Week 1 MTC WEST, Provo Utah Sept 16, 2013

WOWWWWWW. The MTC is the most special experience I've had and its only been 1 week. The people here are all super nice and really fun to be around! Its also so easy to feel the spirit when you are surrounded my such a good and loving atmosphere. The first 2 days were a little rough though since you kind of jump into things really quick and there's not time to adjust. By day 2 I asked myself if I should really do this. Being homesick, tired, and busy all day aren't the most desirable things in the world. But by day 3 I got over that since I was called to be the District leader. So I felt entitled to be a good example to the rest of my District. In my District there is my companion and then 2 sets of sister missionaries. So we are the only Elders! good ratio I guess though ;) ha ha ha just kidding. My companion Elder Frandsen is super nice but super quiet. I've been trying to get him to open up and he is doing a little better. We get along really well. The Hermanas are Hermana Olson, Twitchell, Whitmer, and Winters. They are really great and are super spiritual and great speaking Spanish. All of them are going to my mission except Hermana Olson. They are also the only Hermanas in my zone so I am lucky to have them in my district. Spanish is actually coming along really fast. I'm pretty good at praying and bearing my testimony in all Spanish and can communicate pretty well actually. Its almost hard to speak fully in English without wanting to spit out some words in Spanish. Crazy how our Heavenly Father blesses us with the ability to speak the language as long as we have faith that we can and we work hard. I always make sure to pray por el don de lenguas (gift of tongues.) I actually haven't prayed in English the whole time I've been here. We taught our first investigator FULLY in Spanish on the 3rd day and have been teaching pretty much everyday since then. The first couple lessons were pretty rough but I guess you learn from experience. The last one or 2 lessons me and my companion taught our investigator we didn't bring notes and relied on the spirit to help us teach, those last 2 lessons were definitely our best by a mile! We committed her to baptism and she thinks its a great idea and is going to pray about it. Its crazy to feel the spirit while speaking Spanish and be able to say the things you want even though you normally aren't able to. Its an amazing and unique experience. Also went to a couple devotionals on Sunday and on Tuesday. They WERE AMAZING!!!! So many great insights to pull out of them and so much to learn. The spirit is always so strong. One of my favorite quotes from the Sunday devotional was "Lose yourself, and you will find yourself without even looking." I know that as we turn the attention away from ourselves and focus on loving others as much as we can that we will become more converted to Christ. Even during our trials or our hardest times we need to be charitable to others and not say "poor me." I've definitely learned that my mission is not about me but about inviting others to come unto the happiness of the gospel. Wish I could write more but I'm out of time. Didn't get to say everything I wanted. BUT I LOVE EVERYBODY AND I MISS YOU GUYS!! send me dearelders during the week please. I thoroughly enjoy them!!! LOVE YOU!!!!! Darin Tres Tarwater Comdoro Rivadavia mission box 882 "Everyday you are on a mission, you'll think about home. Everyday after you get home, you'll think about your mission." Cant attach pictures for some reason. Ill try to figure it out for next week. Love you again!!