HMTC

Things are becoming so very real. This afternoon, a package arrived for our Hermana Allen. An MTC in a box you could say.

For those who might not know, the MTC is the missionary training center. When someone makes a choice to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first few weeks of their mission is spent at the MTC. There they learn different and beautiful ways of sharing about God's love for His children, the Savior's great gift of the atonement, the plan of happiness that tells us why we are here, where we came from, where we are going, and how we can all be together with our families, not just for this life, but for eternity. If the missionary is called to share these life-changing truths in another language, they spend some extra time at the training center, learning as much of that language as they can before they officially arrive where the Savior has called them to serve.

Our Annie won't have the chance to attend the Mexico MTC, as her call originally stated. They're trying to be extra careful with this world-wide virus and that is a good thing. Instead, she will join her classes and meetings from the Mexico MTC by zoom video from our house here in Utah. Our home is about to become a missionary training center. And while the holy importance of that makes me feel less than worthy, it also feels sacred and like a privilege. I believe God will allow His Spirit to be in our home stronger than it has ever been, if we make the choices we need to to support our girl and allow heaven's blessings to pour into our home.

Along with the box today, there was a note that said that Annie's missionary tags would be arriving in a week or two. I'm grateful they didn't come today. Because while I couldn't be more excited for the adventure that lies ahead for all of us, specifically our girl, I will miss her with a fierceness that I don't know how to describe in words. And to me, a missionary tag is hugely significant and means it is time to begin.

Being a set apart, full-time representative of Jesus Christ is what our Annie desires most in her life right now. And she is almost there.

I'm just so deeply proud of her.