From time to time, we are asked, "How are you enjoying your missionary service at the MTC?" Although often fatigue, long hours, early hours, strenuous workload and discouraging disappointments appear along the path, we resoundingly declare, "We love interfacing with our international missionaries, hearing of their individual miraculous conversion stories and their faith to step away from their families, homes, culture and proceed in faith to serve the Lord and to spread His gospel." All in American and at the MTC is not easy nor glamorous nor exciting for them; long hours are spent learning a new language, often English, so they can be successful not only on their missions but also at the MTC. If they cannot understand English, they cannot be successful in feeling the Spirit and learning the rudiments of the gospel to go forth and teach with power and authority. All that is performed at the MTC is in English!!

One of our major responsibilities as Coordinators in the International Office at the MTC is to find and procure interpreters for our assigned language areas; our interpreters are not paid monetarily but in blessings. Each of the four couples in our office, 8 individuals, has been assigned several languages of responsibility. My areas encompass Russian-speakers, Armenians and Koreans; Elder Cook coordinates Tongan and German-speaking missionaries. Locating interpreters is not an easy task much of the time! Many of our interpreters are returned missionaries who live busy lives, e.g. full-time students and employed, gone for the summer to work or serve internships, etc.; however, many interpreters live in the area and are self-employed older individuals, single mothers, etc. who are willing to give of their time and talents unselfishly. All are welcomed and appreciated. Often, we are stretched to find a particular interpreter for a single foreign missionary whom the Lord has called and sent to the MTC-Provo to learn English.

Recently, as I was contemplating the responsibilities of our calling, I reflected on the multitude of miracles that occur within our office in searching for interpreters. About 6 weeks ago, 5 Korean, non-English speaking missionaries were to arrive within 1 week, all assigned to a Spanish-speaking California mission. Normally, a non-English speaking missionary would not be assigned a 'third' language, but if sent to the MTC, would be assigned English (the second language). Each of these 5 missionaries were assigned to 5 different "schedules" or branches which meant that I needed to find 15 times 5 or 60 (some of the meetings dovetailed such as Fireside and Devotional) interpreters for the first week alone!! This was a monumental task since I had spent hundreds of hour formulating an Excel spreadsheet of possible Korean interpreters previously and my list only included a possible, active and willing list of 27 interpreters (this included calling the BYU language department, speaking with the 3 Korean professors, asking for lists of possible returned missionaries in their classes, etc.). I was overwhelmed at first (a few tears shed in disbelief), but I knew that this is the Lord's work and He would assist me!! As Elder Hafen has said, "You do the Lord's work, and you'll receive the Lord's pay!" Anyway, I felt prompted to send out a massive email to all Korean interpreters (and others) begging/asking for referrals for additional Korean missionaries. Suddenly, as I was 'hanging by my pinkie,' so to speak, I received an email listing an additional 35 list of recently returned Korean missionaries who did not appear on any list as they were not yet enrolled at BYU. This individual, who wasn't even on my original list but who taught at the MTC, received my email and posted it on his missionary website and the 'rest is history.' Truly the Lord works miracles! I was able to phone and procure the 60 needed interpreters for the first week and 40 for the second week!! Ironically, three of the Korean missionaries' assignments were changed to English-speaking California mission and thus were moved to a different but same ESL branch which simplified my assignment. One typical miracle in our calling.

Another miracle occurred recently. Entering through our doors was a missionary from Thailand--our first!! Obviously, we had no Thai interpreters in our radar, he spoke no English (headed for NY-NYCS mission), but he needed interpretation. The Andersons, two of our coordinators in our office, decided to try a new restaurant that evening, a Thai restaurant, and lo and behold she asked the Caucasian waiter laughingly, "Do you speak Thai?" He answered, "Yes!" And yes, he knew several Thai returned missionaries in the area he could recommend to assist with interpretation!! Another miracle!!

How blessed we are!! The Church is true!! Heavenly Father and the Lord know our hearts, our needs, the missionaries' needs, and They are watching carefully over each and everyone of us as we lay it all on the altar and plead and are humble in our service.

This has prompted me to call our office, "The Office of Miracles!"