January 30, 2012

They sounded much better yesterday. We got to talk to them for just a few min. They went shopping and bought three months worth of food and cleaning supplies. They scoured their apartment and mom cooked dad a big roast and potatoes meal that night. They even invited the missionaries over. They sent pictures sent today, but didn't have time to label them. I'll label them as I get more info.

Saturday January 28, 2012

Just a quick post from Janette. Ray and I were able to Skype them on Friday night. Lori will talk to them tomorrow. They haven't been able to get internet on their laptop, and are still working on this, but I will give a quick update, and we'll hope to hear more in the next few days.

They look good, but are understandably homesick, and a bit emotional. They said that they are becoming known as the "Crying Cornelius's."  They have been blessed by many miracles one of which was the fight over, and their actual arrival at their desired destination. Second was truly their ability to Skype last night. Many people helped them and they couldn't get it to work until right when we had planned to meet. Another miracle came in the form of getting a group of native missionaries out of the country to Africa to serve there. Apparently, after many prayers in the mission home,  the tickets arrived seconds before they were supposed to board.

On Tuesday they drove to a zone conference in Antsirabe, about 200 miles away. They didn't have to sleep in their car, as they thought (just a nap), which they didn't do as they were taking all kinds of pictures of the country. They actually stayed in a cute little cottage, like a bed and breakfast. They said that Antsirabe is a very beautiful place, and that they could live there. The mission conference was very spiritual and they enjoyed it quite a bit.

Mom (Sister Cornelius) is struggling with the smog and cleanliness, or lack of, and doing laundry. Dad (Brother Cornelius is struggling with the Malaria medicine, and homesickness, but they are committed, and know that it will get easier.

We can tell that they are really growing to love the people that they are going to be working with already. They said that they are good people, and that they always have a smile for you. A sister near their apartment serenades them with a song whenever they meet her. Many of the young missionaries there are from Utah, and speak english, so that helps, but they are struggling a bit because their trainers speak only broken english and are hard to understand.  Dad, (Brother Cornelius) has his own office in the mission home as he is the financial clerk, and mom (Sister Cornelius works in the front and gets to greet all of the arrivals. Because their mission president is also the Branch President there are many people in and out each day.

As for eating, they have had bacon and eggs, and Top Ramen type soup with bread. She said that she planned to buy some rice today.

After we talked to them, which was early Saturday morning for them, they were headed to the store in an attempt to buy groceries and MANY cleaning supplies. They planned to spend the rest of the day cleaning their apartment.

Please keep them in your prayers, and hopefully the faith and prayers of many can span nations and buoy them up in times of need these next few weeks. I know that they love and miss all of you. Hopefully we will have more from them including pictures in the next few days.

Arrived In Madagascar

Called home at 9:46 this morning: They have arrived safely in Madagascar. They ate dinner with the Donnelly's, and were headed to bed. A bit jet lagged! They sounded tired, and were very emotional. They didn't have much time to talk, and will send details of their trip when they can get to a computer. Sister Cornelius said, "We are going to have to do a lot of things differently here." They send their love, and know that they are in for quite an adventure. Below is a schedule of their first week.

Sunday January 22
Dinner with the Donnellys

Monday January 23
8:30 AM Interview with President Donnelly
9:30 AM Orientation to Madagascar with the AP's
11:30 AM Shopping, BAnk, Sign in at the town hall
12:30 Lunch
To Apartment and settle in

Tuesday January 24
8:00 AM Start office training
2:00 PM Driving orientation
2:30 PM Leave for Zone Conference in Antsirabe (Sleep in car)

Wednesday January 25
Attend Antsirbe Zone Conference  8:00 - 2:00
Return to Antananarivo
Sleep in car!

Thursday January 26
Continue Office Training

Friday January 27
Follow up meetings with President Donnelly
Date Night!

January 18, 2012

Tomorrow is our last day at the MTC. It has been a wonderful experience. We have been on a spiritual high. We ended our last session today with bearing our testimonies. We listened to Elder Duncan of the Seventy on Tuesday's devotional. He talked about the importance of missionaries and how the blessings of service will be more than you can imagine. He reminded us of how President Hinckley wrote his father and said how discouraged he was. His father responded, "Forget yourself and get to work." We got an email from the mission President's wife last night and we will be attending a Zone Conference next Wednesday with them. This will give us an opportunity to meet the missionaries and see some of Madagascar. We will send some pictures. Missionary service is great, and we are excited to get out in the field and serve the Lord. Love all of you and hope you will continue to pray for the missionaries. Bruce & Arlene

January 17, 2011

This is Sister Thomas, one of our Trainers.

January 13, 2012

Well, we are almost done with our first week at the MTC. Saturday  is our prep. day and we hope to do laundry, go to the temple and visit with Ray and his family. We have been teaching other people about the gospel and sharing our testimonies of the gospel. We are learning a lot and have felt the spirit here. It's a great place to be. Today we got to pretend to be a less active couple and share our story with another couple. They were guided by the spirit to help us know what we could do for that couple. It was so special to see how the spirit worked through them. It was the answer to prayers in their behalf. We have had two lessons on Malagasy and will bear our testimonies tonight in that language. It is very difficult to learn, but we will continue to study it. And yes, grandpa is learning a new language, even though he said he couldn't learn. He is doing great. We have met some wonderful people, and have heard marvelous stories about many previous missions. It has been a wonderful week. We love all of you and miss you a lot. 

 Love, mom and dad, Grandma and Grandpa Cornelius

2nd Day at the MTC

Today was our second day at the MTC. We have been learning from Preach My gospel how to be effective missionaries and what our purpose is as missionaries. We have been divided into districts and have trainers who are helping us teach each other. Tomorrow we will be teaching investigators. We had a devotional tonight with Elder Russell M. Nelson as the speaker. He talked about the gathering of Isreal and the important role missionaries have in the gathering. He said we are swift messengers, spreading the good news of the restored gospel to all the world. Isaiah 18:2. D&C 45:9. It was so awesome to be in the same room as thousands of missionaries, the spirit was so amazing as we sang Called To Serve. We love walking around the MTC and listening to the missionaries talk in new languages to each other and see their smiling faces. This is a wonderful place to be. There is every kind of food you might want to eat and the missionaries are always near the mailroom looking for mail from home. We love all of you and hope you will email us. Love Elder & Sister Cornelius

First Day at the MTC

We have arrived at the MTC, have sat in several orientation meetings, and have forgotten how to get to our room. Luckily, there are many people here to help us. We are now unloading our suit cases and will be going to dinner at 6:00. We are going to go to the temple Saturday morning and Ray will pick us up Sat. afternoon to spend some time with them. Tomorrow we study Preach My Gospel and prepare to teach it to investigators on Wed. We have a devotional Tues. evening. We will start learning Malagasy on Wed. evening. The spirit is strong here, and we have met people from all over the United States. We saw the Hintons from Cedar at lunch in the cafeteria. We love all of you and hope to learn all that we need to learn to become effective missionaries.

Here we are in front of the MTC

Our room in the MTC

Recent Letter from our Mission President

Dear Elder and Sister Cornelius,

First of all Merry Christmas, you are no doubt busy getting everything tied up, it is a lot isn’t it?

We have received your itinerary, we will see you at the airport in Madagscar on Sunday 22^nd January.

You may not have heard, but Sister Lehnardt fell and broke her pelvis and arm, and had to be evacuated to South Africa, they are not returning, how we will miss them.

Boy , do we need you.  see you in the new year.

Here am I just the other day, we take the departing missionaries to a rain forest to experience the Lemurs before they go home, we will take you there!

Love you