Almost time to leave the MTC

What up, Fam?!

So, this past week went by super fast. It was insane. Mom, I haven't got your DearElder but I hope I do because I wanna hear from you. I'll keep my eye out for the letter. Tell Laura thanks for her letter. And did Ben really quit Papa Murphy's? Because Aubrey's letter said that he was still working but I got a letter from him saying he quit (he only gave Andrew a 10 min. notice...typical) and that he now works at Wal-Mart. But I don't really know...

A lot of things have happened and I'm going to put in the important things obviously. So, here it goes...

I'll start out with the fun stuff. I realized I haven't been doing that lately but some recent events finally convinced me to let you know how we spend our nights. So, we do a lot of different things for entertainment but last night, I have to say, was one of the best. A rap battle (don't worry, it was clean) was staged between Anziano Larson and Anziano Wilson. Now, the reason why we got to a rap battle was because last week we had the Mexican missionaries move onto our floor. It used to be empty for about four weeks and it was nice because it was just us Italians and there were more showers to use, but for some reason, some of the Italians aren't gettin' along with the Mexicans...so this is what happened. Anziano Skinner, who is from Treemont, Utah (he is a total cowboy. His cowboy talk is amazing!) dressed up like a G and strutted down the hallway in our Residence Halls and did four pull-ups with the Mexican missionaries watching. He totally acted like he owned the place and strutted back to our hallway. All of us were laughing so hard because he looked like an idiot with aviators, a bandanna wrapped around his arm, and dog-tags hanging from his neck. So funny! We then sent down two more Anziani dressed like G's and they did pull-ups, acting like they're all tough and everything, and all the Mexican missionaries just watched. It was so funny because the Mexican missionaries didn't say a word! Anyway, two of our Anziani decided to have a rap battle and this is how they set it up last night. Anziano Skinner grabbed his suit jacket and stuck up the collars to look like an officiator, Anziano Driggs was something like an announcer. You know how in boxing matches and stuff you have the announcer go, "Round Twooo!"? Anziano Driggs was the announcer for each verse. Anziano Dean, Anziano Warnick, and some other Anziani would lay down the beat. Ya, it was pretty cool. We then had the audience we consisted of the other Anziani (including me) and we just all acted like we were G's watching a rap battle. And the rap was terrible (it actually made the whole thing hilarious because the rhymes were horrible. Just smack talk) but it was the funniest thing that has happened here among us Italians. Loved it.   

Last night we had Elder Anderson come talk to us. Ya, I know right! Another apostle! And he talked about Love and Sacrifice. He said a phrase that he wanted all of us missionaries to remember. I'm going to paraphrase it: "You sacrifice for the things you love and you love the things you sacrifice". Perplexing, right? Anyway, his talk was thought provoking, but he promised us that we would have blessings if he stick out the trials and the afflictions. He connected that with Love and Sacrifice and what Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father did for us. It was top notch. One thing I noticed about Apostles lately, and I thought that it was interesting, is that they know how to take control of the situation and direct it anyway they want. They'll cut people off, or insert a comment, something. But it isn't impolite how they do it...they're just assertive. If they want something to go the way they want they assert themselves and get the job done. They know how to lead the situation. Just an observation.  

I got my travel itinerary!! We're supposed to gather at the travel office at 5:30 in the morning on Tues. Sep 3. We leave SLC around 10:45 and head to Chicago, which we then leave later in the afternoon on a direct flight to London and then we end up in Milan around noon Italian time. I think. But ya, exciting!!! And I got a letter from my Mission President and, I thought this was weird, but he promised me that I would confront a variety of challenges. He promised me that. Not really comforting but, you know, I'm a missionary. He also wants me to write down my goals as a missionary. And that got me thinking about working to be outward. I still freeze up when I'm trying to decide to talk to a stranger or not! I just don't know what to do! So I might put down the goal of reaching the point of casually talking to people. To anyone. I really want to do that.

Teaching this past week has been tough!! Collega and I have been a little rocky ever since I got the musical number. One of our teachers, Sorella 'Momma' Urban, because she really is a mother to all of us, made Collega and I sit in a room to figure things out because our lessons haven't been the best lately. I finally decided that I like doing missionary work but I don't necessarily like being THE missionary. It's hard to work with someone, especially when they share some personality characteristics, but they don't share the things you think is important that can reach the same end goal. I don't like it. And if it's also how marriage is like...I'm not looking forward to being married either. I might buy a dog instead. Anyway, we finally got things figured out and we're doing better on our lesson plans and stuff. Things are looking up. 

