Thank goodness I'm about done with my time in the MTC. It's
great and all, but Puerto Rico is calling my name. Like screaming my name. This
week was pretty uneventful other than Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday. Friday we went
on splits with real elders from the local area and that was such a culture
shock. From the perfect grass of the temple grounds, we were then in the
smoggy, dirty, smelly inner city. You can feel the pollution as you come up out
of the ground from the subway station. It hits you. And then you almost get hit
by a car and get hit on by an old lady in Spanish. The DR is really something
else. My companion for the day was Elder Mantzuela (I think that's how you
spell it). I think he's a DL or ZL. He's from the DR so he doesn't know a lot
of english. I was somewhat disappointed in our splits because we never actually
taught any lessons to investigators. We just spent the entire day contacting
less active members of the ward. Because we didn't teach lessons, my comp just
talked to the people the whole and this sucked for me becasue I don't know any
conversational spanish, only how to teach. So I basically just said that I
don't know any spanish and then gave the closing prayer. But it was a really
good experience either way.
Sunday. Sundays are the best in the MTC becasue you can feel
the spirit everywhere you go. The day is full of doctrine, testimonies, and
lots of learning. Nothing really special happened this Sunday, but the spirit
was just really strong.
Tuesday was really special because we had our Tuesday
Morning Devo with Elder Zivic of the Area Presidency. He only spoke in spanish
the entire time, so all the greengos and white people had the headsets for
translation. But I was really really proud of myself and I didn't use the
headset at all. And I understood like 90% of what he said so that was really
cool for me. I was able to get a lot out of his talk and I really enjoyed it.
Spanish has such a special spirit.
Other than that stuff, Elder Morris and I are getting really
good at teaching by the spirit. We've had some great lessons this week even
though they're fake investigators. Hermano Eve told us that we've become really
good at following the promptings of the spirit and going with the feelings we
have. Yesterday we had a plan to teach a 20 minute lesson about the Atonement
and then the Resurrection of Christ and introduce the 10 Commandments, but then
ended up listening to the spirit and talking about the need for the Atonement
so that we can repent and it was just a really great lesson. We ended up
talking for 35 minutes, almost double what we were supposed to use. We just
followed the promptings of the Spirit and it was great.
Elder Iongi gave me a haircut last night because I don't
trust the barber that the MTC brings in. Iongi is really good at it. Also, the
church is true. In personal study this week, the Book of Mormon has just
reaffirmed my testimony of the truth of this gospel. My testimony of the Book
of Mormon has grown so much this week through talking with my district and
friends about the things I've read and how there is no way that Joseph Smith
could've faked a book like this. There are no doubts at all in my life that
this is the true church on the earth, the Christ lives, and that the Book of
Mormon is the word of God. I love this gospel so much and I can't wait to get
to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to begin preaching the gospel.
Today we watched the Saratov Approach instead of going to
the temple since it's closed and that movie gets me crying every time so go
watch it if you haven't. And look up BYU Vocal Point on YouTube. Listen to
Nearer My God to Thee and Danny Boy.
Anyways, until next week (or Tuesday, I think we get time
when we get to the missions)
I love you all so much.
Love, Elder Nelson
View from the roof
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