MTC Life

So first of all I would like to say I have the best district ever. We have a bunch of cool Elders (dudes) Elder Mikesell (me), Elder Blommeart (my comp who is a canadian) (also it sounds like walmart but Blommeart) Elder Hart (district leader and just a chill guy who loves winnie the pooh and plays lacrosse/ hits the gym a lot) Elder Walker (6'7" and does NOT!! play basketball) Elder Erekson (he came from across the street from my grandparents so I can talk Cache valley with him) and Elder Santiago (plays baseball and has a full ride to Oregon for baseball). Overall really awesome guys who love the gospel and are pretty sick. The sisters are also pretty cool but I can't go into too much detail with them cause I don't know them as well: Sister Kearl (from Mantua so I can still talk Cache valley with her) Sister Bodily, Sister Lau, and Sister Keogh (like Keeo and she's from Scotland and it's crazy weird to hear her do a murica accent). My branch presidency is pretty awesome as well with President Judd and his wife, Brother Gallacher and his, and Brother Nielson and his. Brother Gallacher is an awesome guy who was a convert as a kid and has a stellar testimony. He also came into our dorm and kinda gave a parable about how your priesthood is like a horse and how you need to take care of it like a horse. It was powerful and moving.

So the spiritual thought for today is there's this thing called the TRC (Training Resource Center) where we teach investigators. Elder Blommeart and I had a real tough lesson and we were having a tough time with it. Afterwards we were sitting on this bench working things out and still having a hard time (not a good combo) and these two Elders come up and said that they felt inspired to talk to us. That was pretty awesome in itself and they talked to us about what happened then one of them pulled out this scripture somewhere in 2nd Nephi 32.? something to the effect of angels speak by the power of the spirit and to search the scriptures and ye shall know what to do. That hit me hard and I started tearing up. To add onto that when we got to the classroom we were singing For the Beauty of the Earth (now one of my top ten) and that just got deep down in my heart and I couldn't finish the song cause I was just going to break down. The spirit is real. Companionships are ordained of God. Peace out.

P.S. if any of you are expecting a personal email from me I don't have much time so i'll have to catch you sometime later. The MTC life has no time for rest. Except for today when we all secretly took a 2 hour nap :D

Crazy, Not Crazy

*We got a letter from Elder Mikesell today that he wrote on his first day at the MTC and we want to share*

I got into the MTC fine. I'm doing great and my district is one of the best.  We may not be crazy and crazy fun but I've got good hopes for these guys.  My comp is Elder Blomert like Walmart but Blomert.  He's from Edmonton Alberta Canada and is going back to Canada with half of my district including me.  The other half is going to London which is interesting.  I also forgot my sandals which is too bad but I'll survive.

So right when you saw me get taken away my host took me to my dorm.  After that I went straight to my classroom and met my comp.  We then went to this big meeting.  After that we had dinner which was fairly good.  Hopefully it's all you can eat like people were saying but it was fairly filling.  Sam they have strawberries and lots of them.  And they were pretty good.  After we had dinner we went straight to teaching investigators in a big group form.  It was interesting and we met some interesting people.  Most of your time spent at the MTC is at the classroom you're assigned to right when you get there.

I love you all and be good and have fun.
-Calvin Mikesell

Contact Information

For those of you who were not able to get contact information for Calvin and want it, I thought I would include it here.

Letters and packages:
Canada Winnipeg Mission
Elder Calvin K. Mikesell
505 Academy Road
Winnipeg, MB  R3N 0C9
Canada

Email:
calvin.mikesell@myldsmail.net

Here are some pictures from right before we dropped him off at the MTC.

My first P-day

It's not my first p-day but it might as well be. I've been washing and emailing like most missionaries do on their p-days and if I get lucky i'll be able to play a game or go and do something fun as well.  Be expecting my first email from my mission next week but until then live long and prosper.

Elder Mikesell