Preparing to leave the MTC

 Monday! P-Day: What a glorious day it was!!! I wasn't able to go to the temple on my P-Day, but I was able to go on Tuesday! We played kickball, soccer, and cornhole as a district and it was so much fun!!!! Then we went and did laundry and it was crazy busy, but I was able to get it done. After that we just hung out and chilled until 3:00 then we went and played volleyball, and it was amazing! Then I got a 3 boxes of Crumbl and 2 boxes of chips and Salsa from my amazing mom :)

Tuesday: I went to the gym with Elder Jackson, Murray, and Dennis. The gym was nice and definitely got me sore, but I survived! Then we went to the Provo Temple, and it was an amazing experience and I hope that I get to go a lot on my mission!!! After that we had a devotional from Elder Katcher from the 70 and him and his wife talked a lot about improving and converting others. Sister Katcher shared a quote that was amazing, "The greatest miracle is a change of heart" She shared how Jesus Christ performed mighty miracles but the most amazing one possible is someone having a change of heart. Elder Katcher shared this quote that hit me, "Don't look inward and downward look outward and upward" Which I love!! And will definitely help me while I'm on my mission. I got a greenie package Tuesday and it had stuff to share with Elder Jackson which is way fun! Shout out to my awesome mom!!!

Wednesday: It was a nice day! I started by going on a run with Elder Jackson and it was great! We got back from the run and Elder Murray was not feeling super well, but he is way better now! Me and Elder Jackson had a helping others appointment and it was so good! We had great classes and it was a fantastic day!

Thursday: Did an ab workout with Elder Jackson and was sore for the rest of the day!! Then we had class and we then went and played basketball to use our gym time while we can and it was great!

Friday: For our workout me and Elder Jackson ran the mile and timed ourselves, and he is so fast!!! He ran 7:25 mile(it is just a round outdoor track, think its longer than a mile) and I ran a 7:45. But it felt good to run for time since I haven't done that in a while. In our morning class we talked about talking to strangers and how to bring up the gospel in a conversation. In our night class we practiced taught the commandments, which I thought was the 10 commandments... But it was actually law of tithe, law of fast, law of chastity, word of wisdom...etc. It went super well! We laughed all day long as a district and had a blast. 

Saturday: Last regular day at the MTC and it is starting to get real!!! In our morning class we did a reflection on how the whole time at the MTC has been, and then a mini testimony meeting, and the spirit felt there was amazing. Then me and Elder Jackson did laundry because we don't have Monday to do it, but I won't have to wear dirty clothes next week which is a plus!

Sunday: Sundays in the MTC are very long, but I tried to make the best of it because was my last one. We had priesthood, and sacrament, and then a farewell devo that was pretty cool. After that we had a regular Sunday devo about Jesus Christ and Gods Character. It was a great devotional. Then me and my district sat and talked for a while and it was awesome! We laughed so much and just enjoyed each others company for the last time. 

Monday: Just woke up ate said goodbye and left. The MTC went by really quick but I am excited to fly and and it will be cool to have a lay over because I've never had one before. On the plane I talked to Clay, Lucy which are 2 Jewish people that were way nice and it made the flight go by fast!!!! And I can't wait to get to know my trainer and see what all I am in store for in Cali!!!

Love you all!!! Have good week!!!

Pics: 1 and 2- Travel stuff!!

3 and 4- Packages from home!!!

5 and 6 temple on Tuesday!!!

7 my amazing district 

Provo MTC

 Hope you all are doing well, and had a fantastic week like I did. Hope to hear about all of your adventures! 

Monday: P-Day was great. I was able to go down and meet my companion in West Jordan. We played Ultimate Frisbee and Corn Hole(we are pros), then ate dinner with his grandparents and cousins. Elder Jackson is awesome and I am so happy that he is my companion! Shout out to Mallory and my mom for driving me all that way so I could meet him.

Tuesday: Day was full of packing and in the end I hope that I got everything, so I don't have to make a last minute stop at Walmart like my older brothers had to lol.  After packing I went and played pickle ball with some friends and said my last goodbyes. Which was really sad but I hope that they will still want to come say hi to me in 2 short years :) 

Wednesday: WHAT A DAY!!! I woke up ready to go to the MTC, but I had to wait until 11:00 leave. The whole morning I was freaking out and worrying about what I was forgetting but I didn't end up adding things in so lets hope I have stuff. then we left the house and headed to Provo to eat lunch. We ate at Tucanos and it was delicious. It was awesome to spend a last lunch with the fam. Then I was dropped me off and it was such a hard goodbye! But I know that it'll all be worth it. Then I met with my district and I love them!! They are so awesome! Then we ate dinner and went to a devo. The devo was awesome and I learned so much!! Then me and my district wondered around and took some cool pics. 

Thursday: It was a great day and I learned a lot. In my morning class we learned about the first vision and how to better teach it. Then me and Elder Jackson did a workshop about inviting others to take responsibility of their own learning, and was way cool!! Then that night we met with our branch president and he was way cool. We found out who our zone leaders, district leaders, and sister training leaders are gonna be. I was chosen as the senior companion which is super cool. Then for our workout we went and played b-ball as a district and it was way fun. 

