November 2, 2003

11/2/03
Dear Folks,
We are enjoying ourselves here at the MTC but will be glad when our training is finished and we will be in Japan. I can’t believe the number of missionaries that go in and out of here. We are starting to seem like old fixtures here. We are enjoying having some of our classes up at the MTC. All those young missionaries are so full of it and love to chat with us. On Saturdays we have been going to the Provo Temple. It is beautiful and I think I’m about able to get around inside without loosing my way. I thought it was a small Temple but inside it is big and they have sessions every 20 minutes. Many of the workers are young college kids and they are equipped to take care of many languages. They do a huge amount of work there.
They are working us to death with this language training. (The head can absorb no more than the seat can endure.) I don’t know how they work the language business because a few don’t have to learn their language, but most do. One of the missionaries said she thought it had to do with their Mission Pres. If the Mission Pres. recommends that the Sr. Missionary learns it; that’s what happens. However we learned today that we will probably be among the last Sr. missionaries that will train for languages in the Sr. MTC. Evidently they are going to try a program of having the Seniors learn their languages in their own homes. The MTC will be in contact with them by phone each day and give them assignments and answer their questions. I can’t believe that will work very well; anyway we are glad we are learning it here. They say they just don’t have room for the Sr. Missionaries that have to stay that long, here.
One couple going to Taiwan said they were not to learn the Mandarin language. However, their visas have not arrived yet so they put them in the language program so they will have something to do until they can go. They are not happy about that! Even though its a lot of work, we are glad for the opportunity, and they do such a good job of teaching it. Shirley has learned how to introduce herself, give her testimony, and prayers, all ready. The language rooms in the MTC sound like the Tower of Bable. It is interesting that with all the missionaries coming in each week, we haven’t met one other couple going to Japan. There are so many going to Russia, the Baltics, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Africa.
Tues. night was the Missionary Devotional. The speaker was Elder William H. Bradford of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. I was especially interested because I met him on my first mission. He was a Missionary in Japan and in the Mission Home while they were trying to find out what was wrong with his health. They ended up sending him home for surgery and he didn’t return to Japan. I was in the Mission Home with him for about a week. Much of his speech last night was about his experiences in Japan (I think he was there about two years). After the program we went up and talked to him for a minute. He was interested that I was going back to Japan and we reminisced about our experience there. I remember I was impressed with him at the time.
This has been a terribly cold day! And last night was is a hard night for all the kids to dress up and go Halloweening. Most everything has frozen here and we hate to see winter set in. It even snowed last night a little here. We miss hearing from you guys and will be glad when we can be hooked up to the Internet. Anyway, we are thinking about you.
Sayonara, The Ropers