Mission President's Seminar

We have been in Monterrey Mexico for over three months now and I guess I have already blown my promise to keep everyone in the loop.  The months have flown by and I will get to where they have all gone but first I thought I would share just a little about the Mission President's Seminar the end of June. We entered the MTC on Saturday afternoon and with detailed precision all of the information was disseminated, pictures taken, information collected and introductions made with a little time to wander and meet  many of the presidents attending. Mike and Gwen delivered us to the the MTC from the airport with a quick lunch in between.  Gwen is my sister and as many of you already know Mike, her husband was mission companions with Ed back when they were 19 years old.  Actually they accompanied us to the MTC on our last mission to the Dominican Republic.

Our tutors for the past 6 months join us, Wendy Fernandez and Sergio Palomec.

The Kusch's one-upped us already and look, he looks official.
A phone to the ear is a must for any mission president.

Mission Presidents and Church leaders from the Mexico Area.

Joined by the Christensens who are now presiding over the Mexico Puebla North Mission.

Our friends going to Zimbabwe, Janice and Bryson Cook

Ed and I, President and Sister Daniel Mehr, and President and Sister Candido Fortuna

Knowing there were about 110 -120 new mission presidents and their wives, it was surprising that when we pulled up to the gate, a young man with a bright smile said, "Welcome President and Sister Swapp.  We are so happy to have you here."  We were treated with kindness and respect from that moment on.  Maybe an example to us as to how we should treat each of our missionaries as we greet them at the airport every six weeks.  We had never seen this young man before.  He had memorized every face and name for the event as had many, many of the young workers and volunteers at the seminar.
We had the opportunity to meet many of the General Authorities personally, as well as hear each of them speak to us.  We heard from every apostle and the first presidency including the prophet who spoke to us for over an hour for our sacrament meeting on Sunday.  We also heard from many in the Seventy who are responsible for missionary work.  I could not begin to share my experience, and the accompanying feelings with mere words.  Words could not do it justice.
We made some very good friends while there and ran into friends we had met on our previous mission.
President and Sister Candido Fortuna, from the Dominican Republic were going to Honduras.  President and Sister Daniel Mehr who served with us in the DR are to preside over the West Indies.  Our son Tom's good friend's parents, Bryson and Janice Cook, were headed to Zimbabwe,  and we were able to get to know them much better.  We also met many of the presidents going to Mexico, the Kucshs, the Wagners, the Jordans, the Christensens, among others.  We ran into many who knew people we knew or in Ed's case people he went to high school with.  I too ran into some with Millard County ties.