Week #1 - ALIVE AND THRIVING @ THE MTC

ELDER HAUGEN, ELDER PINSTER, ELDER TORRANCE, ELDER SEMIEN
Provo Utah Temple

The MTC is busy. The second I got here it was a non-stop spiritual thrill ride. The spirit and feelings here are so strong and the people are even better. I have never been around so many happy and Christ-like people. I don't even really know where to start so I'll try to kinda divide it up by topics.  

My companion is a fun-loving drama geek from Spanish Fork Utah named Elder Haugen. We struggled at first to find common interests, but since the first day we have both grown so much closer as friends. My district is the best. I was made district leader. We have six elders and six sisters. Four elders are going to Houston, two are going to Idaho Falls. Four sisters are going to Lansing Michigan and two are going to Canada. In total with my zone I know of eight people going to Houston the same day as I am. I think I Heavenly Father is definitely looking out for me as he put two Elders in my district that are my long lost brothers. One is from Houston and the other one is from Auburn Alabama. Their names are Elder Semien and Elder Torrance. We are always laughing and having fun but build off each other spiritually.  I have found that my district/zone is literally the best. Everyone here is super loving and great examples to me.  

ELDER HAUGEN and ELDER PINSTER
MTC Companions

The work here is crazy busy. We are always scheduled. Even on our day off it isn't a day off. We are either in a class or teaching a real investigator. We got to class on Thursday morning and taught our first lesson that morning.  It's busy but the work is full of love.  As we have begun to teach people the amount of love I feel for them is more than I've ever felt. I'm starting to see people the way our Savior does. We are teaching a woman who is pregnant and looking for something that could help her in her life as well as bless her future child. As my companion and I taught, we taught about the love we had both been able to have in our lives because of growing up in the gospel. As we taught about families she began to cry while she was thinking about having her family together forever. I'm so excited to teach her again tomorrow and follow up on her commitments and pray that she has felt to spirit after learning to pray. My two teachers are RM BYU students and set such good examples for us to look up to. 

The life of living in the MTC is exhausting but fun. The meals are actually pretty good and the dorms we live in are pretty nice, The beds and sheet not super comfy but by the end of the day I'm ready for bed. The Utah weather is actually really nice. It is like 45 degrees everyday and sunny which is my favorite weather. 

While being here I have come to realize my purpose. My purpose in being a missionary is not to teach. My purpose is to invite people to find Christ and guide them in their learning. It really has nothing to do with me besides sending the invitation. I never realized that we don't convert people the spirit and Christ's love converts people to the truth. 

I have come to know so much truth while I've been here and it has only been a week. I can't even imagine my life without having this type of love and happiness in my life. I love you all and am so thankful for all the love I have felt from everyone since I have gotten here. God bless. 

Here are some pictures from this week:

THE BEST DISTRICT IN THE MTC

PROVO TEMPLE PICTURES

ELDER TORRANCE AND ELDER SEMIEN