Week 3

It's my first week at the MTC and it's been a blast! Every day is packed with classes, tutoring, and questionable Hawaiian food. Apart from Elder Jepsen who likes to say "whoops I almost said that in Spanish" the language has definitely been a challenge for all of us. Luckily we are all struggling together. Beginning tomorrow in class we'll be completely immersed!

A typical day begins with basketball or volleyball or soccer. We then drink a healthy amount of chocolate milk and go to a 3 hour class. This class includes deepening understandings of basic discussions such as faith, repentance, the Restoration and how to best teach them. I'm not really a big improv guy myself, but there's definitely a lot of roleplays in class. With our free time we spend time doing personal study, companion study, maybe a workshop, and spanish study. Finally, we have a spanish tutoring class and another 3 hour class in the night. (Evening mock lessons on the grass are actually wonderful) If this sounds like three days of work in one, I'm glad we're at least on the same page: you do the best you can. That said, all that you do serves a special purpose, and you do it while being surrounded by dedicated friends.

This week, while doing some mock teaching, there was an individual in our district who was feeling bad about himself. He was overwhelmed, felt his knowledge was incomplete, and had been paired with someone oblivious that gave him unnecessarily harsh criticisms. He couldn't quote verses, he couldn't rattle off doctrine, and probably had more questions than the one he was supposed to be helping. I'm sure he felt a homesick and wondered if he was really supposed to do this. That said, he had "desires to serve God." He was "called to the work." Not only that, but he could share an earnest and heartfelt testimony. It was not complex, but it was also not phony. His faith is beatiful. I'm sure that knowledge will come for this Elder, but he has the skill that some may never master. He allows others to see his heart. May we each share simple, pure nuggets of gratitude with others for the gifts of the gospel rather than an elaborate declaration of testimony. It may be more powerful because it will be true, but it may take greater humility and faith.

Sorry - snuck in a little spiritual thought. I'll be sneaky and not label them because why should they be separate (also, otherwise we're skipping them, lets be real) Hope you all had an amazing week!

Much Love!

~~Elder Dougall

Favorite Spanish Inside Jokes:

Guagua=Big Truck

Cohete=Rocket

Lanzacohete=Rocketlauncher

Pelato de Airre=Airball

Some picture explanations:

-Beautiful view of campus and the mountains while studying

-Fireworks on the 4th

-Idk why people complain about the food type breakfast

-Backpack vacuum service project