Leaving the MTC

First companion in the field: Elder Fernandez

Mission President:  President and Sister Ulrich

The MTC

June 18th—June 22nd

Thursday – June 18, 2015

Today we went finding.  It was incredible, absolutely, unbelievably amazing.  I was “brought low to be brought high”.  The first person I sat next to was very polite but very firmly not interested so I was kinda crushed.  So then I was sitting there waiting to figure out who to do and this guy with JayBird headphones on got on the train.  I was so excited and so I moved up the train so that I could talk to him across the aisle.  I said a quick prayer that I might be able to get his attention because he had his buds in and couldn’t hear my feeble attempts at contact.  So after prayer, I was able to catch his eye.  I don’t know if he was being polite or what but I was able to place a Book of Mormon and then give him a brief lesson about it along with a pass along card.  Then the next person that I taught was a BBC worker that edits children’s TV shows.  I had a great conversation with him and actually placed a pass along card and Book of Mormon.  I also got his email, which made me super, super happy so the missionaries can contact him.  Then at Piccadilly Square area I was able, with Elder Parkka (he wasn’t with me on the train), to teach and place a Book of Mormon with five people.   It was such a good day.  Then we were teaching Fallon in the TRC (Training Resource Center) and it was a good lesson and we read Alma 34 with her (versus 16 – 32- the end?) and we got her to pray at the end of the lesson.  I have never felt the spirit so strong outside of the Temple.

Saturday – June 20, 2015

We taught Fallon again today and it was phenomenal because she opened up to us, which was great.  I am glad that I had such a great lesson with her today because the rest of the day was not good because the rest of the day has kinda been a joke, Oh, except for one thing.  I was able to get an answer for a question that I have had for quite some time.  “How does the spirit speak to me?”  I found the answer in Moroni 7.  Basically what it says is when you feel the spirit when you think something that is good.  It is from God.  I haven’t ever connected that with my question so it was definitely an answer from God for which I am immensely grateful.  I love this Gospel so much and I want you all to know that!  I invite you to do two things, the first being to take Moroni’s promise right now.  I want you to kneel down tonight and pray to know if the Gospel is true.  You don’t need to have just read the Book of Mormon.  Please do it today.  The second thing that I invite you to do is to pray with a question, and then read the gospel; Book of Mormon, Preach my Gospel, the D&C, the Bible, anything.  Just go to God with a heartfelt question and he WILL answer it I promise.  Just keep working at it. 

OK & now for story time.  My roommate Elder Kamincov plays the saxophone and brought it with him so he plays every morning to wake everyone up, kinda fun.  Anyway, tonight he was showing another Elder how to play a little and people heard him and just kept coming and coming until our room was packed.  Probably a dozen of us.  Then they started playing sax and beating the beds.  I think the best mental picture I have is the Aristocats when they are singing “Everybody wants to be a cat”.  It was a mad house and then people start rapping and it was crazy.  It totally destroyed any hint of the spirit but everyone has their agency.

Anywho.  I love you so much and hope you are all doing well.

Sunday – June 21, 2015

Not much happened today.  We just pretty much sat in meetings all day, which is always a trial for me, but I hope to learn and overcome through the course of my mission.  LOVE YOU ALL LOTS.  I know you are in the Lords hand and I don’t have to worry about you (D&C 100:1)

Monday – June 22, 2015

It was our last lesson with Christian today and it went extremely well.  It was one of the first lessons I think me and Elder Parkka worked well together.  In the past I either push too hard and just ramble or else I don’t push hard enough and I just sit and let Elder Parkka do it all.  The other highlight of the day was Book of Mormon study.  We read as a district in Alma 26.  It was the perfect chapter for me.  It is all about missionaries and that was perfect for what I needed.  The verses that really stood out to me was 12, 20, in connection with 35 and verse 37.

June 17th: MTC Photos

June 17th: The MTC

Howdy All!

So I don’t even know where to start, so I’ll start at the beginning…

So Thursday, after talking to you, we went out and walked around the Temple grounds. They are absolutely beautiful. The grass is perfect and would fit in on the best golf course in the world. I then received my companion whose name is Elder Parkkä (if you can make the little dots over the A's some how the two of them (from Finland)).  He is an awesome guy. His spirit is so strong and he has an awesome sense of humor. I also got my District which is “Ammon.” We have 2 other Elders, Elder Kaminsov (from Lithuania) and Elder David (from Germany) and 3 Sisters, Sister Barlow and 2 others I’m not going to even try. It is a marvelous group.

Friday: Friday is when classes actually started. We got up at 6:30, jet lag is awful, ate breakfast and went to class. It was awesome. and we learned a lot.

Saturday: Taught my first "investigator" and learned a lot.

Sunday: It was good but I was so tired I didn’t get as much as I could have out of it. 

Monday: Lessons again.  More teaching in the TRC (Training Resource Center)

Tuesday: Lessons and teaching in the TRC. I am getting better I know, but it doesn’t feel like it.

Elder Tarbet

June 11th: Made it to the MTC

Mom and Dad,

I have made it safely here after a very long flight. 3 hours of sleep isn't nearly enough but I suppose it will help me beat the jet lag sooner (hopefully) haha. So the sun is shining and it is definitely quite warm out. The humidity hasn't hit me yet which is good so i haven't yet acquired the afro. Nothing too much to report yet, I wasn't able to place my Book of Mormon. The couple that were drinking wine the entire flight didn't seem to be interested and I didn't push. I had a heck of a time understanding her which concerns me. Hope everything is going well there and I will email you the next time I can (Monday?), hopefully with more to talk about.

Love you guys, hope you are doing good.

Love,

Elder Tarbet (Weird)

PS: I just got my tag

PPS: These keyboards are super weird