Welfare Training

We actually started our welfare/humanitarian training this summer as we visited with several people at church headquarters in preparing ourselves for New Zealand. We also visited a few times with Elder Glen L Rudd.  Elder Rudd is not only an authority on welfare, he is also a wealth of knowledge on the church in New Zealand. 

Elder Rudd and Gary

We spent the week of September 15-18 in welfare training. Monday we went to downtown Salt Lake City for meetings at Welfare Square with Jamie Glenn. After our training we went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for a nice lunch and presentation by Steve Peterson, Managing Director of Welfare Services. Following lunch we had training relating to Emergency Response and Self-Reliance.

Tuesday we were back to the MTC in Provo. Sharon Eubank, Director of Humanitarian Services/LDS Charities, provided excellent training relative to humanitarian principles, the vision of our call, the purposes of humanitarian service, and an overview of the six humanitarian principles. (www.ldscharities.org)

Sharon Eubank

After lunch Gustavo Estrada instructed us on the use of the computer database program that welfare missionaries use in documenting humanitarian projects. Some missionaries felt a little apprehensive, but Gary mentioned that it really was a fairly easy program to use.

Gustavo Estrada and Gary

Wednesday our training was again at the MTC. Our instructor was Aaron Meacham for instruction on humanitarian major initiatives (www.ldscharities.org).

Aaron Meacham

During our devotional Thursday morning Elder and Sister Sharpe from St. George, Utah  (Area Welfare Specialists for Germany) treated us to a musical number.  Elder Sharpe played ths flute and Sister Sharpe accompanied him on the piano.  The number was a medley of Primary songs and Hymns.

Elder Sharpe

Thursday Gustavo was with us again in the morning to discuss area initiative (smaller locally focused) projects. We had the opportunity to talk about and show photos of some of the projects we did in Bosnia. In the afternoon Dr. Woolley led a discussion on safe drinking water. 

The entire week's training was very worthwhile and especially relevant to our humanitarian missionary service. We really enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones in the Lord's service. 

 Our entire welfare training was coordinated by a senior couple, Elder and Sister Palfreyman.  They are from Springville, Utah.  They did an excellent job.  We shared a common bond as they had just returned from a cruise of the Croatian coast in March.  

Gary and the Palfreyman's

Friday will be our "Travel Day". As our journey begins we have many questions. Will our bags be under 50 lbs each? Will we make all our connections? What adventures await us?

Stay tuned .