Letter 1 - Two Weeks in the Missionary Training Center (letter date: Jan 26, 2025)

 Hello everyone!

We have just completed 2 weeks at the Provo MTC - missionary training center! We got trained in all things missionary and then some!  We also got a lot of office training learning some of the many responsibilities we will have to help support the missionaries as they teach the gospel and serve in Thailand.

We ate a lot of delicious food, and met a lot of fascinating people who will be serving all over the world (so many types of missions from preaching the gospel, to humanitarian aid, military support, working in visitor centers, temple construction missionaries, mental health missionaries (to help those struggling in the field), office missionaries (like us), and many more!

We got to spend some time with family while we were here (2 daughters, 1 son, and 5 of our grandchildren).

And we got to play some pickleball! Several times! And John had a blast showing the young 18 - 20 something year olds a thing or two about the game! Haha!

This is just a test email to see if it reaches you all! I will try to attach some pics to the next emails.

We head to Thailand Monday morning. FYI - we will be waking up at 3:30am Mountain time on Monday and we will arrive in Thailand around 8am Mountain time on Tuesday!!! (Grit teeth emoji!!!) PS - That is around 10pm in Thailand on Tuesday the 28th!

We hope you all are well! And we'd love to hear from you!

Take care,

John and Shelly Brady
(Elder and Sister Brady)

Pickleball in the MTC (missionary training center)!

Pickleball (Sister Brady on the left and Elder Brady on the right faceoff)!

Dinner with Emily and her husband, Brendan at Raising Canes!

It was our first visit! Yummy food! Thank you Brendan and Emily!

New friends from our district. Left front: The Pecks (heading to Benin, Africa), 

Right front: The Hunts (heading to Austin Texas, Right back: The Ropers (heading to Belgium/Amsterdam). 

Most of us in this group will be Office Missionaries.

Our new friend, Elder Bernston heading to Texas, Spanish Speaking!

Elder Adams always had a smile for us! He is heading to Charleston, South Carolina! 

He loved to call Elder Brady the GOAT! :)

Old friends from Gresham, Oregon. The Shields live in Utah now and are heading on a mission to Liberia, Africa!

It was so great to run into them in the MTC!

Senior Office Missionaries with their trainers! Learning all things office! We are serving missions to help support the younger missionaries out in the field. Those missionaries are sharing the gospel message around the world. Additionally, they have many service opportunities. We will spend a good portion of our time in the office behind the scenes, but we will also get to get out and share and serve as well! An added benefit, is the opportunity to get to know the people and the countries where we are called to serve!

An evening fireside with inspirational speakers and wonderful music.