We are never going to be the same!!!

My dear Family and Friends!


Traditional picture of where 
we are going ... VANUATU!!!

Mark and I began our service as Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Monday, September 8th.  We entered what is called the mission training center (MTC) this past Monday.  Here we are trained to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Today is the end of our 1st week.  It has been the most amazing experience!  If there could be a place close to being a Zion society, I would say we are living in it.  We are of one heart and one mind.  We along with about 3,000 other missionaries currently in the MTC are absolutely focused on Jesus Christ and his gospel.  On Wednesday we welcomed around 800 young men and young women to the MTC, with about the same amount leaving to go start their service.  It's so wonderful to see so many young adults choosing to spend 18 months or 24 months serving, teaching, and helping others to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.  We sing a lot at the MTC.  Hearing all the voices of missionaries singing, stirs the soul to feel so deeply the love of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. My eyes have leaked a lot this week.  They literally sound like angels.  I've attached a few songs,  I hope you enjoy them.  We sang Gethsemane all together at the end of a devotional last Sunday.  The Miracle was a video I watched during personal study time.

Hymn "Gethsemane" - Gethsemane Youtube link  
Hymn "The Miracle"  - The Miracle Youtube

MTC weekly devotional 
If I had to describe the MTC in one word; I would say it's Heavenly. The Holy Ghost is so strong and we feel like we just want to stay here as long as we can.  One of the devotionals this week was entitled the Character of Christ. It was absolutely enlightening, and like I entitled this letter, we are never gonna be the same!!!.  There were many examples of how we can live a more Christ-like life.  One of my favorites was turning outward and not inward.   Jesus Christ always turned outward.  We tend to turn inward; which is selfish and not selfless.   Mark and I are setting a goal to be more outward focused, taking on the Character of Christ.

I LOVE the chocolate milk that is available during our meals, it is really good!  I am looking forward to cooking my own meals.  That said, we are being fed sufficiently. 
Our first breakfast in the MTC Cafeteria 
We LOVE talking to the younger missionaries about where they are from, where they are going, and what language they will be speaking.  They are amazingly enthusiastic about serving.  These youth come from all over the world to serve and to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I wish you could all experience what we are experiencing.  We are truly humbled to witness this great gathering of youth.   Mark and I love being a part of the Lord's Battalion.  I love the scripture in Jeremiah 31:10, which says: "Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock".  We love that our God is a promise keeper and that we get to be instrumental in the gathering.

We have 2 more days at the Mission Training Center.  Our training will end on Wednesday.  We plan to spend Thursday and Friday visiting family here in Utah.  We begin our journey to Vanuatu on Saturday and Arrive there on the 24th.

In Vanuatu Mark and I will be working with the Seminary and Institute programs of the church.  This is religious education designed for youth and young adults.  It aims to help participants deepen their understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We will also help secular education programs, like reading, writing, and math skills for those 4th thru 8th grade.  We look forward to serving the beautiful people of Vanuatu. 

We hope you all have a spectacular week.  Feel free to write to this email as we are told the US Postal Mail rarely makes it to Vanuatu.  We will be sending out weekly updates.  Mark and I will take turns sharing our amazing experiences while serving.  May God bless and keep you.

Love you all!  Sista Lovelace and Elda Lovelace

  
Our MTC district (left to right) - Barton's,
Us, Sister Rodriguez (MTC teacher),
Fuller's, Anderson's

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