I was freaking out before I got to the MTC. I was nervous for all of the work and leaving my loved ones at home. The idea of getting up at 6:30 every day. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and that alone was scary. Sure I had ideas but I didn't know for sure. However as soon as I got going and forgot myself and got to work I felt the Holy Ghost come over me and calm me down. I felt peace and I was ready to get to work and learn really within the first 5 minutes after my parents left. Since then I haven't looked back. I enjoy the daily schedule. I go to sleep and feel successful and I learn so much. I just hope I don't get sick like the rest of the Elders are.
My first companion is Elder Boehme. He is from Bend Oregon and we got along very quickly. He is a tall ginger with a solid testimony. He likes to listen (even though I feel like we talk about the same) and is very intelligent. Got straight A's in high school and is a great kid in general. He is very humble and I hope to gain some of that myself. He claims he is bad at sports but in all reality he kills it out on the court. He has a nice turn around jumper. Does the fundamentals really well. He apparently wasn't a big fan of sports because of how competitive it is. He also prefers to play volleyball. One other thing I found interesting is he never went on a date because he thought all of the girls at his school were too immature. However he is one awesome companion. God knew me and knew I needed his support and that is why he is my companion. I hope I have been able to help him as much as he has helped me.
The first night we started teaching real investigators in groups of 50+. The first 2 lessons were ok but then we met Jose. I sat in front and center and he sat on the couch across from me and the rest of the group. Jose is a catholic who helps with the refugees that come from the Middle East to Utah. He was interested in learning about other churches. He loves his family. His mother was abandoned at 3 and his mom and dad met up and moved to America. Because his father wasn't good with English he started at $2 an hour in America. Jose and his father didn't really connect but his father made multiple sacrifices to raise him and wanted him to be better. To make his father proud and his Heavenly Father proud.
Us as missionaries talked to him about eternal families and bore testimony of what families are for us. At the end all the missionaries were excused to leave but Elder Boehme and I with one other companionship stayed back to talk to Jose. We talked some more and he was clearly feeling the spirit as he teared up. I told him I loved him like a brother. Then I bore testimony of part of my reason for serving and I said something on the lines of I left my family for a short while so that people like you can be with your families forever. I felt a strong connection to him. He then teared up more and we talked a little more and he gave us all hugs and thanked us for what we had taught him.
My dorm room (residency) I share with 5 other Elders. Elder Boehme, Elder Seeley, Elder Le'ota, Elder Ellsworth, and Elder Nordgren. We try to go to bed at 10:30 but we struggle and go to sleep at 11 if not later talking to each other, singing Tongan hymns together, and telling stories. We already love each other a lot and though we all have our differences we laugh together and have fun. Thye helped Elder Boehme and I know the tricks around. It was a little bitter sweet because they were all on their last week so as I send this they are all on planes to different parts of the US. However I know all of them will be great missionaries.
Elder Seeley is a great example of a strictly obedient missionary and I hope to be like him. He is going to St Louis Missouri mission and follows all of the rules the best he can. He gives the best advice out of everyone. He helped me relax. He is from South Jordan.
Elder Le'ota is a massive Tongan who is planning on playing BYU football after the mission as a fullback. He is one of my favorites even though he appears to struggle to follow the rules exactly. His teacher apparently doesn't like him who according to all the other Elders... she is crazy. He also snores like a train and is super loud. He is like a brother to me though. I just feel so much love for him and he even calls me his brother. I gave him my nice shaving cream so that he could shave with shaving cream since I had an extra one. His first language was Tongan and he was born on the islands. He also had a really rough upbringing and feels a lot of guilt over his past but we have all tried to serve him as much as possible. I know he will be great. He has felt the spirit and he will learn so much. I know he is suppose to be here when he was because the Lord called him before his availability date. I have never heard of that but that taught me more about the Lord. He knows us on a personal level.
Elder Nordgren is kinda quiet but is a really cool guy. He really cares about other people. I love it. He has really looked after those around him. I often see him talking to Elder Le'ota giving him comfort.
Elder Ellsworth is a handful. He is a little bit sloppy and doesn't follow the rules perfectly or he takes full advantage of the gray area. He bought 19 little Caesars pizzas and had them bring it to the gate and fed our entire floor before we came. He was mostly sick when we are here though.
My District is great. I really enjoy talking to them and learning with them. I get along with everyone for the most part. I kinda clash with my district leader because he is a little bit controlling and doesnt seem to like my opinion on things but I understand he is learning like me and I just do my best. Outside of that I get along with everyone. I took an extra effort to try and become close with everyone so I think that is why I get along with everyone. We talk like a family and they have made my adjustment really easy.
