Elder & Sister Koontz : Career Workshop and Banaue

We have been assigned to teach the Career Workshop to the departing missionaries. It is a class to help them learn about their strengths and abilities, setting goals, and preparing them for further education or work prospects. Career Workshop is usually four or five weeks before they depart, but since Sis. Hiatt was in the hospital, it was postponed to a week before their departure.

After the class, the missionaries whose first language is not English take a test that gauges their knowledge of conversational English. They are asked questions about the weather, or are asked to describe a task, etc. They speak into headphones and use one of the office computers. Most of them are nervous but do just fine.

The next day, the departing missionaries meet at 5:45am to leave for Banaue, the famous rice terraces of the Philippines. Pres. And Sis. Hiatt have taken a group every six weeks for the last 27 months! All senior couples are invited, but not required, to join them. The other two couples declined, so Elder Koontz and I got to go. Besides, another vehicle was needed to transport the four elders, five sisters, and two of the Hiatts’ daughters. The last third of the three hour drive is on narrow, two-lane roads along the mountainside.