Hello friends and family!
This second week in the MTC has been incredible. It's crazy how strong the spirit is here and how everyone is so dedicated. My district and I have been working really hard to continue learning spanish, teach investigators, and strengthen our own testimonies.
This week, we taught Manuel Mon-Thurs (the investigator I talked about in my last email) and he progressed a ton in just a week. Each companionship in my district got to teach him each day this week. Elder Chappell and I we went through pretty much everything with him. We taught the restoration, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, the plan of salvation, and about baptism. After each lesson, he told us he felt the spirit. We challenged him to be baptized but he was very stubborn and said he wanted to keep learning more and praying to find out if it was true for sure. We were of course okay with this. And then on our last day of teaching him we taught a powerful lesson about having faith in Jesus Christ, and he accepted the baptismal challenge and we were really excited. And then we found out that he accepted everyone elses baptismal challenge too...and then we found out that he was a teacher at the MTC...and that he had been pretending the whole time to be a progressing investigator!! Everyone was a little bugged at first to be honest because he was already a member of the church and everything...but it was such a good experience for us. We were able to learn how to teach a lesson and communicate much better than if we would have sat in a classroom during that time. Even though he was already a strong member of the church it was really cool how as we prayed and studied about what to teach Manuel, we were still able to receive revelation about what he needed. I think it just goes to show that our Heavenly Father is very aware of his missionaries and what they need!
We are going to continue having Spanish speaking teachers pretend to be investigators for us so we can get better at teaching. After just over a week our Spanish skills have improved a ton. Our grammar is TERRIBLE but we are usually able to find the words to teach a simple lesson, share scriptures, and bear testimony. I'm pretty sure I've learned more spanish in a week and a half than I did from taking 3 years of high school spanish! I am now a full believer in the gift of tongues and that when we are completely obedient, we will receive all the help we need.
On Tuesday, we had the privilege of having Russell M. Nelson from the Quorom of the 12 Apostles talk to us at a devotional. As soon as he walked in the room, I could feel the spirit flow throughout the room. It was amazing that in a matter of seconds I could feel the power and spirit of one man from all the way across a gymnasium. It was a huge testimony builder to me that he was a true apostle of the Lord and that we really do have a true prophet and apostles here on the earth today! He taught in depth about gathering the 12 tribes of Israel and that it is our calling and duty as missionaries to go throughout the world to share the gospel. He shared about 20 scriptures! He also taught that as missionaries we are the Lord's "swift messengers." He also shared a quote that I thought was really interesting. he said, "Zion is not a place...Zion is the pure in heart. Zion is wherever the Lord's covenant people choose to dwell." The whole talk was really powerful. I can't wait to hear more apostles and church leaders speak to us! We have devotionals every Sunday and Tuesday night.
We were able to go to the temple for the first time today since it is our P-day. This might sound bad, but it was kind of nice to leave the MTC for a bit and go to the temple to do an endowment session!
I've probably gained like 5 pounds already from all the food here...it's ridiculous! I'm full after every meal...and if you know me well than you know that doesn't happen very often. I'm not worried though, I'll sweat it all out in Nicaragua ;)
We work out every day except for P day and Sunday. So I've been able to play basketball with my district and meet some other guys. Raider Lofthouse is in the MTC right now and he and I played/guarded each other in one of the basketball games! (He's much better at wrestling. And although some might disagree, he's actually a pretty cool kid). I've met a lot of guys I know from school...Kris Leishman just left for Paraguay on Monday and I got to talk to him a little bit. I've also talked to Brennen Fowler, Taylor Jardine, Johnny Perry, Elder reeder, and a couple other guys from Box Elder. I've also seen some guys I met up at Utah State.
I absolutely love my companion and my district! After just a week or so, I already feel like I've known these guys my whole life. Our bond is really strong and it helps us learn and help each other out! In our free time we all just hang out and talk about sports, girls, and show off our singing/rapping skills.
Well, I've got to go now, thank you everyone for the letters! There's so many little experiences that happen every day that I'd like to tell you but I just don't have time! Can't wait to tell you all more next week!
Next week I´ll share my testimony in spanish, I don't have time this week! Love you all!
Love, Elder Parrish
