CES training in Johannesburg

We traveled to Africa with Elder and Sister Alder who will be serving in Northeast South Africa. We arrived in Johannesburg on Friday evening, 11 November. On Saturday we went to seminary and institute graduation is Soweto. On Sunday we went to church at the Soweto Ward. We were impressed with how knowledgable about the gospel the saints in Soweto are. They did a great job of giving talks and teaching lessons. We stayed at a nice hote,l the Town Lodge, in Roodeport. We had Church Education System training on Monday through Wednesday. On Monday night we went out to dinner with a group of senior missionaries from the Johannesburg area for family home evening. There were about twenty of us.They get together about once a month. There are people at the restaurant parking lot who guard the cars and you are expected to tip them a few Rand for their service.

Missionary Training Center

We entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on 31 October 2011 for ten days of training. We have had a wonderful time with other senior missionaries receiving training on our duties. We have been in classes week days from about eight o'clock until five o'clock. We have spent our evenings studying or attending firesides and devotionals. We are staying in a new facility that has been open for only three weeks. Our room is very comfortable.

One of the great experiences of the MTC is getting to know the other senior couples and sisters that are in training with us. The first week our group consisted of sixty-six people from all over the United States who are going to serve all over the world in a variety of assignments. We have a very good time learning together and have great instructors. They range in age from young returned missionaries to senior returned missionaries. They all keep us well entertained. We have been fed spiritually and given great information on teaching and sharing the Gospel. The second week there are twenty-eight of us getting additional training on teaching young adults in the Church Education System.

The food has been very delicious with lots of choices. One of the popular items was ice cream night with a half dozen flavors from the BYU Creamery and many toppings to choose from. The food was even good during the two meals when the power was out at the MTC. The staff was amazing at getting backup generators on line and keeping things going.

We leave Thursday morning for the mission field. We fly to Atlanta, then to Johannesburg, South Africa, where we will stay a few days before driving to Botswana.