Hola Everyone!
This week was filled with a lot of hard work, spiritual experiences, and fun/funny moments. This week flew by compared to my last PDay. I have learned so much more Espanol and have strengthened my knowledge and testimony of the gospel. This week we finished teaching our investigator Elizabeth and also began teaching our TRC (Teaching Resource Center) investigator.
On Sundays for Sacrament meeting our Branch Presidency has everyone in the zone prepare a 3 minute talk in Espanol and then anounces who will give their right on the spot in the meeting! It is definitely motivated to prepare and practice it in Espanol! On Sundays and Tuesdays we have devotionals and I have learned a lot about what I can do to be a better missionary. We also sang in the MTC choir during the Tuesday devotional which was awesome! Since I am District Leader I had a meeting with the Branch and the other DLs about our zone and what we can do to improve. During priesthood and also district meetings on Sundays, I usually assign one of the companionship to teach it just to our district but since it was the first week we had other older companionship teach it. During priesthood we talked about the atonement. Its important to know that you can use the atonement for anything that will better your life, bring you more closer and more converted to the Lord.
On Monday night and Tuesday I got really sick. I guess I just wasn't used to the schedule yet. I had to continue the normal schedule of the day. It was extremely hard to follow the schedule and teach lessons while sick let alone when I was healthy. I was definitely a trial and the hardest day for me so far. But Im grateful that I could stay positive and still try and work hard. Some Elders in my district gave me a blessing which I really appreciated. I was better the next day and was not even as tired as I normally was through out the day. I have now gotten used to the schedule and have been working a lot better and have improved a lot.
This week I learned a lot about the importance of effective study. Whether that was personal, companion, or language. Our first lesson with our TRC investigator was on tuesday. He looked super tired and had just gotten back from a trip. He even fell asleep during our lesson after we asked him a question! haha! It was no bueno. But We didn't do our part very well and didn't prepare well at all and it went horribly. However, on thursday we learned our lesson and prepared a lot and had probably our best lesson so far. We talked about Christ and showed him the He Lives video. The spirit was so strong and I understood and spoke more spanish in the lesson then I ever had before. We even committed him to baptism! Which was my first. I know the gift of tongues is real and if I do my part the Lord will fill the rest.
One cool experience I had this week was we were walking just to go to class and this guy in a wheel chair who was paralyzed was just sitting there. We thought he was a teacher or something but he didnt have any kind of name tag. We started talking to him and found out that he is japanese and a nonmember. I dont know how he got onto the campus but he said that he was just trying to figure out his life and a friend told him to come here. He really didnt know why he came. For all we know it was just someone trying to pretend to be a nonmember but we really felt he was there for that reason! We talk to him and got to know him and also told him about the church. WE answered some of his questions and he looked really interested in what we were saying. It was way cool! We told him that if he had any questions anyone here would be willing to help him. It was my first approach and was such a cool experience!
I like the MTC but can't wait to go out and share the gospel to Argentina! I am doing well and am learning how to be a better missionary everyday! WE watched the character of christ by Elder Bednar on sunday night(film night) and it was the best talk ever! I learned that I need to focus outward on other people and not worry about my myself and have the characteristics of Christ!
Hasta Luego! Love you all!
P.S Alma 26 is an amazing chapter for missionary work but also for anyone. Look it up! It has become one of my favorites!
P.S Feel free to send dearelder letters. They are nice to read at night!
Mom feel free to attach the pictures to the mass email and anything I said in the other email that answered your questions.
MTC district in the Cafeteria
One of our teachers, Hermano Barfuss
A tie exchange/drawing at night
Its just like a drawing where you put in one of your ties and then you can pick another
when your name is drawn.
At a devotional. everyone is coming in before it starts.
This is where we sung in the MTC choir
Doing some service at 6:15 in the morning! we do it every monday and thursday morning.
This classroom is where we do TALL a computer spanish program thing.
There are two other bunks behind this picture.
This is a picture of my daily and weekly shedule.
Temple walk with Elder wilcox my companion
"Hey elders pose for a picture!
Temple walk on sunday with the district.
Me and Elder Richmond Anderson in the Cafeteria!
How we speak in class.
Elder Wihongi has this duck that he takes all of his pictures with
so we decided to take a pic with him. haha. ps i sit in this corner for like 9 hours a day! Woo!
'Nother selfie
Figured out how to use the selfie feature on my camera!
WIth elder Lowe(in front) and his companion Elder marchant.
Writing in journal at night. Hey got a ladder!
Hi Family! I have a little time right now while my laundry is going so I decided to answer some of your questions you have asked me throughout the week in letters and emails.
-I don't really like the food all that much, but it fills me so I okay with it. Occasionally they'll have something I'll like. I usually don't have a desert except on wednsdays and sundays they have byu creamery ice cream which is the best thing they ever serve. I'll usually just have a wrap for lunch and whatever they are serving for dinner and breakfast.
-Language is tough. I get frustrated sometimes when others in my district are understand the spanish better, but I need to remember to not compare myself with others and just look at my improvement, which I have improved a lot over this past week. During our lessons, my companion who knows a lot more spanish than me talked most because he understood our investigator. Now it has gotten a little more even so I am pleased with that!
-I prefer to get dearelders because they are nice to read at the end of the night and also emails once a week. I have thought of a few things I want from home, but I forgot. I need to write them down when I remember. Oh well next week in emails I let you know or I'll write another letter during the week or something.
-Tori asked about a temple name that I reserved for baptism in a dearelder she sent to me. I totally
forgot about that and didn't do it before I left. I don't know how to unreserve it and let her do it so If you could tell her and see if you could help her with that, that would be great.
-Yes, on pdays we go to the temple everytime. It is super nice and a great break from my day to day schedule. I enjoy and am looking forward to going later today.
-Yes, all the classes are in spanish so its very difficult to understand whats going on for me at least. My district seems to understand better and help me and a few others that don't know too which is very helpful. My companion is really helping me too which I appreciate.
-We have gym time every day except sunday which is awesome! We have it around 11-12 and then get ready to go to lunch. We play volleyball or basketball in the gym or my favorite, go outside the mtc to the field and play soccer or sand volleyball. Such a stress releiver. There is a weight room here also! haha but I havent used it yet I dont really care to haha.
-I have seen Hannah Talyor, Naythan Bell, and LEvi Bishop and talked to them.
Got to go see ya.
Ill send the mass email in like an hour or so and we might be able to email back and forth.
Elder Trent
