Last week in the MTC

11-1-10

Dear Family and Friends,

I cannot believe that I've already been at the MTC for 8 weeks!! It seems like I just got here, and now I've already got my travel plans and everything. My plane ticket is booked, and I'm reporting next Monday morning to the travel office at 5 am, then flying from SLC at 8:35, and arriving at JFK at 3:35. So this time next week I'll be in NYC!!

This week has been awesome and has flown by super fast! The biggest highlight for me is Whitney getting her mission call to San Diego, and speaking Spanish! I can't wait for you to get out in the field so we can be serving at the same time=). The next coolest thing was having Elder Richard G. Scott come to speak to us on Tuesday! It was such an amazing talk on recognizing the spirit, he had lots of people walk up to mikes and read quotes and then he'd ask them questions randomly on the spot. My friend Elder Brandon Leslie was one of them, he got to talk to an apostle! I was honored to get to sing in the choir that performed, again. I love singing and sharing that talent, and I keep using it all the time here in the MTC. We seriously sing about 10 hymns a day, Sundays like 30, and every time an apostle comes we sing "Called to Serve", I wish I would've kept a tally of how many times we've sung that. Afterward we had a great district review with everyone, and it's so great hearing everyone's insights, and at the end getting to bear our testimonies in Spanish, and it's even better now since we can actually talk about what we learned, instead of just saying memorized phrases. It brought a lot of members of our district to tears, especially hermanas, but even some of the elders=) This next week will be my last Devotional, last everything! Today was my last P-day, it's so weird to think about!

Saturday for our TRC we had to give a summary of the lesson, find out their concerns about the Word of Wisdom, give them directions to the Church building, and then come back and teach them all of Lesson 2 in Spanish. Not an easy week for us, but all of us felt better about our Spanish this week, even though we were short on time since we didn't have enough volunteers to fill the roles as investigators. Later that day we also had Interviews, and since Hno. Edwards is on his Honeymoon, poor Hno. Jensen had to do all of them, but I love his interviews. They really do help us to set good goals, and help us be accountable to him, help us figure out where our strengths are; where we need to improve, and think about all the good things. It really gets me excited for the upcoming week, and helps me focus on what I want to accomplish. I love it! This week I'm really going to focus on knowing the scriptures better, and always having a scripture on hand for any given scenario, question, or anything I might need it for. They are such a wonderful resource that I'm not using enough. PMG has some great sections and scripture study activities that I"m excited to work on this week for Personal Study=)

I also love Saturdays because we get to have a District meeting and recap the week, set goals, etc.. and then we do one with our companionships, which is so healthy for resolving potential conflicts, being supportive, and giving/receiving constructive criticism.It was especially fun this week because we just got to talk about a lot of things, and now I think we're a lot closer as friends, not just companions.

On Sunday Bro. Swensen, director of Missionary Services gave an amazing talk on "Friends". We got to usher=) He hit on a bunch of scriptures where the Savior refers to us as his friends, and then he admonished us to treat others in the same way He treats us. We need to be everyone's friends, members, investigators, and especially our companions. Also at the fireside an elder sang a beautiful piece "Be Still My Child" I think, and it was one of the most powerful musical numbers I've ever heard, I loved the cello and piano accompaniments. We also got to go to the temple again and that was fun to take pictures of our district and have fun outside, even though it is pretty chilly.

I also loved going to Music and the Spoken Word Sunday Morning, it always makes the day go better. I got to sit behind Elder Rusk a friend from BYU, and then on the way out ran into Elder Biggs, another friend from my freshman ward. The MTC is so fun!=) During Sacrament meeting I was called on to give my talk, every week we all write one and then hope we won't actually have to give it, but Hna. England and I both got called; they seem to pick on our district a lot. It was on the restoration and I got to talk about my experience being in the sacred grove for my 14th birthday and how the restoration is such an important part of our message. It's the power statement that catches peoples' attention, sets us apart. We Are the same church that Christ established on the earth in the New Testament, he still leads and guides us today. What an amazing message I can't wait to preach it to the people in NY!

Mom: Yes I voted, I filled it out and put it in the mail box the day I got it, before any of your letters or advice.lol Yes, when I sang for Elders Nelson and Scott, that was here at the MTC. My mission Home address should be on my facebook profile I believe, or I'm sure you could find it any other way too=) Good job on being a missionary and inviting people to church! Thanks for forwarding me e-mails and being so faithful. I'm gonna miss dearelder when my number of letters will be cut in half.

Dad: Thanks for your letters! Yes I"m allowed to call when I"m at the airport, supposedly 7-8 Mtn. Time, next MOnday.

Happy Birthday LaDawn on the 2nd, and Tara on the 4th. You two are so great and I'm so glad you've been close by here in Utah while I lived here now and all last year!

Hunter Lynette! How was districts, how's school? Why haven't you written me?! I love you guys!

Esther thanks for your letter and your amazing missionary efforts.

I love all of you guys, and I love getting your letters and hearing from you! Next time you hear from me I'll be in New York City!! And I won't have a flashing number blinking at me in the corner of the screen.

Love you!

Elder Lewis