Week 1

April 26, 2018

If you're reading this, I love you. If you've already stopped reading, I still love you.

I've wanted to serve a mission for as long as I could remember. I knew I was going to serve a mission just as long. But it never quite hit me what going on a mission takes until you actually go on one.

I left my family, my friends, my fortnite.

I left my games, my phone, and my worldly things.

My casual clothes, my afro.

I left my wasted time. There's no such thing as down time here at the MTC. If there's any open time on your schedule you go to a chair, you sit down & you study The Book of Mormon.

My first day here was 178% absolutely the slowest day of my entire life. I had breakfast with my best friend, my Grammy. I walked around the Provo temple with my parent's around noon. My parents drove me to the MTC and we went down to the parking garage and there was about 12 seconds to say goodbye. I was ushered out of the garage by my host and he took my luggage and walked me up the stairs into the main building. There I received my nametag, 184940 pamphlets, and my room key.

It was a slow emotional day for me being so homesick. I met my district then we went straight into companionships and began gospel study. The teacher went right into mission rules and mission policies and mission experiences. I was comforted so quickly after entering the MTC.

Day 2 - took forever but finally came. Not quite as slow but definitely was hitting me that my family was gone and that I had to accept where I was. Classes were great, when I was focused, other then that another slow day.

Day 3 - it was a click of a switch and time began flyin. We got so close to the other district and they left on Tuesday. (A district contains 4 companionships, 4 elders & 4 sisters, there are usually 10-15 districts in a zone. We are now the only district in the entire zone.) Anyways the sisters and elders started bonding better & the spirit was so strong everywhere we went. I was so caught up in wanting to learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ, that before I knew it day 4 came around.

Day 4 - I got interviewed by our branch president (he is the president over the entire zone) he's like 65 & 6'6" aha. He met with me and told me he felt inspired to call me as the district leader. It was pretty dope. I got to plan the Sunday schedules, assign who gave the lessons & prayer and I had to get to church at 7am to meet with the branch presidency and talk about members in the district and how they were doing.

I LOVE MY DISTRICT. THEY ARE SO SWEET AND FUN AND OH MY GOSH I JUST LOVE THEM.

Day 5 - My first Sunday was pretty dope. It was so spiritual, but made me miss home a lot because I never go to church without my family.

Day 6 - The branch presidency met with me again and called me to be the zone leader!! That was dope too! The other district in our zone had 2 elders that were the previous ZL's & they were amazing examples. Spiritual, fun, loving elders. Elder Zemp & Elder Owen (from Roseville ward grandma)

Day 7- Today was the MTC devotional! We got to hear from the apostle Elder D. Todd. Christofferson. It was so powerful. I was sitting the far back & an usher walked over to me and my companion, Elder Scott & said "YOU elders follow me right now." Assuming because companions always had to follow each other I was hoping it was elder Scott in trouble and I just got asked to follow cuz he needed a companion ...NOPE I as wrong. He put us on the 2nd row right in front of the apostle. He walked out and gave an amazing talk on personal revelation. He mentioned how after President Monson had passed away; he knew the pattern in which another apostle would be called as prophet. But he emphasized that through personal revelation from the Holy Ghost, he KNEW that the apostle called was called of God.

P.s. he definitely smiled and winked at me aha

2nd Row

Day 8 - The other district left & I was pretty sad :( me and elder Owen were twins and got pretty close, but it was so enlightening to me to know he was going out to serve the Lord just as I will.  This evening the apostle Elder Christofferson's cousin President Christofferson wanted to meet with me & the sisters training leaders of our district. (Turns our he makes pens and has a pen that was given to him by his nephew. He made the same one for Elder Christofferson) He said that he had 6 new missionaries coming in in the evening he wanted our ZL & STL to introduce them and make them feel welcome! It as so fun :) I hope they feel welcome cuz our ZL & STL made us feel so welcome.

Anyways that brings me to today :) there's my SUPER MEGA DOPE week for ya. I'll send more pictures later today of my district. But here are a few.

I love you. I love you all. I bare you my testimony that I KNOW God loves you. I know that he has a plan for us. I know that as we strive to become more like the Savior Jesus Christ we will strengthen our relationship with our Father in Heaven. If you don't know your purpose here on earth that's absolutely okay, but I invite you to try and understand that you have a purpose. I cannot wait to get to Missouri and share the message of the gospel with them. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

He ran into Cassidy Radigan in the MTC!

Out in front of the Provo Temple

The famous MTC map

Always about those biceps

He will forever be able to do the splits, even in a suit!

P.S.

ohhh yeah!!!!!!!

The PEOPLE FOR PURPOSE activity. they brought in non member/'investigators and sat them in front of us and had them share their stories with us. then anyone could raise their hand, get the microphone passed to them, then you have a discussion with them and answer gospel questions they might have. 

anyways, this girl explained how she works with special needs children, and that she has friends that are members that say they have a relationship with god but she didn't want to have one because she thought god was a cruel god and would be mad at her for decisions she has made.

i immediately stood up and asked her 

you said you work with special needs children right?

"yes"

Do you love those children you work with?

"yes i love them with all of my heart."

and if they were to do something wrong or disappoint you, would you ever be mad at them?

"...no of course not.:"

i said, Hannah, I know that God loves you. i know that he has a plan for you. i know you may not feel you have a relationship with him, but i know you have one. you have to find it. 

she began to cry and i told her that there is nothing she has done wrong, there is nothing she has done or ever will do that God wont forgive her for. I told her that as she seeks to be more Christ like, and turns to God in prayer, that she will find that relationship she's been searching for.

It was pretty friggin spiritual

i had absolutely no idea what i was going to say when i rose my hand, but i absolutely did know that i needed to follow the prompting i received from the holy ghost. it didnt just warm my heart, it said loud and clear, 'Elder Newbold, you have been called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints, Hannah needs to hear you speak."

it was probably the best day ive had here. idk how i forgot to write you guys about it

Love you and this gospel is soooooo true.