Flight Plans!

Bonjour mon famille! How is everyone doing this wonderful Tuesday? I bet AWESOME! Because they are always the best. Until I get my P-day assigned out in the field, and then THAT will be the best!  Today I went to the Temple for the last time in 2 years... It was pretty awesome! Not the fact that I won't be going again for a couple years, but for the fact that I spent  little more time and really pondered all my thoughts. It was a really awesome experience!

     We got our Travel Plans last Thursday!!!! Everyone was so stoked!! So this is how it goes:

 Travel office:  5:00am at the MTC on the 14th of February (Next Tuesday)

Flight from SLC departs at 8:30am flight DL 1606 FEB14

Arrive in NYC at 3:05pm FEB14

4 hour layover in NYC

Flight from NYC departs at 7:05pm flight DL 8581 FEB14

Arrive in Paris at 8:30am

5 hour 20 minute layover in Paris

Flight from Paris Departs at 1:50pm DL 8620 FEB15

Arrive in Cotonou at 8:05pm

     So that's a total of 31 and a half total travel time! It's going to be insane.... Like you know, I have only been on an Airplane once and it was for an hour and 25 minutes to Oregon.. I am kinda nervous, not gonna lie! I know it'll be all good though. I'm not sure what time I am going to arrive at the airport, but my flights leaves at 8:30am. You guys will know better than I would! Colby and Poppe wanted to know when I went so if you could let them know that would be awesome.

     I got the muddie buddies and scotcharoos!! They have been a huge hit in the Residence. Everyone loves the Scotch! I told them they were made with real scotch. It was humorous. I did send back my suit and my slip on shoes that I just wanted for here. I will plan on buying several memory cards before I leave. They are like $5.00 each so I'll load up on those. I will also be sending some stuff back in another box before I leave. Our bags can't be over 50lbs, and if they are, it's $150.00 each bag. And then when it's over 70lbs, it's another $150 each bag. So I'll be doing some TETRIS and weight distribution before I leave. Would we be willing to pay that extra $150.00 for a bag? Or both? I can't really remember what we talked about. So let me know what I should do! I am going to start packing later today actually. It's been pretty crazy these past couple days with everything going on! We have a Malaria instruction tomorrow at 2:00

and I’m not sure what we are going to talk about. We will find out! So I will see Aunt Debbie at the airport (she works there) and call you from her phone and talk for a little bit. Then do you want me to call you from NYC or Paris or what? I'm not sure how that all works out. I know that we can call whenever throughout our travel though. So let me know when you would like me to, and when the best time would be location wise. Anything else I didn't really think about or think I should know, just Dear Elder it to me and I’ll do that. We might be able to email Monday night to finalize stuff so we'll figure it out. I'm also going to send back home my memory card today. Am I still sending them to you, and you're sending them back?

Elder Nelson

    So with that all said, the MTC overall has really been a good experience. All my teachers have been super awesome and I will miss them. The devotionals have been way good! Especially this last one which was the 50th Anniversary of the MTC! We had Jeffery R. Holland bear is testimony to us, which was amazing. 

Elder Holland

Then Russell M. Nelson also gave us a talk about the history of the MTC, and rededicated all of the buildings. It was so cool! I have never been to a dedication before, so it was a really good experience! Hearing an Apostle pray and talk to God through prayer is quite the experience! The spirit was really strong! How could it not have been am I right!?

He is over the MTC food!

     Everyone is saying how sick of the food they are, and how they can't wait to leave to eat other food. I will be wishing I could have some "MTC Cod Nuggets and Fires" when I am eating whatever it is I will be eating in Africa! It will be a real eye opener and a humbling experience once I step foot off the plane in Afrique. That's how you spell it in French... Ha.

     Any who, I am super excited to finally get out into the field and start preaching this amazing Gospel for real! Kind of nervous about the language and culture, but I know that I will be blessed with comfort, and that I will be helped tremendously by the Spirit. I also know that our Father in Heaven has been preparing these people in  Africa for the message that I have for them. That I am the tool in Christ's hands to give it to them! Not only just bring another member into the church for baptism, but really giving them eternal life, and happiness. One of the many things that I have learned here in the MTC is that we all need to be humble. 

Elder Bednar

As Elder Bednar said, “Forget about ourselves.” When we don't live the way that we are supposed to, or we don't do the things that we should, it doesn't only affect us, it affects the people around us as well. I've heard stories and stories about missionaries that had one or two baptisms the whole two years of their mission, and they thought they failed. The fact of the matter is, it's not about how many baptisms we have, or how many people we bring to church. It's about the example that we set. People are always watching what we do. They think to themselves, "Let's watch these Mormons and see how they act." We need to always keep that mind set and know that people are watching us, and that we always need to set that positive example. When we do, who knows what it could have done for that person.

    Again sorry this email have been kinda scatter brained and everywhere but I hope that I got everything across to you. It's hard to do so when you have so much to say in such little time! I just want you to know that I love you all and you're always in my prayers. Always remember how important this Gospel is, and how important keeping the commandments and covenants we have made with our Heavenly Father are. I've been so blessed to be able to go to the temple every week here in the MTC, and am sad that I won't be able to in the field. There are members in Benin who haven't ever been able to attend the temple because they don't have the funds or money to fly or travel to Ghana, or another temple. We are so lucky to have a temple just 5 minutes up the hill from us! You should watch "Temples are a Beacon" in the Mormon messages on lds.org. It is amazing! You'll love it.

Ghana Temple, Africa

Okay well I gotta go, so I can't wait to talk to you guys on Tuesday!!!!! I love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!