MTC Week 2 - Grind Season

August 19, 2018

MTC Week 2 - Grind Season

Well, I made it through week 2 at the MTC. It has been a bit better than last week, but still very tough. It's hard to describe how difficult this experience actually is, you just have to be here. We have little more of a consistent schedule now. We get up at 6:30, I usually snooze for an extra 10 so I don't have to fight for the showers. then I get up, make my bed, and go get ready. Then we head to breakfast around 7:20 and then we have class from 8:30 until 11:30. Then we study at our dorms after lunch and sometimes chill and all that good stuff. Then there is exercise time... which is both physically and mentally healthy. It helps get your mind off of everything. I got to hit the MTC gym three times this week as well as ball some other Elders up on the court. Speaking of, I've been playing outside my mind since I got here. I rarely miss. We've been playing with kids going to Utah State after the mission and one who is supposedly trying to walk on at Alabama... but that's bull because I sauced him the other day.

Anyway, we try to have fun here at the MTC. The more I'm here the more it feels like the stereotypical military boot camp, hearing guys with different southern accents and all that. We will do anything for a laugh because it honestly keeps you sane. Just the other day we convinced my comp, Elder Cannon, that the chocolate milk tastes better when you mix your water with it. We all lost it as we watched him pour his cup of water into his milk ahahaha. and then he drank it LOL. It was classic. Back at the dorms I've had some fun with the bag of bamboozled jelly beans (shoutout to the fam for the package). We'd offer some to different Elders and they'd gladly accept. They'd pop a couple in their mouth... a gag and scream quickly follows, one elder starter dry heaving HAH. We also like reflecting the light from windows into peoples eyes using our badges, that's pretty good too. But yeah it's all in good fun. Everyone would agree that the MTC is an emotional roller coaster and so whatever you can do, you do.

This week we got to hear from Elder Kearon of the Seventy. His talk was something I really needed. He talked about how he knows, and the Brethren know, and how everyone knows that serving a mission is dang hard. He said, "I believe your tears are counted in heaven." and finished by paraphrasing Pres. Hinckley, "Dont worry! Just go to work." It was a comforting talk and it was good to know that the leaders of the church understand the feelings and have faith in us as missionaries.

Spanish continues to go well, and I'm just coasting along right now. Memorization has always been my thing and that's mostly all we have been doing so I just help the other Elders memorize the stuff I have done. I feel like I'd learn more if I was just out in El Salvador so I'm ready to get outta here! ;) Mostly because time crawls here at the MTC. But despite the hard times, I have definitely seen the Lord's hand every single day. Dios nos ama! And he answers our prayers. Thank you all for the prayers and support, I truly feel it!

Scripture of the week: 3 Nephi 13:31-34 it says, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof."

Sorry for the long email... Until next week :)

--Elder Jake