Friday- In our morning class we talked about how to meet others on the street, which will be helpful. Then me and Elder Jackson had a teaching appointment and it went pretty well. It was awesome to see the way that the Spirit guided the lesson in the direction that was needed.

Saturday- Went on a good run! In my morning class we talked about Jesus and the Garden of Gethsemane and how Jesus Christ knows how we feel. Then we wrote a thank you letter to Jesus and the spirit that I felt during that was amazing. 

Sunday- Awesome day full of the Spirit. We talked about the Atonement in Priesthood and the Sacrament talks were on it as well. Then we had a Go and Do experience which is where we went for 2 hours and studied about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was such a cool spiritual experience and I felt so close to my Savior and felt the love that he has for me. Then we had a devo about faith and how faith=amount of miracles. They may not come right away but we will receive blessings for having faith. 

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!!!!!!!!

1. Elder Reagan(not the one pictured) drew cartoons of members of district

2 and 4. Cool study spots 

3. Cool plan of salvation drawing

4 District 

Elder Reynolds meeting Elder Jackson and his family in West Jordan

 

First Full Week of Home MTC

 Hello, friends and family!! I hope that you all had a great week! Let me tell you about my amazing week!

Monday: 4th of July was great and if you read my last email then you know how that went

Tuesday: In my morning class we talked about how to study for somebody, and how to teach and be led by the spirit. Also how we need to love others and as we do so we will be blessed immensly. Then we had a welcome devotional about our missionary purpose and it was amazing, and I felt of the love that he has for me and all of his children. We had a devotional review that night and while doing that me and my district got to know each other super well!!

Wednesday: Another great day that I was able to have companionship study and grow closer to Elder Jackson more and get to know him and I can't wait to meet him in person! The biggest thing that stuck out to me in both classes that I had was that we are in the service of God and he will put those that are ready in our paths. Me and Elder Jackson had our first teaching appointment and it was so scary!! But we were able to answer some questions and looking back on it, it went a lot better than I thought. I was able to go to the temple with my family and we did Sealings, Inititory, and Baptisms, and it was awesome!!!!

Thursday: We had a morning devo about emotional resilliance and it was nice to hear the ways that othes deal with that. I am currently doing great emotionally, but I still feel that I don't know enough to teach, but am getting more confident each day. I had my second teaching appointment and it went a lot better than my first and it was cool to feel the Spirit guide me and Elder Jackson through it all!!

Friday: Another great day and I learned a lot about teaching through facebook, and posting on their as well, and making the posts effective. I went to Mallory's soccer game and it was nice to get out of the house. 

Saturday: I helped clean the church,then had a class about evaluating how me and Elder Jackson taught and we were able to laugh at ourselves but also recognize that it went a lot better than we thought. 

Sunday: It was a great day! I went to 2 farewells, one for Karter Kennington and the other was for Levi Jackman. It was awesome to hear their testimonies and I know they're going be great missionaries. A new couple in our ward talked about missionary work and one quote that stuck out to me was, "Don't let fear get in the way of a life time of blessings" He was talking about how many don't go on missions because they are scared. I am still scared but I know the Lord will help me through it all!!!

Overall: It was such a fun week full of classes, and one thing I thought was awesome was me and my district had a goodnight prayer and it was awesome to see how close we were able to grow together and I can't wait to meet them on Wednesday! Please email me about how your week went! 

Love you all and hope you have an awesome week!!!!!!

Pics:

1 and 2: pics with my district 

3. Me and Elder Kennington

4. Elders in our ward after dinner on saturday

5. Mallory's soccer game 

6. Temple trip with the fam!

First Day of Home MTC

 If you are seeing this it means that I survived my first full day at the home MTC. It has been a wonderful experience and I am excited to continue to get to know my district, my companion, and become a better missionary!!

My companion is Elder Jackson, he is from a small town in Oregon and loves his farm life and family. He is called to serve in California Ventura mission as well and is a great guy and I can't wait to get to know him and study with him.  

I have 13 other people in my district and they are all wonderful people and I can't wait to get to know them and serve with them for these next few weeks! 

Today in my first class which was taught by Sister Seal, we got to know our district a little bit and then talked about our purpose as missionaries. Which is to invite others to come unto christ and help them to feel the love that our Heavenly Father has for them. We also learned and practiced how to invite someone to be baptized which was a really cool experience. While practicing that with Elder Jackson I was able to feel of the love that our heavenly father has for all of us and his children, and the importance of baptism.  

In my second class we learned a little bit more about our purpose and how to serve others well. It was really focused on serving others and seeing how as we serve others and love them, we will grow more ourselves than we could have ever imagined. 

After all that craziness I played some board games with my family, then went and got some slushies!!!! 

I know that this is the work that I need to be doing, and these are exerpiences that my Heavenly Father wants me to have, so that I can become a better missionary and serve and bless others. Hope you all have a great 4th of July and a fantastic week! Love you all and I'll talk to you guys next week!

Pictures

1. My district 

2. Also my district 

3. Board games with fam 

4. Home MTC

A few extra pictures added by mom:

Nathan's Missionary Setting Apart 7-3-22