Thursday, August 20, 2015

The Mission Training Center Experience--July 13 to July 24, 2015



Darla receives her new missionary badge at the MTC.







Our MTC identification badges--this is how we got
to eat and to get in and out of campus and buildings.


Our apartment.


Hey, the view out this window
is pretty cool!!



This is where Bangalore is!!







This is the group of senior missionaries that entered the MTC the same day we entered. There were about 75 people in this group.





The first week we studied "Preach My Gospel" and practiced teaching other missionary couples as well as volunteers from the neighborhood around the MTC who role-played as investigators of the Gospel.















We worked hard all day long
but it was GREAT!!


















Our District with our instructor, Brother Gubler

Our District with our other instructor, Sister Yazzie

With our friends, Sister Day and Sister Nielson.
They sought us out each day to find out
how things were going with us.










On Saturday we took a ride up Provo Canyon to see Bridal Veil Falls--it was spectacular!

















































We also went to the Provo Temple.




                 Week Two: Our Welfare Training

Monday morning we visited Welfare Square in Salt Lake City and toured the Bishops' Storehouse, the cannery and bakery. We also visited the Deseret Industries Store, the granary and saw how cheese and milk is processed in the dairy. In addition, we were able to taste the newly baked bread, and just produced jam and cheese as well as chocolate and white milk.


And then it was off to the Joseph Smith Memorial building for lunch and training at the top floor overlooking Temple Square and Salt Lake City. 


There were eight Welfare Missionary couples on their way to different countries around the world. This was one of the largest groups of Welfare Missionaries the Church has had in several years.




What a view!




The rest of the week was filled with classes back at the MTC in Provo on such topics as Church Major Humanitarian Initiatives (like Mother/Infant Care Training of Medical Personnel, Water Projects/Sanitation, Wheel Chair Distribution, Vision Care Training, Immunizations, etc.); as well as Emergency Response and Recovery. We also had classes on taking care of our own health--such as purifying our own water and our mental health in a foreign land.









Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Preparing to Leave--Jul 2015


Larry sprays our clothes
with insect repellant.
We're gonna need more repellent!

Darla trying to make it all fit!!!
Is this ALL of it? NO! There's more???

Set Apart as Full Time Missionaries--July 12, 2015

We were set apart as full time missionaries in the India Bangalore Mission by President Bryan Peterson along with counselors Kent Ure and Mark Carter, Bishop Robert Wright and our son, Michael Newton. Others present included Laura Newton, grandchildren Lilly Anne, McKenna Sue, Johnathan Wade and Sadie Lee as well as Darla's mom, Donna Wade.

Lilly, McKenna, Johnathan and Sadie helping Grandpa and Grandma put their mission picture on the Morgan Utah North Stake missionary bulletin board under the Enterprise Ward.

Our plaque is added to the Family Missionary Board


Farewell Luncheon with Family and Friends--June 28, 2015




We had a nice time visiting with family and friends at the Enterprise Park.




It was great to have so many folks supporting us!







We are thankful for so many great friends over the years. We fondly call this group "The Boys"

Monday, August 17, 2015

Finding Out About India--10 Dec 2014

Fun Facts About India


Bangalore is 8,653 miles from Morgan, Utah; it is almost exactly halfway around the world.  It takes approximately 27 hours and 48 minutes to fly to Bangalore from Salt Lake City.  Bangalore is the third largest city in India, with a population of 4.3 million people, and its elevation is just over 3,000 feet. The ratio of dogs to humans is 1:37; every five minutes a person is bitten by a dog in Bangalore! India's total population is 1.25 billion.  


Bangalore is considered one of the cleanest cities in India. There are 21 engineering colleges, with the highest percentage of engineers in the world. Bangalore is also the base for nearly 47% of the 265 biotechnology companies in India.  





India experiences three seasons: a cool winter from October to March; a hot, dry season from March to June (the warmest month is May); and a monsoon season from June to October. Bangalore has a tropical climate with the average high of 97 degrees fahrenheit and an average low of 59.7 F. The maximum temperature recorded is 102 F. The average humidity varies from 65% in January to 90% in July--with many days at or near 100%.






The national flag of India
    

Opening our calls--December 10, 2014

"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...to labor in the India Bangalore Mission." 
Donna's reaction to Bangalore, India.
"Your primary assignment is to labor in the India Welfare Country
Office as welfare services missionaries."