MTC Week 7: Christmas Visit from Elder Russell M. Nelson

Hey everyone!!

It's been 6 weeks so far and I am on week 7!! Everything is going great! This week was probably my favorite so far, but let me start at Christmas. So for Christmas Eve we had this huge fireside with everyone and the MTC Presidency spoke. They talked about Christ's birth and His life. They also read out of Luke 2 for us which was cool. The best part was when we all sang 12 days of Christmas MTC style. It was hilarious!! :) That night we watched a movie...Mr. Kruger's Christmas and every Missionary got a bag of popcorn :) YUM!

The next day for Christmas we had a MTC talent show with some cool acts and songs. My two favorite were these Missionaries from Russia who sang a Lady Gaga song and rewrote the words to fit us Missionaries! It was hilarious! My other favorite was, this one Elder took one dollar bills and switched them into 20s!!! And then back again!! It was insane and the whole place went crazy!

After the talent show we had our big Christmas dinner!! I had turkey...I swear I have always had ham on Christmas until just now, haha. It was good though :) Probably better than next Christmas' meal lol :) After we had a Devotional and Elder Russell M. Nelson came!!! It was so cool. He talked about the Savior and His ministry and read from Luke 2 as well. An apostle of God read us the story of Christ's birth how cool!! That evening he joined us as the MTC was treated to an act of  "A Christmas Carol". It was amazing and way funny!

The next day after Christmas, on Sunday, we had a combined Priesthood meeting, and guess who came....Elder Nelson!!! Everyone was shocked! He talked about the literal meaning of our calling and what that means. He also talked about the Gathering of Israel. He gave us a ton of scriptures to read, but my favorite was in D&C 88:118-126 :) It applies really well to Missionaries and those who are preparing for Missions! He bore a Powerful Testimony of the Divinity of Missionary work and of the Savior. He then gave us a Blessing as Elders. So powerful!! He also talked about how we as Missionaries are like the Star at Christ's Birth...Leading and Showing the world to Him.

The great weekend led right into a great week! Elder Walker and I this week have been talking so much Spanish and are forcing ourselves to talk in Spanish only. So cool!! It really helps us. We are also teaching lessons 1 and 2 in Spanish now which is so amazing because we hardly know anything in Spanish, haha. It is coming, but it is still hard, but rewarding. We are working really hard though and continue to progress so much!!

This past Wednesday we had the opportunity to be the hosts of the new group of Missionaries. It was so fun!!! I got 3 Elders and 1 Sister. They are going to San Diego, 2 to Brazil, and the Sister to Poland!! Crazy!! It was snowing the whole time though so it was so wet and cold.

Today the Temple was closed so we had a little more down time which was nice :) When I put my laundry in to wash, I accidently bought some Elder more dryer time because I pushed the wrong button, haha. Also the washer that had my darks in it wouldn't open when it was done, so I was stuck waiting with Elder Walker until we could get it open.

This week Elder Walker and I really focused on how we can adjust our teaching to meet the needs of investigators. We also got a head start on outlining lesson 3 because you don't do that in the MTC. We also have been reading and studying on how to work with members and leaders in the Church to help us as Missionaries. I love working with him!

Well, 7th week and still no visa has come. I hope it comes soon because I really want to get to Mexico bad!!!

Anyways gotta go! Love ya and look forward to hearing from you :)

Next week I will send my camera card again so look for that! I also wrote Braxley too, so look out  Brax :)

Love,

Elder Brady Lester

MTC Week 6: Love, Member Missionaries, and Joseph Smith

Hey!!

So it's been 5 1/2 weeks here at the MTC and everything is going great!! Thank you for all your letters and goodies. I did receive all your packages :) Anyways this week went by so fast!! It seems like each week just flys even faster! If I'm right I only have 23 days left until I should be in Mexico!! It's going to be here faster than I know it! I can't wait though!

So this week Elder Walker and I have been studying way way hard!! We have been teaching alot and continue to get better every time. We learn so much!! I really do love working with him and can't imagine working with anyone else for two years. We work really well together off our strengths and weakness's. This week we have worked on teaching members so we can help them be great missionaries. It is so important for members to find the people. Us Missionaries are called to teach and baptize... that's it really. Missionary work is a church wide thing that everyone helps with. I encourage each of you to help the Missionaries teach a friend that you can refer to them :)  It's a great time because it's Christmas :)

On our Tuesday devotional we had a member of the seventy come. Elder Shayne M. Bowen. He talked about the decisions right now in our lives and what we need to decide right now as a Missionary. Like decide right now to love everyone. He also talked about the birth of the Savior and testified of Him. It was beautiful :)

The fireside we had on Sunday was very unique. An institute teacher came and acted out a man who knew Joseph Smith, and was there when he was killed. It was way way cool. In our District Meeting we also talked about Joseph Smith, and each Elder in our district taught something about him. It was cool as the DL as I prayed about the meeting over the week trying to find out what should we teach about. I felt that it was important that each Elder should have the chance to teach and bear testimony of his life. It was special and the spirit was so strong. You could sense that Joseph was in the room with us - it was amazing :) I love our district :)

Tonight we have a special devotional!! I think Elder Russell M. Nelson might be coming but I am not sure. That is just the word on the street, haha. I hope he does!! Tomorrow we have a long but eventful day here!! Everyone is hoping the prophet is going to come :)

So Elder Alston did leave on this past Tuesday, so he is enjoying Christmas in Portugal right now :) Lucky dog!!

Well, I am almost out of time so I will wrap things up!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Amor (Love)

Elder Brady Lester :)