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Last day of missionary training has concluded.  Not so much training as a lot of spiritual guidance, friendship and tears now and then.  Best training I've ever had, seriously.  We had the last of our training this morning with discussions then went on to do sealings till lunch time.  At lunch we were able to share lunch with Elder Teh.  He is originally from the Philippines.  He is currently serving as one of the Seventy and is a delightful person to talk/listen to.  He spoke to us after lunch for a few minutes about our mission and wished us much luck.

We then went on the much anticipated "walk about" of the temple as they don't call them tours any more.  We got to see the basement mechanical rooms (yeah, I was right at home down there), the baptismal font, confirmation area, then started moving up the temple to the 5th/6th floor to the Solemn Assembly Room.  As pictured, it is as big as the temple itself and not used as much as it used to be.  It's just no longer as large as its needed.  Having been recently renovated for special occasions, it was beautiful from every angle.  We also got to be in the Talmage Room where Jesus the Christ was written by James E. Talmage.  It was quite an honor to move around the temple and see such beautiful workmanship and attention to detail that just begs to be touched and admired.  We moved back into the main hall for the final comments by our hosts and their final testimony to us.  It was pretty hard to end it all.  Even the brother asked to give the close prayer had to say, when asked to close our final meeting together with prayer, "I'll try", as he choked out his heartfelt words.  I am afraid I would not have been able to get out anything and it was way beyond my capacity.

Most of us headed down to change clothes, exchanged fond farewells, bid each other a wonderful mission, took a couple pictures, and off we headed on our separate ways.  A good portion of us will be staying the night and heading out tomorrow on the road must most will be flying to distant lands and missions in far away places.  It was a great 3 days of getting to know some special people.  It wasn't so much the training as much as it was the opportunity to share mutual feelings about the gospel and the temple.  Nowhere else could this have been done exactly like this.  This was a special, once in a lifetime opportunity.  I was glad to be there and share it with them and Arlene.  How could I not be?

We eventually headed over to Marilyn's to pick up the last of our stuff and have a bite to eat then back to the hotel to get cleaned up and ready to launch from the hotel.  Tomorrow we head out for Sidney, Nebraska.  The first leg of our journey to Nauvoo, Illinois.  More to follow!

The Batty's (Palmyra Temple)

The Vangelov's (Germany Frankfort temple)

Great missionary friends we met and spent some time with for 3 days.  Nicest people in the world!