So, I love you and I miss you guys! In fact, you're the only people I write. No one else writes me, expect Ben did once. Shows who your friends are. I saw Spencer a few times here and he seems excited to be going to Iowa. One of the very first things he told me was that he has been getting two page DearElder's from his girlfriend every day. I started laughing because that's not going to last long. I even told him that but he seemed too high in the clouds. One thing I'm grateful for is not having a girlfriend. I honestly don't know how elders do it when they have one. The environment doesn't allow something like that. But I don't have to worry about it.

Love ya!!!

Ethan and part of his MTC district on a "temple walk."

Ethan and his companion, Elder Pinnock

Ethan and all of his buddies from American Fork High School....so far....

Ethan - MTC Letter Week 3 -- Spelling intact :-)

First thing first. I have Laura's charger but I can't find mine. Are you sure you put the gray one in the backpack? Because I can't find it... And yes, I did get the letter from Grandpa. I actually keep it close to me because I love the experience of the piano player. It helps me to stay focused. Tell Grandpa thank you!! Also, the snackage is amazing!!!!! That granola saved my life on Sunday because the cafeteria for breakfast is just sugar cereal. And those almonds are so good!! Where did you get them? Tell Cari thank you for the cookies. Those are a life-saver too. You would not believe the weight problems here. 

I know! Three more weeks! The days are somewhat long but the weeks do go by fast. I'm somewhat excited and also nervous. I mean, I'm going to be living in Italy for the next 22 months...and speaking Italian. Hopefully. Also, we got a new district leader! And guess who it is? Collega! I'm so proud of him!  

The language is coming along. We can actually have a conversation with everything we've learned within the past three weeks. Even better, to teach a lesson. Pretty good, right? Collega and I actually got to talk to an Italian native from Genova! He spoke so fast that both of us just stared blankly at him but then he realized we've only had three weeks to learn the language so he slowed down. A lot. Still had trouble understanding him but it was a good experience.

Last night we had Elder Scott talk at the Tuesday Night Devotional! It was so cool! And I've been singing in the choir so that was a cool experience too. But here's the best part. Elder Scott gave the missionaries at all the MTCs around the world an apostolic blessing. Twice. And both blessings were for the gift of tongues. Flippin' sweet!! It was such a spiritual experience! He also added a cool thing about sisters serving missions. He promised the sisters that for their service they would have eternal families and the right husbands. It's a big promise. A side note for the lil' sis.

So, today, we got to go to the temple!! And the new temple video is amazing! You'll like it. You need to go if you haven't yet. After going through the temple, I've felt so much comfort and peace, and I'll explain what's been happening this past week. So remember when I bore my testimony about serving a mission when Austin told me that our song was going on the radio? Well, one of the Branch Presidency members was present at that meeting and I guess my name went to the top. Now, they want me to do a special musical number this Sunday! And I haven't really played these past few weeks! All I've really been doing today was practicing an easy arrangement of "Nearer My God To Thee". Okay, it's not easy but more intermediate. I don't have that much time to learn a good arrangement so...I even changed up the ending so it sounded better. More professional. Collega isn't really happy sitting with me while I'm playing the piano. Actually, he's fine with it. He just reads the scriptures and stuff. Anyway, I've been nervous since last Sunday because these public performances don't go very well for me. But going through the temple helped me a lot. I just learned I needed to have faith and God will bless my piano playing. It's like the piano player Grandpa wrote to me about. 

Thank you for the letter you sent me earlier this week! I knew you would agree with me about Elder Bednar's talk. I'm still trying to shift my whole perspective where I can be outward. I guess I need to talk to more people. At least get comfortable with it. As a missionary I'll have to talk to more people. I love your thoughts, mom.

There's something that's really satisfying I want to talk about. Everyone in my district has been experiencing some kind of trial that really backs them up to the wall of faith. I had one a few weeks earlier but some other fellow anziani have been experiencing hard things too. When I first got here I didn't know my collega or anyone else. In fact, only two anziani knew each other before the mission in the district. One of our teachers told us one day that she sincerely believes that our district was formed in the pre-earth life. Now here gets the interesting part. Several of the anziani in the district said that everyone looked familiar when we first met each other but none of us but two have ever known or seen each other!!! We've only known each other for three weeks and within those three weeks every single one of us have experienced all kind of emotions on the spectrum! Not only that but we've also given blessings of the afflicted and comfort (according to the situation) to each other simply because we feel the bond of friendship and love! It's such a crazy way to live!! I'm not even sure who I'm going to be when I get home or if I'm going to be emotionally wrecked. There's only so much a man can take...

