I don't know why I started like that cause I'm definitely English speaking and am reminded of that tender mercy every single day, but HOLA. HELLO. HI. Yes, if you have received this e-mail it means that Elder Boyd has survived to P Day. Hallelujah. So, I have a lot to tell you in about 60 minutes, so buckle up my tender friends, cause here we go.
First of all, may it be said, that I am allowed to read my emails every single day, and I couldn't be more appreciative for the letters and updates and emails that have been sent. I've reached that point in the MTC where reading from home strengthens and uplifts me, and I have truly been blessed with some of the best family and friends a humble Elder could have. So PLEASE email me throughout the week if you want, cause I almost reward myself by reading your emails after being super spiritual. :)
ON TO THE REPORTS, and because I have a photographic memory this may be a little detailed (you're welcome mom. :))
Let's start at the beginning, shall we? That's a splendiferous place to start. My journey here was a wild one, to say the least. Not TWO MINUTES into it, I got tagged by airport security for their semiannual random technology search, lucky me. So, that was thoroughly riveting. And THEN when I got to my gate, I noticed that the screen said Tampa Bay Florida, but I, however, have never been to Florida and didn't intend to attend an MTC that didn't exist, so I got suspicious. TURNS OUT, the gates switched, and I had to go 0 to 100 REAL QUICK like I had to board in 10 minutes, and travel across the airport to take the appropriate gate.
Along the way, I met some members who identified me because, duh, who wears a suit in the airport...pssh... MEN CALLED OF GOD, THAT'S WHO. So, they were lovely and sympathized in the sweat race to our proper terminal. Once I boarded, I met ANOTHER MEMBER (bam, tender mercies of the Lord) whose name was Kent.. but get this.. he was also a redhead.. and he served in Guatemala on his mission.. and he wore glasses. Basically, he looked like me, and went to dad's mission, so that was an adventure. He slept most the time though, so I didn't learn much else. Then when I arrived at the airport I heard a rather handsome man's name resounding through the PA system of the airport. "Jeremy Boyd can you please report to the office." So yeah I basically got called to the airport principals office and then discovered that I had no transportation, so some were arranged, and my shuttle driver was Mormon and he was great and had some stellar advice... BUT LEMME TELL YOU ABOUT THE ACTUAL MTC.
I arrived. I was hungry. I was confused. I had but an orange dot on my name tag, some orange hair on my head, and an eye single to the glory of the cafeteria. The food here is LEGENDAARY (or should I say, Legen"dairy" ha.. ha.. ha. sorry.) They have a special diet room for those with allergies and even a menu that is perfectly catered to those who are lactose challenged like I. Its basically the celestial kingdom of diet rooms. And I eat like.. everything.. like.. not kidding... I've gained 9 pounds...I weighed myself this morning. THEY EVEN HAVE DAIRY FREE PIZZA, LIKE WOW. I eat like three plates of food, and I'm not even kidding. Elder Boyd ain't as small as you left him. And I don't really feel sick after I eat, so it's just another testament that the Lord blesses his children, and he has certainly blessed me with the ability to eat so well, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
Let me tell you about my companions, that's right, I'm in a trio. Elder S. and Elder W. Elder S. is from South Jordan Utah. He's 6'4. He's a beast on the basketball court, loves stuffed Twizzlers, he's a compassionate and quiet man, but has such a way with people and an incredible testimony. He's also going to Louisiana Baton Rouge. And he is ALSO a Zone Leader. Elder W. is from Vancouver Washington (REPRESENT). He's 6'3. He's ALSO a beast on the basketball court. He's very mature and is so crazy good at asking questions and making transitions in lessons. He just understands what he supposed to do and does it. He's also going to the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission, so we're all very excited to eat fried food and speak in our Southern drawls.
There's a saying we all have here at the MTC- the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. It's so true. Like, I absolutely love class.. not everyone does.. and I'll tell you some spiritual stuff in a moment... but the days are busy, yeah? But they feel long until you realize it's 9:00 at night and you have two ginger snaps waiting for you in the dorm, and its time for bed.
However, I love it here. I feel so spiritually safe. And I've learned so much.
