Training Has Started....

What have I done? Can I really do this? What a humbling experience this mission is going to be. I am totally dependent on Heavenly Father for this one. The training is intense; every day and every night for the next two months. The agenda is packed with on line training to be taken between the nightly meetings. There is a training assistant for every five students. I am averaging 6 hours of study for every hour of group live labs, and that is only for the orientation. What will it be like when we get into the meat of the training?

Our trainer is in New Zealand; students are from all over the world. There are about 20 in my class. Some of the names are overwhelming to try and pronounce. Yet, all are here for the same reason; to learn how to become the best Family History Worldwide Area Support Missionary possible. Every night class begins and ends with prayer. The overall goal is to make sure that an Area Support Missionary in Colorado has and gives the same information as an Area Support Missionary in Africa or Australia or Tonga or Germany, etc. We fully recognize the importance of having the Holy Ghost with us as we take on this responsibility.

What a testimony builder this mission is. Looking at all of the material available, all of the tools available, and all of the work to be done, it is evident that Heavenly Father's hand is firmly in this endeavor. It is a massive undertaking to locate all of our ancestors, link them to family groups, and then get the ordinance work done for each of them. However, the organization behind this effort; the tools that have been made available; and the support of willing missionaries, consultants and other experts is making this task doable.

What an incredible time we live in. The tools and opportunities are growing and evolving daily, and the work moves forward. I am so blessed to be a part of this work.