Home MTC

Home MTC is THE BEST.  I am so grateful we get to share in Brinley's missionary training experience.   I love getting to hear a little bit about how she is feeling about her classes and workshops everyday.  

Her companion, Sister Hyatt who is on the left, will also being going to Boise.

Brinley's schedule is pretty intense, but she comes out of her room on brief breaks just glowing.  She is soaking in all of the gospel centered training and loving it.  She will grab an apple, refill her water bottle and head back in for more Zoom classes.  Here is her basic daily schedule:  

6:30 - wake up, pray, exercise for 30 minutes, get ready for the day

8:00 - personal study of the scriptures

9:00 - get on Zoom with my assigned companion, share personal study insights, read scriptures     together, plan for future teaching appointments, etc.

10:30-1:30 - class with my District (a group of other missionaries I’m learning with)

1:30 - lunch, play the piano, spend time with family, etc. 

3:30-6:30 - afternoon class with the District

6:30 - dinner

7:30 - some scheduled workshops or devotionals, family time

9:00 - get ready for bed, journal writing etc..

10:30 - lights out

She has a preparation day (p-day) on Saturday and Sunday is set aside for church, Come Follow Me, family time etc...

She has been in the MTC for eight days now, and we have been able to squeeze in two short evening walks.  She will fill me in on some of her classes or funny things that happened with her district.  

Another perk of home MTC is being with her when fun packages arrive in the mail or on the doorstep for her.  This was a package from her roommate Kierstin.  She gathered 70+ "Open When" letters for Brinley.  She asked friends and family to write them and include a scripture, hymn or conference talk to go with their topic.  A few of the topics were: "open when you are set apart," "open when you've had a rough day," "open when you miss your dad" etc....  I know she will feel so loved and uplifted as she reads these letters throughout her mission.

This package was left on the front porch this morning.  A cute family in Midland who has a son starting his mission next week dropped it by.  How awesome is that?  Thanks Grays!

I took these pictures during her lunch break one day.  I love that we get to get our hugs in before she is away for the next 18 months.  Can you see her gospel glow?

As mentioned, Sundays allow for lots of family time.  In addition to church, were she gave her farewell talk, we played a few games and watched Saturday Warriors.   She was also able to attend our Sunday night family gathering.  Right before our extended family gathering, she baked cookies.  She wanted to visit a friend, Brother Olvera, from our ward who has been on her mind recently.

Brother Olvera is a sweet man from church who is too sick to attend.  His wife was Brinley's Primary teacher when she was nine, and Brinley loved her so much.  The Olveras were new members of only a couple of years when Sister Olvera unexpectedly passed away.

This framed essay hangs in his house.  Brinley wrote it when she was in 3rd grade.  It mentions many ways in which his wife, Bryn’s church teacher, touched her life.

We were going to visit at the door, but he insisted that we come inside.  I felt like I was back on my mission serving with my favorite companion.   Brother Olvera talked non-stop for most of the visit.  We were both so glad we took the time to go over.  

Isn't the home MTC amazing?  

It really has been a blessing, and I hope every parent who has a missionary gets this unique opportunity.  I will definitely need to add this to my "blessings from Corona virus" list.

Here are a last few pictures. Sister Gwilliam serving at our Relief Society drive thru ice cream social.  The activity was on her p-day, and I really appreciated her help.  I think she had a lot of fun seeing ward members while doing some service.  

One of her teachers raved about peanut butter hot dogs...so she tried it...crazy girl.  

Here she is wrapping up her night by writing in her journal.  

She has loved her MTC experience so far and so have we.  One week down and two more to go.