Date
May 17, 2018
Area
MTC
Companion
Elder Kirkham
MTC 2
Hey, Elder Tilman here,
I am writing from the laundry room. (Good thing I was running out of clothes.) This past week was amazing, I have grown so much. The first few days were busy. Once I got to the room I only had time to drop my stuff and go to class. We immediately emailed our arrival notice and met our teachers, Brother Ross and Sister Hanshaw. We have had several classes and workshops on various missionary topics. One of the classes we took was on people and purpose on Thursday, we learned the importance of inviting and helping others to act on the faith they have. It was so mind-blowing.
So the learning experience here at the MTC is so different than I expected. It is a lot more hands-on than classroom discussions. On the first day, we had a workshop where we were teaching investigators with a whole big class of new arrivals. Truly I felt like was a little awkward in that workshop. We also are teaching Brother Ross, as an investigator in class. It is very interesting how with so little experience that my companion and I are able to teach by the spirit. We also are teaching someone through a system called Teaching Resource Center (TRC). Our TRC is named Ben, he is from the north shore of Hawaii.
Sundays are different here. I still have to get up fairly early and wait for someone in a meeting. It was kind of weird as I was the only one waiting outside the meeting. After that, I had to set up the sacrament (awfully familiar isn't it), but I did not get to pass or bless the sacrament. I have had two talks prepared in case I was called to give a talk during sacrament meeting. Luckily I did not have to give any of those talks, I felt that they were poorly written. After sacrament, we had a meeting as a district and then we have Elder's Quorum, which is based on a curriculum based on Preach My Gospel. We have an awesome branch presidency. President Jackson, Brother Porter, Brother Dahl and their wives.
I love our district. Meeting them has brought me, seven new friends. My companion is Elder Kirkham he is from Roseville, CA. He is a pretty cool elder. I am very thankful for his patience with me with my bustling mind. The other elders in our district are Elder Wood of Clinton, Mo and Elder Slats of Soldatna, Alaska. We are all going to Salt Lake City East. We have too much fun. 10:30 surprises us all the time. The sisters are cool too. We have Sister Williams of Layton and Sister Herrman of Vernal both of them are going to Cincinnati Ohio. We also have Sister Pack of Idaho and Sister Wageman of Pleasant Grove. They are going to Jacksonville, Fl.
Since Midday Monday, I have felt as if I was hitting a wall. My teaching was very stuttered and my mind was fighting against me. I really was struggling because of it. But I pushed through it and our lesson with Jon (Brother Ross) went awesome, I had clarity of thought and was so enthusiastic afterward. I really felt it was a miracle that came from my diligence and by the grace of God.
Tuesday night was Devotional night. We were honored to hear from Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy and his wife. He shared how the Book of Mormon is such a powerful tool of conversion. We are all excited about the announcement of the Book of Mormon videos coming out in September. He shared the trailer and we all were amazed at the quality and spirituality of these tools. He also shared of an experiment performed by the scripture department that they gave non-Mormons one of the 531 pages of the Book of Mormon and they highlighted all the references of Christ. They shared their experiences and it is an awesome testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I also know that the Book of Mormon is indeed what it claims to be the Word of God. As I have read the book for myself, I have learned of its truthfulness for myself through study and prayer. I have learned that the Savior loves me and that my Father loves me. I know that they know me perfectly. I love you all and I hope you are doing well. God be with you.
Love,