In the MTC I was placed with 2 companions, Sis. Choo and Sis. Pfeiffer. We were supposed to be two championships of 2, but one sister didn't end up coming and we became a championship of 3. Our district had 3 Sisters and 12 Elders. 6 of the Elders were going to Hawaii and the rest were going to California with us Sisters.
The MTC was challenging. We started with the old Missionary training materials but told that we wouldn't be using it much. A new manual would be coming out half way through our stay in the MTC.
Preach my Gospel came out in the middle of the second week we were there. They told us to bring all of our old materials to class to turn them in and once we did we'd receive the Preach my Gospel manual. It was funny walking through all the hallways where the classrooms were located seeing the giant piles of booklets and materials that were now being taken to the recycling shredder. Our learning continued with this new manual as we prepared to report to California.
While we were in the MTC Ben and I actually saw each other once face to face once in the MTC bookstore. He introduced me to his companion and I introduced him to mine. We also saw each other from a distance when we went to Choir practice. We both were members of the MTC Choir. That was a lot of fun too.
Then the day came, it was time to pack up and head to the airport to fly to California. Ben left me a letter in our mailbox saying goodbye and wished me good luck. Once on the plane I was able to responded to his letter and even asked if he would be okay with me writing him while on his mission.
Once he got to his mission he asked his mission president if it would be okay for the two of us to write each other. His mission president encouraged him to do so. He said we could help, support, and strengthen each other while we both served. I was happy to hear that and we were pen pals the rest of our missions. We were able to share experiences, we were able to ask and answer questions about investigators, and were able to offer support when needed. The only problem was that it took a long time for letters to come and go because they were being sent to and from internationally.
We both served successful missions and wondered what awaited when we got home.
