Last Full Week Of MTC!

Hello people of the missionary email list! It has been a week and a half of in person MTC and it has been a mix of emotions! It has started to feel a bit like the movie ground hog day. Just the same schedule every single day has kinda made the days feel like a blur. After a bit, it just feels like it is the same stuff over and over. I am so dang excited to go out in the field! Everything I have been hearing and listening to is just inspiring words that make me want to go out in the field even more! 

Sunday we had this crazy opportunity to do this experience called the "go and do" experience. Where we pretty much were given a topic and we had to go study this topic for a couple hours and share with out district. It was actually super awesome. I've learned that if you go into the scriptures with a question or prompt you get more out of it. 

One of the biggest topics this week was the importance of Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. We had many discussions talking about this topic and a scripture found in Ether 12. It says, " And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." That last phrase "for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith" is very significant to me. I love that phrase because you have to have faith to have the witness. For example, most of you guys have heard about my 50 mile hike experience. The last day we had a 20 mile hike. Then it started pouring rain. The people in our group tried their faith by praying to the Lord to stop the rain and allow us to get out and finish the hike in safety. Luckily, the Lord blessed us and stopped the rain. I received this witness through firsthand experience that prayer is a powerful tool. 

I absolutely love it and I love the insights of my district every day! I actually had a cool experience the other day with my amazing companion Elder Graf. We worked very well in unison throughout one of these days and then we kind of got into a little bit of an argument over how we are wanting to go about the next couple appointments. After that we had to discuss and pretend teach one of the sister teachers at the MTC. We couldnt do it. I stumbled over my words and we both could not do it. We kind of related this to how contention does not allow the spirit to help you. Elder Graf and I could not share the gospel because we had this contention between us. But dont worry, we talked it out and we are better then ever!! One of my good friends McKay Dorius said in his farewell talk, "Loving one another makes it easier to serve." I believe this is a very true example. If you have cotention with your companion or with someone in the ward, the spirit does not like it. 

Next time I send out an email I will be in the great state of Oregon. I am leaving the MTC on August 10th at 2:30 in the morning. We also have a layover flight in Oakland California whih I find kind of strange because I believe there is a straight flight to the Eugene area. We are going to be so tired! I am so pumped to leave the MTC because the food is just not as good after 2 weeks of it and I just am excited to have that new opportunity. 

On Tuesday we had Elder Mark S Palmer of the 70 come and talk to us. He talked a ton about the importance of the Book of Mormon, how we need to have it as the center of our teaching and how we need to read it every day. It is like brushing your teeth! His wife Sister Palmer also talked about her conversion story. How the missionaries need to be friends to other people. They need to smile! The main quote I loved from their talk was this quote, "You will become a powerful missionary as you teach other people what you know." The last part what you know is very significant to me. I have been taught it isnt the missionary doing the conversion. It is the Holy Ghost. The missionaries are just the people conveying the message. The spirit will guide the people we missionaries teach and they will come closer to the Lord. 

Last thing, I joined the MTC choir with my district! We got to sing the song, "Where can I turn for Peace" in the devotional with Elder Palmer. It was an amazing opportunity that allowed us to feel the spirit through song. 

This is for my grandma, Yes I have met Elder Ahlmer. He is a cool guy and we get to hangout and stuff for most of the days. Youll have to tell your good buddies that I sent this picture of him for you guys. 

I also took a picture with Koy! He's a stud! 

Again, It is floral friday! We got the opportunity to go the temple again as a district. I love the temple so much, it brings me peace. I invite all of you to go to the temple so you can ponder and pray about your concerns. It definitley helps me. 

Questions: Please answer these, I love to hear back from you!

How have you increased your faith in Jesus Christ this week? 

What concerns do you need to ponder and pray about?

Do you have any trials of your faith that allowed you to recieve a witness of the truthfullness of a gospel principle such as prayer?

I love every one of you and look forward to reading and responding to your emails next Friday! Take Care!