One funny thing about our district though is how only 3 of the Elders know how to iron their clothes and polish our shoes so tonight I am teaching all of them with Elder Bluth and Elder Hopkinson. Told ya mom I was good and can do stuff😘
The people in the picture are from my district. Here is kind of a bio I have from all of them.
Top right behind me is Elder Boehme... He is up above and he is my amazing companion.
To the left is Elder Walker. He is from Texas. He is someone I really connect to and we talk all of the time. We have a lot of similarities and we have a lot of fun together. He has already made me commit to hanging out after the mission. In all honesty I'm totally fine with it. Him and Elder Cook that is.
Next is Elder Hopkinson. He is quite the character. 23 years old and a convert from Orange county. He is by far the oldest out of all of us and has some great stories. He cracks me up because he thinks all of the sisters are really attractive. All we say to him when he can't handle it is pager 33. I'm surprised with his faith to come out. He had a great job and a career going for him but he dropped it for the mission. His family also disowned him when he was baptized at 18 and was kicked out so that he had to live on His own because he was baptized. Every elder and sister that is going to where His family is he asks them to try and find His family. I don't know how hard that would be but a tremendous testimony. His companion is Elder Walker.
Elder Kraft comes next. He is soft spoken and sometimes struggles to read. I do my best to talk to him. He is from the south and he just has a great spirit about him. He is the one who keeps the district leader from going crazy. He is really into bikes too so not a lot in common but I still love him.
Next is Elder Cook. We love to "cook" together on the basketball court. We do really well together. He is a big dude but has a big heart and has a lot of patience. He is the only other missionary in our district that lived in Utah and he went to Mountain View.
Elder Bolinbroke is one interesting Elder. He is the super smart person who struggles to socialize with people. He has a great laugh though and I just know he has a lot of knowledge. He is Elder Cooks companion.
Elder Gowen. He is from Georgia and is an adamant sports fan. I get rules up with talking about how Tennessee is gonna beat his Georgia bull dogs and we get into a debate. He's really funny. He also played center at his high school. Really great guy in general.
Elder Bluthe is Elder Gowens companion. He is another basketball player. I guess my district is a bunch of ballers for the most part. He is someone who when he shares something it is really strong and inspired. I love It! He also has quite the game on the court. I tried to guard him and he took me to the paint. Long story short... I got wrecked.
Elder Woodson moves a lot faster then he looks. He played high school basketball and we have competitions together on the court... I always win (my words to spur up a fun debate) and he says I cheat but it's still great. We love to talk about life and home together and laugh at our bad experiences.
Elder Tlustek is the final baller in our group. He is quiet and on the other side of the class but we talk sometimes and it's a great time. We have fun together.
Elder Olsson... He is the only one I don't get along with... and he is my district Leader. He is kind of too authoritarian for me. Controlling and talks over me. But I know he is trying to help us be better missionaries. So I do my best to follow him.
Sister Taylor and sister Miller are next going right. I haven't said much to them because they are super reserved. However sister Taylor shared a powerful testimony with the class one day. It was amazing.
Sister Jenkins is a funny girl and we talk during class since we sit next to each other. She has had a hard time adjusting but she will make a great missionary.
Sister Kelleher is a perfect pitch singer. She has a great voice and is really fun to talk to. I laughed inside when she was freaking out waiting for her significant other to send her an email.
So Sunday I learned about being converted to Christ. Elder Bednar had a talk 3 years ago during Christmas called the character of Christ. This message talked about how a lot of people rely on other things for their testimony but what we should rely on is Jesus Christ for our testimony. Then also how Jesus Christ when most people would look inward during hard moments Jesus Christ looked outwardly. After Jesus Christ performed the atonement and was let down by 3 apostles who couldnt stay up for even an hour and betrayed by another. He looked outward on the soldier who had his ear cut off.
One little blessing is having seen a lot of people I know. I saw Elder Davies, Elder Stritikus, Elder Mcwhorter, Elder Gale, Sister Madsen, and I'm sure I'll see more. I love seeing people I know but I also love meeting people from all over going on missions.
Last thing before I go I will say the thing that gets me through each day is exercise time. When I can finally relax and have a ton of fun. All of us Elders talk smack to each other and have the best time. I wish there was more space though. The half courts almost overlap each other and that's kind of annoying. Then we also can only play 3 on 3. But I really enjoy it.