Another group leaves us. They are going to Cape Town, Uganda, and Kenya.

This was the second largest group the MTC has ever had. There were 35 of them and we were "jam packed!" This building just can't handle that many. Our dining room is too small, our meeting room is too small, and so it makes it difficult when they send us so many. We are actually the smallest of the 15 international MTCs.

It was a great group of Elders and Sisters though, and we loved sharing this time with them. I called these cute girls the "Singing Sisters." They loved to sing and we loved to listen.

Elder Morris and Elder LeFevre, American Elders, were waiting to meet their companions as they came in. They were looking all over for them and finally found them in the restroom. They were in there praying.

They took away with them many spiritual memories and many other fun memories. They recalled having to sing primary songs in the dining room when they left their chairs out, fighting over the peanut butter and jelly as they snacked every night, taking "greenie" pics wearing their green ties, slicking their hair down and parting it, pulling their pants up as high as they could, and borrowing someone's glasses to finish off the look.

While Elder Sheppard was here, his father had a heart attack and it was difficult for him to be so far away and not be able to be with him. He did communicate with Mom though and now Dad is home and doing well.

Elder Butawo came from Zimbabwe, but his Mother stays here in South Africa where she is able to find work. His Mom sent him all of the things he would need for his mission (suits, shirts, shoes, etc.) and when the package got to him everything had been stolen and the package was empty. I learned this a couple of weeks into his MTC stay and was so touched by what all the other missionaries in his district had done for him. They gave him shirts, ties, socks, shoes, etc. The way I came to know this was one night we had people coming in for the missionaries to teach and he was wearing a winter coat instead of a suit. I talked to him about it and he said his suitcoat was dirty. I quickly found him a suit that fit perfectly and he was able to shed the coat. He then shared his experience with me.

Sister Lifa and Elder Kazozo were able to have their parents who had passed away sealed and then they were sealed to their parents. Sister Lifa also had her sister who had passed away sealed to her parents. Elder Henerico had his grandparents sealed. This is such a wonderful experience for the missionaries.