presence in.

Above are the missionary couples going through the MTC who were going on welfare missions. Four couples were going out as Area Welfare Specialists, some as Employment Services Missionaries and others as Humanitarian Aid Missionaries. They were very special people and we quickly come to love all of them. Their mission areas varied from Canada, Africa, South and Central America and parts of the United States. We felt honored to be numbered among them.

This beautiful painting on a service cooridor wall depicts a pair of missionaries teaching a family the gospel in a far off land. The picture reminds Deanne of her grandmother's conversion to the gospel. Note the woman listening at the window and the young woman standing by the door.listening . Grandma was a maid servant, and "listened at the door" to the message the American missionaries brought. And was converted to the gospel before emigrating to America.

The temple of the Lord is a special scantuary in our lives. Although not as notalgic as the Cardston Temple the Provo Temple has beauty of its own. It's simple lines and beauty is all its own. As a University student at BYU I was my wards fund raising chairman to raise funds to build this structure. Construction started just as I was graduating. So I feel an extra kin to this temple. Cardston is still my favorite. The celestial room is special. It is a quite get away from the world where you can pray and draw closer to the Lord. After we had sat there for a long period of time Deanne said "Are you ready to go back to the real world" My reply was a curt NO!! I was ready to stay the rest of the day. But we had to go back to the real world, which we did.

The Provo Temple is a beautiful sactuary on the side of the mountain surrounded by a garden of large beautiful roses.

We are off and ready to go. Birmingham, Irland and wherever else the Lord calls us to go. After two weeks of training and motivation we are ready to go. The smiles on our faces tell it all.