Mom and Dad-
I hope everything is going well for you guys. I bet you're both pretty
lonely at home... I got my garments, so thank you for sending those!
Do you think that you could send my white tie as well? I forgot it...
I was looking forward to hear from you guys. I miss you both like
crazy. I love guys so much.
The first couple days at the MTC were very hectic. On the bright side,
I'm starting to love all of it! I rode on the shuttle with two other
Elders. One of them was named Elder Scot. I can't remember his last
name... Just picture Elder Calhoun from the Best Two Years. (The small
guy with glasses) and that's him! He was a funny kid though. One
grudge that he still holds onto is that he's going to miss the new
Star Wars movie when it comes out... Haha!
When I arrived at the MTC, a host (a missionary) came up to the
shuttle and helped us all with our luggage. Within five minutes of
being there, the spirit hit me so hard that I just wanted to break
down and cry because of how happy it made me feel. At that moment, I
knew I was in the right place at the right time of my life. I met my
MTC teachers and they are so awesome. I love them! The brother's name
is Bro. McGinn and the sister is Sis. Draney. Crazy thing, is that she
grew up in LAWRENCE. I guess she knows the Ryttings very well.
After we met them, we were assigned to companions. My companion
is such a great guy. His name is Elder Adam Jones. He's from a small
town in Wyoming and he grew up on a ranch. Him and I really hit it
off. We share so many interests and get along great. We share the same
good work ethic. (Which is vital in missionary work.) His testimony is
so strong and has already helped strengthen mine. He says the same
about me. Haha
On the second day, we already had to teach a lesson with my
companion. Our teacher acted like an investigator and role-played. It
went very well! Our teachers are teaching us ways to guide or invite
our investigators to commit and be baptized in the first lesson. There
is a lot of construction by the MTC, so I asked someone what it was
for and they're adding on! The walls are going to be all glass except
where the crossbeams are. The rooms are going to be two times the
size. The MTC will be able to hold about 4,500 missionaries!
One of the main topics that we have been taught and later learned
for myself, was that we first need to teach with love. We got to meet
our branch presidency and I have been assigned as the "Online
Coordinator."
My testimony has grown so much already and I constantly, feel the
spirit. Elder Jones shared with me that in his mission blessing to get
set apart, the stake pres. said that he may recognize faces from the
Premortal life. I thought that was so interesting because I was just
telling him before that I feel like I have seen some of these people
before! Which can't be possible of me seeing them on Earth because one
is from Hawaii! Dad told me before I left that the food is awesome
here and I'm starting to think they changed meal plans. There is a lot
of food because it's a Buffett, but the food is average at best... So
I was slightly disappointed.
We taught another lesson on Halloween and it went so well that we
almost committed the "investigator" to be baptized within the first
lesson! He accepted to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. The
spirit was so strong in that room. I think it's because our goal was
to focus and loving him. And the spirit helped us find the right words
to say to him. "Teaching through the spirit means teaching with
understanding." Jeffrey R. Holland.
My three roommates are all going to Columbia, SC as well. Elder
Jones (Otto, WY), Elder Wille (Baggs, WY), and Elder Cloward (Mesa,
AZ). We all like to quote movies like "Hot Rod," "Anchorman," and
"Dumb and Dumber" in our free time because we miss movies...
Yesterday was one of the most spiritual days I have ever had. This
morning, all of the MTC members gathered in the gym for a Mission
Conference. The president spoke, along with his counselors and their
wives. The topic was all about family, which was like they were trying
to make us even more homesick than we already are. Then, there was a
couple that spoke and shared how they were able to convert their
neighbor's family. The family was there too, and they shared their
conversion story. I didn't know I could feel the spirit so strong in
that big of a gym. And everyone felt it. The dad of the family shared
his story and part of it was that he had a dream a few weeks before he
was baptized. He had a vivid dream like he has never had before and it
was of his deceased mom and older sister. He told the missionaries
that they looked "perfect." They were able to explain why that word he
used was so fitting. Then, the mom told her story and she knew the
church was true when a hummingbird flew right by her window and
floated there looking in on her for about two minutes. The crazy thing
is that she always had taught her kids that hummingbirds are spiritual
and "magical" animals. It really goes to show how Heavenly Father
knows each and every one of us personally. I have never felt so
spiritual for that long of a time continuously. It wore me out!
I have met one other person from Kansas and that's it. And it is
Addison Townsley from Derby! His mom is still working at the Humane
Society and she's the one who helped us find Opie!
- Elder Mitchell
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| Left to right (Elder Jones, Elder Wille, and Elder Cloward.) |
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| Our view from residence hall |
