Week 3 Letter from the MTC

Hello family from the confines of the MTC!

how is everyone?? i'm doing great. i just got back from the temple. it was a great session. i went with everyone from my district. man, i could stay in there all day! it was so peaceful and calming. i enjoyed it. i hope you all have been trying to go as much as you can!

well, i'm constantly tired, the food gives me gas, and i'm studying/learning almost 10 hours a day... but i love it! what better work to do than the Lords'?? we heard a talk that Elder Holland gave to the MTC back in 2000. he was stressing the importance of missionary work and how lucky we were to be apart of it. he was saying how it's extremely hard work, but it's the best. something that really stood out to me was when he said in a small way, we are going to be helping to bring salvation to another soul. wow. how awesome does that sound?? but it's a little scary, because it's such a great responsibility. he was also stressing the importance of not fighting obedience. we need to be obedient in all things and that's what i'm working on so i can be the best missionary i can be.

ok so these past few days have been pretty intense. my companion has been in and out of meetings. and yesterday we found out that he needed to go home for a few months before returning to the mission field. it was really sad. i'm pretty sure i mentioned it (it's possible i didn't- because i don't want to sound negative) but i haven't always gotten along with my old companion Elder Hauck (How-ck). i was extremely excited to get out on my mission and he... wasn't helping me keep my excitement. he was negative sometimes and not very motivated. but i tried to love him and help him as best i could. but i didn't understand what the problem was! last saturday he let me know that he needed to talk with our Branch President about some things. once i understood i was flooded for love for him because i understood what he had been going through. we found out tuesday morning that he was going to have to go home, and was leaving in like 3 hours! it was hard. all of the elders in my district sang, God be with you til we meet again. and then we cried together. then we said a prayer together and cried some more. it was way hard BUT he is doing the right thing. he is being very courageous to set things in order and use the gift of the Atonement.

well i'm now in a threesome with Elder Boyd and Elder Robbins. it's going to be different and take some getting used to have 3 comps instead of only 2. also, our teaching styles and everything are all going to have to mesh and get used to! it should be a fun adventure. i'm looking forward to it because they are good Elders with the desire to be the best they can be. i ordered pictures today so i should be sending those later this week.

well a scripture i'd like to share with everyone is in Alma 31:34-35. they are GREAT missionary verses. and remember, you are missionaries too familia! everyone needs to come closer to Christ. members, inactive members, non-members. we all need to strive DAILY to become closer to God and become more Christlike. if you disagree with this, well... you're wrong. hahaha ;) just so you know those marks are a winky face. but i'm sure you know that.

love you all!!!!