March 9, 2010

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the Dear Elders, man that little service is amazing. Right now I'm just sitting in the laundry mat typing away while my junk is in the dryer. ONE MORE SLEEP! My bags are basically packed, so excited. These last three weeks have gone by so fast, its insane! I remember last week just thinking one more week yet that feels like yesterday. I'm not to sure if I got a amazing spirtitual experience to share this week, not that none happened. Just because I left my journal in the dorm and its hard to remember the details and what not but they do happen every day. I guess I'll just give a little summary of the MTC. Ok well I guess I'll let you all know I've gained 7lbs! Doesn't look like it though, or atleast I think so. The food is just to good here! I eat 2-3 plates a meal, except for breakfast, usally just down some oatmeal or ceral and some fruit. So we said goodbye to our teachers last night that was sad. They were perfect examples, Bro. Bott and Sis. Pratt. Bro. Bott is 21 and been off his mission for 2 months!! He hadn't even read the BOM before he left but he knows the Bilble and BOM inside and out now. He is a book of knowledge and has amazing teaching and personal skills, learn't so much from him. He served in San Deigo and they called him to have his job. Normally its a 6-8 month waiting list and you have to go through lots and lots of teaching evaulations. But he was scouted, all the other teachers are like 24-26. Could brag abou thim forever. Mom if you remember those three 30 minute videos I watched before I left, well they were cameras following around real missionaries during real lessons. Well they basically find the best set of companions in the world to follow then they film them. Anyways they filmed a new set of videos and Bro. Bott was that missionairy they scouted! He was so mad we found out but some other teacher told us, they followed him around for 3 months on his mission with 2 huge camera crews! So cool. Ok and Sis. Pratt so nice. So many spiritual lessons with her, some of the activities she has made us do was intense. Shes 24 and 6 weeks pregnant and cute as a doll lol. So we would spend about 3 hours a day with both of them at seperate times. They felt like our parents, we all grew really close. I got there addresses though and I'm sure we will keep it touch lots. 12 mins left! I'll describe the RC now. It stands for the refferal center. You sit in a room full of computers and booths. Anytime see's a church commerical, a pass along card or finds the telephone number on the mormon.org they call in to Salt Lake. There are people answering calls but there are always to many calls so they send them to here, the RC at the MTC. So we sit on computers answer phone calls, follow up on offers and chat live with people on from mormon.org. Its so extreme! We are talking about real people here, some of the conversations you have are deep! I got referrals (sent missionairies over to there house) to about 4 people and gave out about 12 Book of Mormons and like 15 free DVDS. Well everythings free. Ok not much time now for the TRC, teaching resource center. A building of about 30 fake living rooms. Couches, coffee tables, the whole works. Every week you and your companion have appointments arranged on Saturday and Wednesday nights. There's a video camera in the corner of each room which is fed to the control room. In the control room the teacher, or any missionairy who wants, can watch any of the 30 rooms. So volunteers from Provo come in and act as investigators and well you teach! Even though they are "fake lessons" they are real. You still are finding what they need at that time. The classes here are basically all teaching skills. I could go on forever but I've only got 4 min. Its all about gaining trust with you investigators and determing there needs. So many teaching skills I have been taught, feel like 10x the people person. Alright thats a wrap. I really hope you guys start getting my letters, sent package home with a tape to listen to and that other thing I had. Sent Lindsay like three letters, and here dad. Once I'm in the field, tomorrow, I will send lots of letters to everyone! I'm flipping out thinking my letters are lost out there! Thank you so much everyone who wrote me, means to much and usually read them when I need something to lift me up. Love You all and be good everyone!