Hey fam bam how's it going? This week has been another one for the books. I've been here for 3 weeks and already passed the halfway point! I leave for Mexico on the 1st of September (right before your birthday Jamie). I've been progressing and learning a lot in both the gospel and in the language. We've begun teaching 2-4 lessons a day in Spanish to investigators about the gospel, plan of salvation, restoration, and tons of other stuff all in Spanish. It can be a bit frustrating when you have a good thought to say to the investigator but you just can't express it in the Spanish language, but the most important thing is the Spirit. If you and the investigator can both feel the Spirit, you know you've done your work. It's been amazing to see the growth in the gospel among the rest of my district (and hopefully myself too). I was released as district leader this Sunday (DLs are released at the 3-week mark), and I must admit I'm a bit sad. It was a huge blessing (and responsibility) to me but I think I did the best I could. On Thursday night I called a devotional for my district in this small room in our classroom apartment, and I honestly don't think I've ever felt the Spirit so strong in my life. We all shared a brief testimony with each other and we all just felt so much love and peace, it was crazy. It's hard to put the feeling of the Spirit in words but all I know is that I love it and it always reassures me that I'm doing the Lord's work.
The days have been pretty long for all of us here. The studying can be exhausting and we have virtually no free leisure-time. The Sunday and Tuesday night devotionals are probably my favorite part about the MTC. The entire MTC gets together and we hear just about anyone from the Church speak. I've really grown to love the church hymns, they bring the Spirit so well and it reminds me of home and family. Oh also, Mom, my scripture I wanted was Alma 42:31 for my plaque. Thanks! My companion and I have been getting along really well. We're both pretty chill and I don't think we've ever argued about anything. He's really nice and wants to work hard like I do so we mesh really well. One of the Elders in my zone, Elder Snoozy, told us about lucid dreams and how he has them all the time. I don't know if you guys are familiar with them but essentially it allows you to be able to control your dreams and apparently they're really weird haha. So essentially everyone in my entire zone has been trying to have one the past few nights but only one of us have been successful. They sound super trippy but I still haven't been able to get it to work yet. Anyways, the food schedule here rotates every 2 weeks so I'm sooo sick of the food. It's great and all to be able to eat a lot, but I feel like we eat the same thing all the time. Other than that, my week has been great and busy!
Enough about me, I read all of your emails and I appreciate reading them every week! I really wish I had more time to write each and every one of you, so if you want to write a personal letter to me I'll be sure to write you back ASAP. They only give us 60 minutes to write people back and I really try my best to get to as many people as possible.
Yuba Lake sounded like fun! I wish I could be there and spend another day out with the family. It's weird, I live so close to you guys but at the same time I feel so far away. I heard about Jamie getting into that online school, good for him! He's going to love Maple Mountain though, that place is awesome and I made so many memories there. Oh, funny story, I ran into Tom Jensen (from St. George) here at the MTC today at lunch! I could barely even recognize him it's been so long! I'll try and attach a picture of us at the bottom.
Well family, it's time to go! I hope I didn't forget to answer any of your questions. Also thanks again Mom and Jamie for the package, all of my district loves the Takis so they were gone in like two nights haha. Feel free to send more. I miss and love each of you! Have an awesome week!
- Elder Thayne
The days have been pretty long for all of us here. The studying can be exhausting and we have virtually no free leisure-time. The Sunday and Tuesday night devotionals are probably my favorite part about the MTC. The entire MTC gets together and we hear just about anyone from the Church speak. I've really grown to love the church hymns, they bring the Spirit so well and it reminds me of home and family. Oh also, Mom, my scripture I wanted was Alma 42:31 for my plaque. Thanks! My companion and I have been getting along really well. We're both pretty chill and I don't think we've ever argued about anything. He's really nice and wants to work hard like I do so we mesh really well. One of the Elders in my zone, Elder Snoozy, told us about lucid dreams and how he has them all the time. I don't know if you guys are familiar with them but essentially it allows you to be able to control your dreams and apparently they're really weird haha. So essentially everyone in my entire zone has been trying to have one the past few nights but only one of us have been successful. They sound super trippy but I still haven't been able to get it to work yet. Anyways, the food schedule here rotates every 2 weeks so I'm sooo sick of the food. It's great and all to be able to eat a lot, but I feel like we eat the same thing all the time. Other than that, my week has been great and busy!
Enough about me, I read all of your emails and I appreciate reading them every week! I really wish I had more time to write each and every one of you, so if you want to write a personal letter to me I'll be sure to write you back ASAP. They only give us 60 minutes to write people back and I really try my best to get to as many people as possible.
Yuba Lake sounded like fun! I wish I could be there and spend another day out with the family. It's weird, I live so close to you guys but at the same time I feel so far away. I heard about Jamie getting into that online school, good for him! He's going to love Maple Mountain though, that place is awesome and I made so many memories there. Oh, funny story, I ran into Tom Jensen (from St. George) here at the MTC today at lunch! I could barely even recognize him it's been so long! I'll try and attach a picture of us at the bottom.
Well family, it's time to go! I hope I didn't forget to answer any of your questions. Also thanks again Mom and Jamie for the package, all of my district loves the Takis so they were gone in like two nights haha. Feel free to send more. I miss and love each of you! Have an awesome week!
- Elder Thayne