This is our 1st blog. On August 15 we were able to go to the MTC for a fireside with Elder Robert C. Gay. He was able to talk to us for about 2 1/2 hours which was an excellent meeting. He is a very outstanding general authority.
   On August 16th, 17th and 18th we went to the church office building in Salt Lake to be trained by the Self-reliant Mission Committee. Dionne and I are very impressed with the outstanding individuals that are on this committee. This committee reports directly to the 1st Presidency.
  There were five senior couples that were being trained to serve as Self-reliant Missionaries. The countries they were going to serve in were Chile, Manchester England, Samoa, Indonesia and Sister Smith and I are heading to Fiji. This Self-reliant Mission is a fairly new mission initiative to third world countries. We are very excited to be part of this new initiative because we think it is going to make a great difference for all the members in these countries. The statistics are showing its effectiveness.

Sister Smith at the MTC

Bro Braithwaite lives in ward and Bro Roper our leader.

View from Bro Braithwaite's office.

Here are the 5 couples plus our 3 leaders. Bro. Roper, Hunsaker and Boam 

After this training was over, we went home to get ready for our sacrament meeting talks and to prepare for the group that would be coming to our home after our this meeting. The highlight of the sacrament meeting including the sacrament, was that Tyler and Kirstey had their little baby girl blessed. Dionne and I are appreciative all those who came and supported this special day.