Another Side of Heaven

Serving with love in the Caribbean

July 7-12, 2025 MTC

Missionary Training Center

Missionary Training Center!

Our journey begins!  After being set apart as Full Time Missionaries with a wonderful blessing from our Stake President, on Sunday July 6th, we began a week of Christ-centered learning and fellowship at the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah.  We absolutely loved feeling the spirit there with thousands of young missionaries and many Senior Missionaries like us. 

It was especially meaningful and memorable being at the MTC together after Kristi had studied there in 1983 prior to her mission in Argentina.  We made new lasting friendships and thought the MTC is as much an immersive, inspiring, beautiful art gallery as it is a powerful force for good and light in the entire world as the missionaries go forth to serve in many lands and speaking many languages!

...We just finished our first week as Missionaries!  It's hard to put into words what we have felt and what we have learned.  From our instructors to new friendships, to all the wonderful devotionals, our hearts are full!  We have felt the Spirit in rich abundance as we have learned more about our Savior and His perfect love for all of God's children.  Never before have we had such a condensed time to think of and speak about our Savior.  We know we can go forward with confidence and the Spirit will be our guide as we become instruments in the Lord's hands. 

People 31

With Lindsey Crowther

One of the many beautiful backlit murals2
One of many examples of our Savior's Life and Teachings3
another example of our Savior's Life and Teachings4
People 15

With Allie Copier's parents giving everyone a…

MTC Map6
People 27

With Kristi's niece Natalie's son Heston

 

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More Stories from Our Journey

22 November 2025 - 15 January 2026 A December to Remember and Welcome 2026!

We will soon begin the second half of our mission. When Jenni and Amy were here visiting us in February (see our next blog post for pics!), one night we got a call from our mission leader President Horstmeier. He wanted to speak with both John and I. He asked us if we would be willing to transfer to the island of Dominica. It was quite a shock for us. Normally senior missionaries stay in the same area throughout their mission. Another senior couple, the Barringtons, are finishing their mission on Dominica and because Dominica has had some real momentum in the past few months, President Horstmeier wants continued support from senior missionaries there. We will fly there on April 29. We have mixed feelings because we have grown to love so many people and have made some strong friendships here inside and out of the church. Our experiences will be with us forever. We feel this first 9 months have prepared us for the next 9 months. We are ready for a new adventure and hope that we can continue to help the Lord with His work here upon the islands of the sea. We are learning so much from the wonderful people we have had the privilege to love. Everyone has a different story and different circumstances, and we have watched people go through challenging times. It strengthens our faith as we watch them exercise theirs. We have felt so much joy as we have served alongside the missionaries. They all work so hard every single day and always with a smile. They inspire us in many ways. It has been so fun to watch new missionaries grow and flourish. We continue to learn from President and Sister Horstmeier. Every Tuesday is our mission devotional. One thing we were reminded about this last week was to apply the scriptures to ourselves and to remember to include the Lord daily in everything we do, and to record spiritual impressions and know that most often they come quietly. They come when we are pressing forward to accomplish the Lord's will. We were encouraged to ask the Lord "what would you have me do today for your vision for ourselves and others"? We have felt the Lord leading us along as we have tried to make connections and to build relationships, and we know these precious friendships will last into the eternities. It has been a privilege to speak of and testify of Christ.

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