I MADE IT!! I still can't believe I'm actually here, surrounded by fellow
missionaries from all over the world, all united in our quest to spread the
gospel. The Missionary Training Center (MTC) is a unique place, to say the
least. It's like a mix of boot camp, prison, and FSY all rolled into one. I'm
loving every minute of it, well sort of. We got to the MTC on Wednesday and our
preparation day was the next day which was the reason why you're getting only
one email from me in the mtc, since I had less than 24 hours in the MTC during
my preparation day I had nothing to email about so here is my last 8 days of the
MTC. One of the biggest adjustments has been the daily routine. Waking up at
6:20 AM to the sound of lights being turned on is a far cry from my high school
days of sleeping in till noon. But I'm getting used to it, and the discipline is
actually kind of awesome. The short-sleeve white shirts are a nice touch and are
saving my life. My missionary tag has become a conversation starter, and I've
been loving every minute of it! People keep approaching me to take pictures
because of my tag that says "Elder Batman." It's been a fun way to break the ice
and build connections with my fellow missionaries.Some have even offered me real
money or trade deals for my tag, joking that I could just get a new one at the
front desk. It's amusing to see how my tag has become a bit of a celebrity
status in the MTC. I'm just happy to be a part of the community and serve with
my fellow missionaries. My district is a great bunch of people, and we're all
having a blast together. We have 7 companionships in our district and 2 of them
are sister companionships. I have actually bonded with every single one of them
which is so amazing and I'm so lucky to have my district. One of the elders in
my room Elder Cuevas is a spiritual weapon classic nerdy kid. You would think he
would be very critical about the missionary standards but it's quite the
opposite. He does follow every one of them but he doesn't judge anyone else.
He's the purest soul you'll meet. We went to the gym with him a couple of times
and I taught him some work outs and he started to actually look forward to the
gym. After a workout one day before bed he goes up to me and says, “Hey Elder
Batman, I look up to you, you're my inspiration, my idol.” I was so shocked
after this and was instantly filled with joy and happiness. Love having him
around and being the person for him he can look to in his exercise troubles even
though there's way bigger guys in my district. In our district, we've had some
amazing discussions about the gospel, and I'm learning so much from my
companions and fellow missionaries. Elder Driggs, one of my fellow missionaries,
recently came down with COVID-19, and it was a bit of a challenge for all of us.
But he's a trooper, and his positivity is inspiring. I've been fortunate to have
a great companion, Elder Roberts, during my first week in the MTC. He's a cool
guy who meshes well with my personality, and we've quickly discovered that we
have a lot in common. We seem to vibe well together, which is essential for
companionships. One thing that stands out about Elder Roberts is his height –
he's 6'2", which is a bit more average compared to the rest of the boys in our
district. I'm a bit shorter than him, and it's been amusing to see how he towers
over me. But what's even more noticeable is how tall everyone else is! Most of
the guys in our district are above 6'5" (Elder Chase notably), which makes me
wonder if there's some sort of height requirement for missionaries that I'm not
aware of. Despite the height difference, Elder Roberts and I are getting along
great, and I'm looking forward to serving with him in Pittsburgh. We're learning
from each other and growing together, which is an essential part of our
missionary experience. One of the highlights of my time here was a "Go and Do"
activity experience on Sunday. We studied the Book of Mormon for 2 and a half
hours, and the Spirit was palpable in the room the whole time. It was a focused
personal study in a classroom for hours with my district. When a ecclesiastical
leader came in we discussed what we learned and he gave us a question about in
what way do we feel the spirit? Because we all feel it differently. It was
definitely the most spiritual experience I've had here, every thought given by
our 4 sister missionaries all of them just broke into tears, everyone in the
room was giving such powerful testimonies about how they felt the spirit and
truths they know about Christ and how he loves us. It was amazing to see how the
scriptures can touch our hearts and minds in such a powerful way. I heard a
conversion story like no other during my first devotional at the MTC. Ed's story
was one that left us all in awe. He spoke with a passion and conviction that was
