First email from the MTC! July 31, 2013

July 31, 2013

 

Dear Family

 

I made it! I've survived the first week of the MTC. It hasn't been easy but it has been worth it (such is the nature of everything in the Gospel).

Saying goodbye to the family was one of the strangest experiences of my life. It hurt; but I know in leaving I can return later. Things like that have to hurt; or else they don't mean anything.

We were walked into a gigantic room where they read off a list to see where everyone was going; so many different places. We then had a devotional where we learned a few things from our speakers, the Roaches:

"You are now Elders & Sisters; 'Guys' are the boys back home dating your girlfriends," and then Brother Roach said, "Anyone feeling nervous?.....too bad (with the biggest grin)." (Sound like Sister Busby to anyone else.)

I've learned similar rules and culture stuff for here at the MTC but the most notable thing has been the change in my heart. It would seem that in the chaos and abrupt getting ready for the MTC I misplaced the real reason I joined the mission force in the first place. During one of our reading exercises (Book of Mormon reads we write questions on the board and have our companions teach us to feel the impressions of the spirit) my companion taught me of the Restoration; no new information but exactly what I needed. My question was: How can the message of the Restoration help me serve with a whole heart?

Needless to say I am an ugly crier and found my passion for serving the mission: a newfound; newly discovered; and full-pledged conversion to the Lord. If I can but share the message of the Restoration and the Plan of Happiness that will allow my family to live together forever then my mission will be fulfilled. I can return home in Honor.

My companion is Elder Darren Smith. The best way i can describe him is he looks like the bully from "A Christmas Story" and laughs like a muppet (through a lateral lisp). He ran hurdles in High School and always asks me how to be more flexible whenever we have gym time. The thing that is unique about him is that he has a huge family: 6 brothers and 2 sisters. He has a strong testimony of the Plan of Salvation because he sees 2 of his brothers that have mental disabilities - he taught powerfully to a man in role-play of Heavenly Father's plan for each of us.

Elder Smith is hooked on bananas and I can't tell if it's a good thing or a bad thing. His favorite thing to do is see the least amount of bites he can eat a banana in. So far he's made it to three - the sisters in our district just love when he does it. But I always get a good laugh out of it.

The food at the MTC is not kind to the stomach - so tasty - but has done work on the aroma in our apartment. Our district comprises of 10 missionaries total: Elders Robinson & Smith, Webster & Walkup, Folker & Crandall; Sisters Silva & Asper, and Hansen & Nichols. Starting out everything was kinda awkward with having a second-half per se 24/7 but it's turned out to be fun.

Walkup is a living Mr. Bean - looks, demeanor, and humor; Webster (district leader) is a jokester; Crandall is like a big teddy bear, Folker reminds me so much Uncle Nathan, Smith is the time keeper ("it is __:__, let it be known").

We've had a number of funny things happen: tone-deaf shower singing, Crandall's midnight sleep walks, Elder Walkup destroying the bathroom - potty jokes don't get old, it's okay to laugh :), Sister missionaries getting chased by a mouse, and the list goes on. Plenty more to come, I'm sure.

I've been sending a bunch of letters out lately because I am eager to share all I've learned. The Gospel is worth it. Prayer and scripture study is a gateway to knowledge and understanding who we are in relation to the work at hand. We can trust that the Spirit is guiding us when we know we are doing what our Heavenly Father asks. God's love is simple; the gospel is simple. I'm grateful for the love that I have received - your prayers have not gone unnoticed - and know that you are in my prayers.

Dreams really come true; we need only believe,

Elder Taft McIntyre Robinson