Week 1: Week One, and Done
Wow, this week has been a lot! From all-day zoom meetings to cringey training videos, the first week of the MTC is wrapping up! There's a couple of non-members on this list, so I've included a little dictionary at the bottom of the email for some words that I think might be helpful to define.
Anyways, this first week of training has been done at home. I'll be heading to Provo next Tuesday to go to the in-person Provo MTC, which will be really fun and exciting. I'll be there until June 6th, which is when I fly out to Louisville to begin my actual assignment.
But before then, there's lots of stuff to get done. My training started on Monday, and to be honest, the day started off as a bit of a drag. I didn't have my companion or a meeting with my district until 2:30 in the afternoon, so I basically just watched some of the online training videos. I watched "The Safety Zone" videos, and they're so cringe, but they're at least somewhat entertaining. It's funny because I actually interviewed for a job at the beginning of freshman year with two of the hosts, Jarom and Spencer. Anyways, once 1 o'clock hit, we had our first large zoom meeting with every Provo MTC missionary who started this week, which was like 200 people. It was led by two really great teachers and the title of the class was "Welcome to the Work." After that meeting, I finally got to meet my district, district teachers, and companion, and I already love them all so much! On Monday, we talked about the importance of meaningful relationships, and also discussed what our purpose is as a missionary which, in one sentence, is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end" - PMG page 3
Anyways, I don't want to bore anyone with training talk and would just like to highlight a few last things. I wrote in my journal on Monday that "once classes started at 1, I've just been enveloped in the Spirit." Even over zoom, you can feel the connection to the Holy Ghost and how we're all trying to better follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. I've really enjoyed teaching our friends (apparently we don't use the term "investigator" anymore, which I was not aware of) the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Now let's be honest, the friends that I'm teaching are probably a bunch of BYU/UVU students who are pretending to be non-members, but hey, you have to start somewhere). I especially like something that one of our teachers said: "We teach people, not lessons." Of course, the 5 main lessons outlined in Preach My Gospel are incredibly important, but those are, in a way, secondary to connecting with our friends and helping them come closer to Christ. Since they are important, those 5 lessons are "The Restoration," "The Plan of Salvation," "The Gospel of Jesus Christ," "The Commandments," and "Laws and Ordinances." Even though I've already known most of the doctrine of these lessons for basically my whole life, it's still cool to see how we can best teach this information to our friends. It's been really cool to teach in such a simple way that our Heavenly Father loves us so much and wants to bless us. He is eager to answer our prayers if we but trust in Him and His plan. Like seriously, the gospel is so simple that a child can understand, yet so complex and powerful that you can spend your whole life studying it and not get the faintest glimpse of all its nuances (i mean come on, you know I had to sneak in one of my favorite words. I mean the word nuanced in and of itself is just so nuanced).
Also, I've been told to forward the following email...Honestly it's a lot of stuff that's probably not important to a lot of people. Probably the main thing is that I will only be able to respond to communication from friends and family on my P-day, which for now is Friday (It'll be Monday once when I actually get to Kentucky). I can read any communication throughout the week whenever I have time, but I'm just not supposed to respond unless it's P-day. Also my mailing address in Kentucky will be...
Elder Ethan Creer
Kentucky Louisville Mission
1325 Eastern Pkwy
Louisville KY 40204
United States
The email:
"We would like to share some important information with you. Will you please forward this email to your family and friends?
06-06 | KY-LOU
2005 N 900 East, Unit #1
Provo UT 84602
United States
Communication with MTC: Phone number: 801-422-2602, email: mtcinfodesk@mtc.byu.edu
Communications with Family and Friends while at the MTC
You may read any communication you receive during the week whenever you have appropriate time to do so. You should reply to communication only on your preparation day unless it is a special occasion or an emergency as described in the Missionary Standards.
You may communicate to your family on your weekly preparation day via letters, emails, online messaging and audio/video chats. Preparation day ends at 6:00 pm.
Online messaging and audio/video chats with people outside of your family are not approved. However, if you, together with your companion, are arranging an appointment, or teaching a lesson, you may use technology. Any use of technology for missionary purposes must be done as companions.
Always sit or stand so that you and your companion can see each other's screens.
Missionary Mail/Deliveries: Missionary mail or packages should come through the US Mail or other commercial delivery services. An approved list for the delivery services is attached to this email. Please ask your family and friends not to deliver things to you at the front security booth, during your temple visits, gym time, over the MTC fence, or by any other unapproved delivery method.
Family/Friends Visits: Please ask your family and friend not to attempt to see or visit you while you are at the MTC, during your temple visits, or at other places near the MTC.
Airport/Train Visits: When you depart for the field, family or friends should not visit you as you depart the MTC, on the train, or at the airport.
Musical Instruments: Please do not bring musical instruments to your mission unless you have permission from your Mission President and the instrument is appropriate for Sunday meetings. If you are approved to bring an instrument, please do not play it while at the MTC, including in the residence halls. The MTC has practice rooms with pianos available. You may check out music, violins, violas, cellos, and flutes at the music library."
LIke I don't know why you need to know about musical instruments at the MTC, but whatever, I guess I'll just do what they say.
The Elder Creer Dictionary:
MTC - Stands for "Missionary Training Center." The first 3 weeks of my mission will be spent in training, either at home, or at the physical MTC buildings in Provo, Utah. We get some tips on how to teach better, how to plan, and how to best help the people we serve.
Elder - No, I haven't had a major typo with my first name. "Elder" is a title given to missionaries. Missionaries are typically referred to as "Elder (Last Name) or Sister (Last Name).
Companion - Every missionary is assigned a companion missionary who you teach with and do almost everything together. You're there to support each other in the work and help keep each other safe.
District - A district is just an organizational unit of missionaries. At the MTC, my district is a group of 12 missionaries who are all in the same class with the same teachers. We get to know each other really well, because we're in class together for like 6 hours a day. Once I'm in Kentucky, my district will be similar in size and will consist of missionaries in nearby areas. In Kentucky we'll meet a lot less often, rather than every day for 6 hours.
Preach My Gospel (PMG) - This is a book that is basically a guide to missionary service. It outlines 5 key lessons that I mentioned earlier and has helpful tips on teaching, planning, and other things needed for a missionary.
P-day - this is just a shortened way to say "Preparation-day." Once a week in the MTC and in Kentucky, we'll have a day to prepare for the rest of the week. We'll go grocery shopping, explore our area, clean, communicate with friends and family, meet up with our district, etc. etc.
Heavenly Father - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints view God as our loving Father and we as His spirit children. Thus we sometimes refer to God as our "Heavenly Father" or "Father in Heaven"
Anyways, here's those pictures...
Post-Farewell talk picture
My week's schedule
First day of training - at my home MTC desk
Part of my wardrobe...mainly because I don't actually have a closet in this room, and I didn't want to live out of a suitcase for the 4th week in a row.
First day of MTC - ahahaha I'm just realizing my Mom blurred out the last name on my tag to put on her blog. Love that.
Anyways, next week, I'll be back in Provo... 'till then!
--
With Love,
Elder Creer
Kentucky Louisville Mission
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