Hey Everyone!
Well here ends my first week
here. It was the most surreal experience
of my life. Let me start by saying that
I love it here …well, now I like it. I
just had to make sure you don’t get the wrong idea. The first day was like a terribly corny
movie. Picture this: You have just said goodbye to your
family. You are in a new, strange place,
but you realize there is nothing physically obscure about it. You are very unsure because you have a weird
feeling but can’t figure why until you see it; then you understand. Here they come, ties blowing slowly in the
wind, gigantic plastic smiles plastered on their faces while they walk with
arms bent, as if speed walking with a purpose.
“Bienvenidos, Elderes!”—the two words I heard most from every white
marshmallow with a tie. This was now my
home.
A week later I still find things
corny but now it’s normal that people say, “how do you get your shirts so clean?” (I kid you not; I did actually hear
that.) For the most part it was a show
to freak out the newbies, but there are still those instances. It was hard the first few days, I won’t
lie. I wondered what I was doing here
and all those cliché questions. Everyone
told me to stick it out till the first Sunday, and it would get better. They didn’t lie. It has been 3 days since Sunday and it feels
like yesterday. It also feels like I’ve
been here a month. In one week I have
gotten extremely close with my companion and my entire district. Because of that, the time seems like I’ve
been here a long time (in a good way). I
sometimes wonder if people have missed seeing me, but then I realize it’s only
been seven days and I’ve been away from people much longer at other times. It’s crazy.
I have done the impossible! I’ve lost 7 lbs since entering the MTC. (Don’t worry I am eating. I just am exercising and eating
healthier.) As most know, the MTC is
part of BYU. This might not make any
difference to anyone, but BYU means no caffeinated drinks. I am dying.
Not really. I have not drunk
anything except water. I am
healthy. But, if anyone feels like
sending some caffeine, I would not be opposed.
My companion is a really awesome
kid. His name is Elder Leo Durkin, and
he plays for BYU volleyball. He
rocks. We got along really well from the
get go. My district really rocks (as I’ve
said). When asked by our Branch
President how we were getting along I had to laugh and think, “are you kidding
me; these people are my family.” I have
seen many friends here on a regular basis.
Quick rundown of who they are: Brenton Mangum, Mason Foster, Jake
Johnson, Janel Anderson, Shirley Grover (see her the most), James Marriott,
Matt Jensen, Arthur Diaz, Jarom Harrison, Cameron Mayo, the Jolleys, the
Gerkes, and others that I probably forgot.
For those who understand, there are so many family members that I cannot
keep from laughing. Be happy for the
totrys, be very happy.
Now for the really important part,
the reason why we are here at the MTC. I
have felt the Spirit so strongly while being here. Every day I have something happen where I
feel the Spirit powerfully. We have been
assigned an investigator who we had to teach in complete Spanish on the third
day. It was tough, but it was amazing to
teach with a spiritual power. Every day
we can understand and say more. We are
almost done teaching Rafael (our investigator), but it is amazing to watch him
grow and feel a new happiness in his life.
Yes, I know that this is a mock investigator and that he works here, but
the spirit is real. That cannot be acted
or faked, and I see that with this experience.
Spanish here is crazy. In 3 days I learned more than 3 years in high
school. High school Spanish was helpful,
but I am miles ahead now. My companion
and I go well together because he can speak better than I can, but I understand
better. It is a good match.
I miss everyone, but I am happy to
be here now. I hope everything is going
well and that you all are safe and happy.
Elder Goates
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