Wow! The time has come and come very fast. I have loved it here so much! Turns out going from 70+ degree temperature in California to... I don't know how cold it is here without a phone. Haha. It is maybe 20? or less? I don't know how cold it is in Provo. Suffice to say it is much colder here than in California and I got sick last Saturday not long after writing the email. It is probably because I walked 0.5 miles in the morning to the Temple and it was really cold! Or maybe it is because the food isn't amazing quality. One or the other. Since then I have been wearing my nice jacket over my suit jacket in the morning. Oh to be from California.
The classes have been really intense but also really amazing. One of the 6 Elders in my District/Class was really overwhelmed for a couple days. He questioned why he was here and whether or not he could do what was asked of him. After day 4 he was starting to develop more confidence and is becoming really good! It is amazing how fast you can progress and develop in such a short period of time! For me, I haven't really felt inadequate in that way. But I have been overwhelmed to varying degrees. There is sooooo much asked of you. It is really hard to be focused and productive literally the whole day. I'll give you an example of my schedule I had on Tuesday. It was a semi unique schedule, but every day has something that fills it up entirely. Get up by 6:30 am. Then Shower/etc. Breakfast at 7:15. Service from 7:45-9am (we washed windows on one of the buildings). 9-9:15, prep to teach a lesson. 9:15-10, teach a lesson. Then we had some more study time until we had gym from 10:50-11:40. Then post-gym from 11:40-12:15. Then lunch at 12:15-12:45. Personal and companion study from 12:45-2:15. Class from 2:15-5:15pm. Dinner 5:15-5:45, RUSH to choir practice (Elder Empey wanted to be in the Tuesday night devotional choir. It was pretty fun) from 5:45-6:20. Break from 6:20-6:40 talking to people. Then 6:40-7, be in seat and practice a little for the devotional. Devotional from 7-8pm. Then 8-8:15... distracted? 8:15-9 was a partial zone meeting (17 of us) discussing what we learned from the devotional that night. Then leadership training for those called to leadership positions from 9-9:25. Then 9:25-9:35 zone leader training (with the sister training leaders) to prep for the next night. Then go back to the dorm and get ready for bed. 10:15 quiet time. 10:30 lights out. RIGOROUS! And then get right back into it the next day!
I'll end with a couple cool experiences. So, I found out last Friday that Brother Edmonds, my Institute teacher for the last 2 years at Davis, was the early morning seminary teacher for 2 years of my companion in Washington. WOW. Pretty crazy that we are companions in the training center here. We can share a lot of stories about Brother Edmonds. It is quite funny. :) Also, last Sunday we were called to be the Zone Leaders. It is pretty exciting. So on top of the normal responsibilities, we get to interview the District Leaders (4 of them) to make sure their District (6-9 people in each district) are doing well. It's pretty exciting. We had the opportunity to welcome the new District on Wednesday night and let them know that we are there for them in the MTC and to let us know if they have any questions. It's been exciting to already have been called to a leadership position. One other interesting thing before I share a final spiritual thought, the district that I'm in (6 Elders) are ages 19, 19, 20, 20, 22 (me), and 24 when we are allowed to become a missionary at age 18. The 6 sisters that arrived with us in our zone, at least 4 of the 6 of them are age 19 - which is the age they can become missionary. It's interesting.
So last night I had an amazing experience. We did a role play in class. One of the teachers (who has been teaching for a few months to a year after returning from his mission - aka he is skilled) was my companion and one of the Elders in the class role played as Bill a referral from his recently baptized 20 yr old daughter who lives in California. It was amazing. I have taught... 5-10 lessons so far here in various settings to investigators. One of the hardest things is to genuinely love them and feel prompted by the Spirit to share a testimony or teach a principle. Usually I talk from a mental knowledge than from a heart level - hopefully that makes sense. Before the role play I prayed to have the Spirit and genuinely love Bill. In it, I could feel the love that my companion Brother Stanley had for Bill. He led most of the lesson. I REALLY felt the Spirit 6-7 times and shared something from my heart out of a genuine care and concern for Bill to help him specifically in his life dealing with his challenges (which was that he separated from his wife 1 month ago). It was so amazing. I have never taught that way before. I know that it was REALLY the Spirit of God that was with me teaching through me. It felt so amazing. I'm really starting to learn what the Spirit feels like. I love it here and am so glad to be here.
Lastly, there is a website called DearElder.com (I think) that you can send same day letters to me. They print it out here. Forgot to say that before. I only can check email 1x/wk. I don't know when it will be next week. I'm leaving to Colorado Tuesday morning. I will let you know as soon as I know where I'm actually going to in the mission area.
Elder Jeffrey Campbell
P.S. If it is remotely possible for you to serve a mission, do it. I've already grown amazingly in the last ~9 days. I already know you won't regret it. Yes it is hard (and will get harder), but I know it'll be worth it.
--> I'll try to send pictures ASAP.
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