palpable, his words painting a vivid picture of a life transformed by the power
of the gospel. "I was lost," Ed began, his voice filled with emotion. "I was
deep in the world of drugs, alcohol, and thieving. I was with girls all the
time, trying to fill the void in my life. But as I look back, I realize that I
was searching for something more. I was searching for a connection, for a sense
of purpose." Ed's eyes sparkled as he shared about the day that changed
everything. "Missionaries showed up at my doorstep," he said with a smile. "I
wasn't expecting them, but something about their message resonated with me. They
shared the gospel with me, and I felt a sense of peace that I had never
experienced before." As Ed spoke, his voice filled with conviction. "I remember
saying a prayer with them, and feeling the Spirit in a way that was unlike
anything I'd ever experienced. It was like a weight had been lifted off my
shoulders. The feeling of the Spirit was greater than any high I'd ever had on
drugs." The room was a mixture between silence and all out laughter, captivated
by Ed's story. "I knew I had to make a change," he continued. "I got baptized
three weeks later, and it was like a new chapter in my life had begun. I went on
a mission, and now I'm here, sharing my story with you." Ed's testimony was a
powerful reminder of the transformative power of the gospel. His story showed us
that no matter where we've been or what we've done, we can change. We can find
forgiveness, and we can become new creatures in Christ. As I listened to Ed's
story, I felt a sense of awe and gratitude. Awe at the power of the gospel to
change lives, and gratitude for the example of Ed, a man who had been through so
much but had found redemption and purpose in the Lord. His story was a testament
to the fact that we all have the potential to change, to grow, and to become
more like our Savior. And then, of course, there was the COVID-19 drama. Yep,
you guessed it – I caught the bug (literally!). Quarantine was a bit of a
challenge, but it gave me a chance to bond with Elder Driggs and Elder Cook, who
became my unlikely roommate. Let's just say Elder Cook is a bit of a character –
fractured ankle, has a know-it-all companion who loves to criticize missionary
standards but never takes any himself, and on top of that he has Covid. It's
been an adventure, to say the least! Despite the challenges, I've learned so
much about the Book of Mormon and feel even closer to my Savior inside
quarantine. Since I have nothing but free time, I've just been binging all the
Book of Mormon live action movies and videos which has helped me understand and
learn so much about the stories and parables of the Book of Mormon. I said to my
parents during my quarantine that this has been a blessing to me, ive expanded
my knowledge and got to bond with some amazing people here in quarantine. After
2 long days in quarantine I finally was let out (Tuesday-Thursday). I've been
staying active with volleyball and workouts, gaining 12 pounds so far in the
MTC, but I've noticed that playing volleyball isn't as fun when the other
players aren't skilled. Since I played volleyball in high school and was pretty
good, I think my fellow missionaries have high expectations of me on the court.
They seem to think I'm an exceptional volleyball player, but I'm just an average
high school player. The thing is, they're not used to seeing good volleyball
players, which is probably why they think I'm so good. It's an underrated sport,
and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to play it in high school. Despite
the inflated expectations, I'm just happy to play and enjoy the game with my
fellow missionaries. Studying 1 Nephi 13 has been a highlight of my Book of
Mormon journey. I learned that the Bible once contained the fullness of the
gospel, but over time, parts of it were lost. That's why we have the Book of
Mormon – to fill in those gaps and provide another witness of Jesus Christ. This
scripture has been especially meaningful to me as I serve a mission. I'm excited
to share the powerful message of the Book of Mormon with others and help them
come unto Christ. The Book of Mormon has brought me closer to my Savior and
given me a greater appreciation for the scriptures. I'm grateful for the gift of
the Book of Mormon and the role it plays in my life. I look forward to
continuing to learn from it and share its message with others. As I look back on
my first eight days, I'm grateful for the experience. It's not always easy, but
it's worth it. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for me and to
continue learning and growing as a missionary. The next time you hear from me, I
will be in Pittsburgh. Until next time,
Elder Batman
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