Tell dad that I'll try write him if I have time. I've still got to do laundry so I'll shoot him an e-mail. And I'll still send the charger. Also tell him that I'll try to send some pics. My money situation is fine. 

Tell the fam I love them and I miss them!!

Love,

Anziano West  

After 1 week at the MTC

Here are some highlights from his next letter on July 31.  One week after entering the MTC...this is proof that the Lord wants his young men serving missions.


So, this past week has been insane!!!!!! We've been teaching in Italian (sort of. Its more like caveman style) but I've realized its the Spirit you need in the lessons. Not the language. Oh, and you need to see a talk by Elder Bednar called, The Characters of Christ. It will blow you away. A lot of the Elders have said it changed their lives! And it certainly will go in hand in hand with what you and I have been talking about. Especially about opening our hearts. You just need to see it!!!! It was a Christmas MTC devotional a few years ago. So, if you can find it!

I'm not going to lie the past four days have been the hardest days of my life!! But when Sunday came around and we took the sacrament...its almost as if the Lord or I don't know! I felt like I was given comfort and filled with the Spirit to face the next two years!....

I feel like I need to share this small trial I had these past two days. I certainly feel changed by it. So earlier this week I got a letter from Austin. Remember that song we wrote in Cali. Sorry about the punctuation. The keyboard is in Russian or something so bear with me. Anyway, Austin knew this guy in High School who signed onto one of the largest studios in LA! Austin ran into him at a mission farewell and invited him to his house for a recording session. Austin showed him our song and he wants to take it and put it on the radio!!!!! As a girl and rapper duo duet thing. But a song that I helped to write is going to be on the radio later this year!!!!! Its like a dream come true for me!!! I was so excited! But then it sunk in that I'm barely on a mission and I wont be there with Austin to see it happen. I was so bummed out. I wrestled with myself because that's what I always wanted to do! But I also knew that I needed to be on a mission. I was hating life!!! I didn't know what to do. Last night was the Tues. night devotional and we had a former General Seventy talk to us and I don't remember his name, but he said something important that sunk into me. He quoted Winston Churchill and it was about one moment in time when someone is tapped on the shoulder to do what they needed to do. And if they didn't do what they needed to do, and shirked from their duty, then amen to that man. What we do now will echo in eternity. Even if its one person in Milan that I help then I have done what I was called to do. I shared my experience with my district last night after the devotional and I was crying when I bore my testimony. I'm okay now but a little tender. Funny thing is that when I shared my experience and everyone gave me a hug and stuff, it was more like our district was growing more closer together then they giving me comfort. A few of the Elders even said they loved everyone in the district. Anyway, I don~t know whats happening to me but I'm sure everything is going to be okay.

Here's the latest from Elder West after three days in the MTC.

"....I've been so busy!  Everyday I wake up, get ready for the day, and get to work.  It's crazy!  Can't even stop to get a breather.  My whole district feels insanely tired after each day with Italian phrases swirling around in our heads...

I love my district.  They all contribute to get through the day.  I guess we have each other to lean on.  Anyway, we started to teach our first investigator, name Dina.  This was, of course, role-playing...Elder Pinnock and I taught our first lesson with her on Friday (July 26) and it was terrible.  Spirit was not there, we could not understand her, and we could not communicate.  Later, during our daily planning session, we decided to have better preparation in our lesson plan because our first lesson was finished in five minutes!  We were supposed to teach for 20!  We also decided we needed the Spirit, big time, for our next lesson the next day.  That was they key goal.  So we had our next visit with Dina the next day (July 27) and we taught about the Restoration.  We had an opening and a closing prayer, which, in Italian, it's kinda different to say, but that helped to set up the Spirit.  Then, when Anziano (Elder) Pinnock read the First Vision....BAM!  The Spirit raised the roof!  Dina believed our testimonianze and we even committed her to come to church, read the Joseph Smith History, and to pray to see if Joseph Smith was a true Profeta and if the Book of Mormon was true.  It felt so good to teach and have someone accept it!  It was amazing!  I was actually feeling kinda homesick that morning but after teaching I was on a spiritual high.  If I can do that throughout my mission, I know that I can enjoy it....