Episode #002: the case of the missing 3-in-one shampoo

I made it!! MTC in Provo Utah! I love it here. Let me tell you about it...

Last days at home:

Online MTC was good overall, but I'm definitely glad to be in person. I had Zupas for my last meal. They were having an off night and were out of oyster crackers, but they're usually super good. I gave my parents blessings. That was cool. It was my first time. Then the extended family came over and I said by to them.

Travel day:

We woke up at 5:30, zipped up my bags, and went to the airport. We took some pictures before security and I said bye to my family. Later, skaters!! I met this elder in line for security. He said his dad went to Korea and wasn't fluent by the end of his mission. Thanks buddy, very comforting. Elder Tingey was way behind me in line, but the lines split and his went way faster than mine. So that was rigged. The one hour flight was nice. Me and elder tingey and a couple others were waiting for the shuttle, but when the shuttle came they took the other three, and I got left behind for another hour. Luck was not on my side I guess. We arrived at the MTC, I was first from my district. It was surreal seeing my companion elder scown in person after he was just a box on Zoom for 7 hours a day for a week.

My shampoo:

It was my pride and joy. A tall, full, blue, sleek, shiny bottle of Suave's finest 

"3-in-1 shampoo

+ conditioner

+ bodywash"

So beautiful. So clean. The epitome of efficiency. Until one day, it was gone. No where to be found. My 3-in-1 had been taken. Some primitive Liam Neeson instinct from deep inside me awakened. I ransacked my dorm. Tore apart the bathroom. Beat up some Russian dude, and finally found my missing shampoo. In the lost and found. And then we didn't go back to the dorm so I was just going to all my classes and dinner carrying a giant bottle of shampoo. That was funny.

Slang:

As missionaries, we are asked to refrain from using slang, which is a rule we didn't do so well at following the first week. Naturally, the elders decided that each slang word is punishable by five push-ups. Our arms hurt.

Public humiliation:

Brother Kim decided to show the recording of me and Scown 장로님 teaching a lesson over Zoom to an actor pretending to be an investigator.. to the ENTIRE CLASS. Mortifying. In all seriousness,we definitely have things to work on, but I think we did pretty okay for our first time. And the feedback was really nice from everyone.

Highlights:

~ meeting the missionaries from Korea. They're awesome. I want to be just like them. They're so cool.

~ Miller창로님의 scooby snacks

~ being awful at soccer, along with everyone else.

~ elder scown pointing to a mural and saying "this candle... is lit"

~ elders Miller and Spencer being the most iconic duo in history

~ the chocolate milk

Lessons I'm learning:

1. Patience - As I wait for my passport, and in the Disneyland level lines at dinner.

2. The gospel is simple - I've been surprised; the things that have resonated most with me haven't been the more complex and deep aspects of doctrine, but rather our basic beliefs from way back in primary. Faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, endure to the end. It doesn't matter that much whether Jesus was married or where the book of Mormon took place geographically. Christ's doctrine is the key.

Spiritual Thought:

I read a SUPER good conference talk from this last April. Trusting the Doctrine of Christ by Elder Schmutz. 

"It is only in Christ we find truth and lasting fulfillment."

I'd highly recommend you check it out ;)

Sorry this one was so long, I'll try to keep it shorter next time. Love you all!!

에수 그리스도는 우리의 구주합니다.

(That probably didn't make sense, I'm trying man, Korean's hard)

안녕히계세요!!!