Saturday, August 11, 2018

Elder EJones: First Three Days in the MTC

These first three days in the MTC have been one for the books. It has already been such a great week of learning and finding out my purpose a missionary. Our purpose is simple--to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them to understand and gain a testimony of Jesus Christ and his atonement. To help them learn the the gospel and first principles of the gospel, Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end!!

Things are so great here!!

My companion's name is Elder Dawson and he is from Wyoming. We get along really well!! Our whole District does!

It's funny because we have a district of 14 Elders, 12 of us are going to the Santa Cruz Bolivia mission, and we were all supposed to go to the Mexico MTC, but were here in Provo. But there's a reason were here, so we gotta find out why, and do our best to learn our purpose and to help each other to grow spiritually and mentally.

We all get along super well and literally, all 14 of us go everywhere together and it's so great to already have that bond after only being here for a couple of days. The food is pretty good I guess.  The schedule is good and there's so much class and stuff we have to do and sitting down for hours a day isn't the funnest thing in the world. P.E., or our exercise time, is really nice because it gives us time to let loose after sitting in a room for hours. Most of the Elders in our District all play some type of sport so were all connected there, too.

Our District leader is Elder Jeppson and Elder Dawson and I share the same room with him and his companion, so that's good, were all trying to do the best we can to adjust to the schedule and learn Spanish.

They have a program here that's called SYL or "Speak Your Language." It is a way for us as Elders and Sisters to try to speak our language as much as we can, especially when were not in class. It's crazy because all of the Elders in our District have Spanish backgrounds so were already picking up and learning a lot faster then I think most Elders would learning a new language. But we help each other out a lot and that's really great. I've actually been really surprised (haha) because I haven't felt homesick at all these past days, and maybe that will change, but the connection, fun, and spirituality we have all together in our district is the coolest thing and so I think that's helping us out a lot.

Being a missionary didn't feel real until I got here and put the name badge on!! It's humbling to have my name right by the name Jesus Christ, and to be a personal representative of Him and His gospel. I know that His gospel is key for us and for our eternal salvation. Jesus Christ loves us so much and did the will of the father so that we might repent, grow and become like him. I know that He lives, and want us to learn and grow. And as we put in the effort to learn from him, He will bless us. I know He loves us!!This week has been crazy, but one of the best of my life!! The Lord loves us no matter what we've done. But as we put our trust in him and are wiling to change he will always be there to help us!! The gospel is true, and the Book of Mormon is the word of God!!

Love you guys,
Elder Jones

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