Week Two: Provo MTC

Hey everyone!! Elder Mortensen here from the MTC just wanting to give you a little update on how I have been and how everything is going so far.

 

 

I have been a missionary for just over a week now and loving the chance to be 100% focused on learning more about our Savior. I spent the first week in my home, working with my teachers and my district over zoom. My family made great companions and my mom made me all my favorite foods for a whole week. Not too shabby!

 

 

This week I was dropped off, literally dropped off, at the Provo Missionary Training Center. Wow what a way to leave your family as you are just dropped off from your car and leave your family in a matter of 1 minute - haha. Quick like a Band-Aid I guess. I had my stuff carried to room 109 and keep that room number in mind. I opened the door and was greeted by my companion Elder Hatch, and somehow, we got our own room to ourselves which is kinda crazy but wow the room was absolutely trashed, with garbage and everything was just thrashed everywhere. It wasn’t the way I thought it would look to move into, but anyways we can talk about that later.

 

 

But wow i have such an awesome companion and always is there for me to help me through anything. We have SO much in common and it is such a blessing to have him there with me to go through the same things as him.

 

 

Everyone has been saying watch our for the food here… but in all honesty imma picky man and i haven’t had one meal where it hasn’t been better than average so that is a bonus!!

 

 

 We had an awesome devotional Wednesday night about the characteristics of Christ and we had special guests come and share their conversion stories, or stories of how the characteristics of Christ has blessed them. Wow, those are some awesome stories! If made me think about the ways Christ has blessed me because of His divine character traits. What is one of Christ’s qualities or character traits that has blessed you?

 

 

 That night as we went back to our room 109 we saw one of the branch counselors in one of our districts rooms and we went to check in with him. He greeted us and we greeted him. We told him about our room situation and how trashed it was in all the places and he was like oh you’re supposed to be in room 113. We were like what?!? The people told us and gave us a key to 109. Anyways long story short had to get a new room. Had to run all the way in the pouring rain to the front office where we waited for an hour to get new keys. I am not sure how we got assigned the wrong room initially but we packed up and moved into a new room with new blankets and sheets and no garbage scattered around, etc. It ended up being a late night by the time we were in our new room. What a first day at the MTC huh?!

 

 

Day 2 (Thursday). I will try and keep this short. We woke up 5:50 because we have gym rats in our district and went on a 4 mile run and then worked out and ya no one was a fan. Food was good that day. We had a branch presidency meeting that night and yes i was on time… we might of ran but doesn’t matter cause we were on time haha, we got lost, anywaysss. Once the branch president told us we would be getting roles and speaking in sacrament and all this stuff it all went to my head and I was stressing! They said we will meet with all of you to get to know you and then the presidency will pray and decide who they feel is best for the zone leaders, district leaders, etc… We had scriptures we had to read and me and Elder Hatch had our noses in the scriptures the whole time, while everyone, I’m not kidding was like yelling and messing around. Anyways, got called over to get to know president Ririe and at the end of it both Sister and President Ririe said “keep smiling elders, it brings the spirit to others”. Anyways here is the spiritual moment that sums up the whole week. I am reading with Elder Hatch with everyone else yelling and we both look up at the same time and both said… “did you feel that”? I just felt the spirit flowing inside of me - head to toe. IT WAS CRAZYYYYY! So much love and spirit, I leaned over to Elder Hatch and said “I bet they just finished there prayer”. We both smile and spirit flows more and more. Anyways, said this would be short but it’s not, the presidency comes back in and announces me and Elder Hatch are the zone leaders. We have to watch over 3-4 districts and hold meetings and sacrament and talks for everyone and I will be honest, I was having a little mini panic attack under the table. I tried to stay cool on top so the president wouldn’t see my legs and hands bouncing under the desk. I was shaking so bad.  Anyways here I am, a zone leader, speaking now, multiple times a day, with so many scary people hahaha. Talks and meetings are being prepared every second with us, so overwhelmed but at the same time I am ready to grow and to serve. I am excited to serve with Elder Hatch in this new role and responsibility.

 

 

I love this gospel so much. I can’t wait to learn so much more and grow so fast and become the missionary I know I can be. I’m excited to get to Fort Worth to preach the gospel. Love you al! Thanks for everything!!

 

 

Elder Mortensen