First week at the MTC and Zone Leader!

I have met Sister Laird and Sister Darlington both.  It was nice to see a familiar face.  My days are mostly busy.  Lots of class time, lots of study time, some teaching appointments, and of course meals.  The food here is usually awesome, and though I didn't sleep well or eat well the first few days, my appetite and sleep schedule are back to normal.  Surprisingly enough, I haven't had that much cereal yet, but I have had some. I try to balance my diet, but I still get probably more sugar and fats and whatnot than I should. I usually grab a salad with most meals, and I only allow myself soda at lunch or dinner. I am sort of getting enough water, trying anyway. 

The Elders were right, Gym time is awesome, everyone in our zone is becoming fast friends and we are becoming a killer volleyball team haha.  It's fun.

Sundays in the MTC are amazing! The sacrament has never meant so much to me.  We are able to watch devotional talks/church films on Sunday nights.  I'm not sure if you heard about "The Character of Christ", given by Elder Bednar, but it is soooooo good!  As far as feeling the spirit goes, I initially struggled with feeling the spirit as I studied and thought, but that has been fixed.  

I have already participated in multiple priesthood blessings, there have been a couple Missionaries in the zone who have really struggled. One of them might even get sent home on honorable medical release because of major anxiety.  I am doing well though, and loving serving others through teaching and my calling as Zone Leader.   That's right, Elder Hernandez and I are the zone leaders for our Mission Training Center group, and we love it. We have become fast friends over even just the first few days.  He is going to be an oil tycoon later in life (studying petroleum engineering)  We got new Elders last night, after losing the district who trained us, now we are training the new ones. 

The spirit is so strong here and I have truly come to rely on it. The spirit guided 100% and we managed to commit both of our investigators to baptism in their second lesson through the spirit guiding.  It is amazing what the spirit can do, so that has been great. Sometimes when the time is right it just comes busting through the wall like the Kool aid man. Anyway, life is good and I am enjoying the Mission Training Center.

Love, Elder Brown

Standing on the Mission field across from the
Mission Training CenterE

Saying good bye to my Parents
on the Provo Temple grounds.

Elder Brown with parents being dropped off at the Mission Training Center

Elder Hernandez (first companion) and Elder Jaren Brown

Mission Training Center

View from one of the New Buildings Windows in the Mission Training Center

The new buildings of the Mission Training Center

My first Zone

My District

Just the Elders in my district

There are some awesome murals in the new buildings, and ponder rooms that play soft piano music with inspirational messages and murals on the walls, they are super awesome!  Here is a picture of one of the murals, Moses I "The Red Sea", (the sisters aren't with us, we just got caught in the picture and they were kind enough to send the picture to us)