I've come to the knowledge that we honestly take the Holy Ghost coupled with prayer for granted. Like, seriously... we're the preachers but the Holy Ghost is the teacher. We need to establish a spirit-conducive environment wherein we lie between that ideal spiritual frequency so we can heed to the promptings we're given, and act on them. Here's an example: We taught a lesson to this guy name "Olegsander". We prayed before we went in, but when we were in the lesson, something just didn't feel right. We planned on teaching him about the Restoration and therefore prepared this intricate and detailed lesson to give him. Don't plan everything. That was our first mistake. We need to make ROOM in our plans for the Holy Ghost because it is only through him that we can teach what the investigators need to hear, not what we want to teach them. It's not about us. We need to lose ourselves in the work, but if we try looking for ourselves, we won't find a change. If we are anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord, he will work on us. He already is. God helps the man who helps himself, and I truly believe that. We are not GREAT because of this calling, we become great as we magnify our calling.
Anyways, "Oleg" didn't believe in God, and when we invited him to pray, he said: "how can I pray, if I don't believe in God?" We should've recognized that and realize instead what he needed... the basics. We couldn't teach him about the Restoration of the Gospel if he didnt believe in the power through which it was restored. We left the lesson feeling deflated. Come to find out: WE FORGOT TO GIVE AN OPENING PRAYER. We didn't invite the Spirit and therefore, we were teaching of our own accord.. never do that. It's not our Gospel to teach it's his; HOWEVER, in every situation, there is a positive.
Later that night we had another meeting with an awesome brother named "Quinn." We had no plan, but we remembered to pray. I could feel the Holy Spirit directing my thoughts and my actions. We had scriptures. References. We bore testimony and testified of Christ. It was so powerful. The Holy Ghost is real people. And we all have the capacity to access His power.
Let me tell you another awesome thing: MTC Choir. The Sisters want me to sing a solo because they love my voice, and I dragged everyone to the choir. So, I may sing in Sacrament meeting one of these days? We'll see. Anyways. We're singing "This is the Christ." It's impeccable. Through this song alone, my testimony of the Savior has been so exemplified. I know he is real. I know he is alive. I know he suffered for our sins that THROUGH him and him alone, we may be saved through our faith in him and our obedience to the laws and principles of the Gospel. I've learned that our entire lives will be blessed because of this decision (the decision I've made to come out here). Not just a little bit after. Our. Whole. Lives. That's powerful. This Gospel is powerful.
Another cool story: I was in the Shower and some Elder started singing ET by Katy Perry...that's what I thought too. Reverently, I closed my eyes and hummed "Come Come Ye Saints." I didn't even get to the chorus before I realized that he was humming along too. Music is so powerful. The Spirit that is brought through it is irreplaceable.
Hmmm, to answer some more questions: I sleep well, I love mornings, I feel better, I GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE TODAY, I love my district, I love the work I'm called to do, I love the scriptures and the doctrines we learn about and thank you for all your prayers. If you're struggling with homesickness: I've really prayed about it.. alot.. and I certainly miss you all.. but turn outwards. Honestly. you're feeling sad on the inside, help someone else on the outside. That is the Character of Christ. I've learned so much here. I've taken so many notes. But the best thing I've learned is that when we emulate Christ, he will be with us. I am not just a missionary. I'm a representative of Jesus Christ. And it is with him that I do this work.
Also, my birthday was nothing special except the kind letters and emails you all sent me. I decided that it wasn't my day... every day here is the Lord's... and so it shouldn't be dedicated to me, but to him. Read some conference talks if you need help.
Pray. I love you all so much. Honestly. You're all my favorite people and my love for you each has grown so impossibly more with each and every day. I can't wait to talk to you more.
Can't wait to talk to you next week. Please email me this week. lt helps so much.
GO SERVE SOMEONE. Hopefully, this was enough detail and info for now. I'll come back next week with even more. We can do this. Together. We can do hard things. Together. We may be far apart, but only in distance, never in heart. Love you all. More than you'll ever know. I carry you all with me on this name tag.
With all my love and appreciation that I can possibly offer and even more,
Elder Boyd
