The Empty Ocean

Long long ago, when my oldest niece Kate was a young little squirt, about age 3 or so, someone asked her where her uncle Peter was. (I think it was Peter.) She got very thoughtful and you could just see the gears in her mind turning as she tried to remember where. Finally she managed to communicate that he was in a large empty ocean. We were all very confused. No Kate, he's in the MTC. Oh. Wait. That's what she heard - the Empty Sea! 

The first week of Chase's missionary training experience took place at our house. This had never been the case before until covid happened, and then for a while once missionaries started going on missions again they did all of their training from home. Now all missionaries start with the first week of training at home before going to the actual MTC site, most often in Provo, although there are MTCs in a few other places around the world now. 

After the resounding and triumphant farewell of the day before, Monday morning was slightly anti-climactic. I did love how Chase immediately took on the role of missionary, making sure to get up at 6:30, shower and dress in his missionary attire and prepare for the day. Only...he didn't have classes until the afternoon. This was lucky actually because we hadn't had much time to prepare his room and make it into a good place to be in class and focus. 

Monday morning, after getting the girls out the door and off to school, Chase and I spent several hours cleaning his room, packing away the last of his stuff like action figures and gaming systems and lots and lots of hoodies. We took some furniture out and brought in a table as a desk, set up the laptop he needed and got it all clean. By the time we were done class was ready to start.

It was such a neat experience to have the MTC in our home. Chase totally fell in love with his district - the group of missionaries he was studying with for his entire training. He'd finish up class and just come out with a big smile on his face. There was an extra special feeling at home, and it was so wonderful to know that Chase was actively engaged in something so great. 

Now there are some down sides to home MTC. Mostly that there are quite a few hours each day without class. Of course Chase did some studying and reading, but also he had some free time. It was hard to know what were appropriate ways to spend that time or not. Jurassic Park may have made another appearance or two. 

He did have a preparation day while at home. Lucky Chase - I got to be his companion every time he wasn't in class! For his P-Day he really wanted to get out and see the aquarium one last time. I hadn't taken him there for like 5 years or more! It was quite fun to leave the house with my missionary and go run around like the old days. We met up with Troy for some lunch as well. Really fun day.

Oh one thing I'll NEVER forget - one of the things Chase had to do was watch a series of videos the church made about missionary health and safety. They were trying to be entertaining and humorous, but actually they were kind of dumb. Chase just hated the ways they tried to be funny, to the point that the only way he could cope with watching them was to cue up a laugh track on his phone so he could tap a button and produce loud guffaws or canned laughter every time the video hosts did their dumb jokes.

Also during the time spent at home, Chase had one more Sunday with us. We had had the big farewell the week before obviously, but there was one more goodbye to make at church. Every time someone leaves our congregation, usually due to a move, we have them go up on the stand and we sing God Be With You Til We Meet Again to them (if they are willing). I thought I was going to sob through this when Chase got up, but I didn't. That is, until I looked over at the girls, and they had their arms thrown around each other with tears pouring down their faces. Oh yeah. Then the tears started. 

Cute little missionary.