The Eagle has Landed

This is Alice. I got to briefly talk to Gavin on Monday afternoon. He was in LAX waiting for his next flight. He was in good spirits and excited. Tuesday morning I got an email letting me know he had arrived late Monday night and would sleep in the mission home that night and then be on his wa with his trainer companion to his new area and start work the next morning. He won't be able to write anyone until his next Pday on next Monday but I wanted to share that he is there and off to work!

Last P-day at the MTC

Man, the MTC must be the hyperbolic time chamber because it's felt more like eight days that it has eight weeks. But it's been eight weeks of great experience and awesome learning. I wouldn't know where to begin if I were to talk about the things that I have been grateful for here at the MTC. But I'll just try and mention a few things maybe. MY COMPANIONS: Oh boy, I have never met three people more different in my life but the Lord knew exactly who to put together here. We've gone through good and bad time again, but through all those times: a loving, rock-solid companionship was born. He has definitely readily prepared us for the mission field through this companionship and I can't wait to meet who I'm going to be companions with next. THE ZONE: Not all zones are great here but as far as the Korean Branch goes, it has been celestial. Everyone in this zone is already so obedient and spiritually prepared. We're a unified and loving branch through the great examples of missionaries that come through here and it has been a privilege to be a part of. THE TEACHERS: Every missionary will tell you that they had the best teachers at the MTC, and I'll tell you now that they are wrong, because all five of my teachers are the absolute best teachers this facility has ever seen. They truly and sincerely care about our growth, they know our needs even before we do, and they are some of the most amazing examples of what a disciple of Christ should be. Pure love and charity is what I think of when I think of our teachers. I could write so much more about them. But they made class my favorite part of the day, if that helps explain anything. 

I don't have a lot more time but I'll just mention a few other things that are on my mind: Donny Osmond came and talked to us! It was more of a "cool" or "fun" talk than it was a spiritual one, but it was still so awesome. He sang to us, gave awesome stories, and then he cried at the end. He was in awe of all the missionaries willing to serve. And as always: the MTC is getting crazier and crazier. Five hundred even came in last Wednesday and I got to help host them. It was so wild. And now this week even more are coming! I don't know the number but it is A TON. I'm leaving at the right time I think. I won't have as much time in the field to write long letters but I will make sure to send plenty of pictures two weeks from now when I get my next P-day. Until then: thanks to everyone who wrote or sent stuff! Talk to you when I get to Korea!

1) Antics​....the first 4 photos

2) I GOT TO MEET MY MISSION PRESIDENT! President Jeong and the rest of the Busan missionaries (he's here for training right now)

3) The current zone

4) Last time at the temple for two years

5) nap time

2 weeks and counting down

HELLO EVERYONE

The MTC has only gotten crazier since I last wrote. The new buildings are in full effect. The missionaries are coming in by the hundreds every Wednesday. And my time here is shortening by the minute. It's hard to believe that I'll be in Korea, speaking Korean, with real Korean people just about two weeks from now. Oh boy. But I'm actually not all that stressed out about the language. I've already witnessed that the Gift of Tongues is real while I've been here at the MTC. It just clicks when you're doing your best focusing on the work and not yourself. The only real stress that I experience here at the MTC is what feels like a massive lack of time for everything and these new zone leader responsibilities. And speaking of the zone, we got a new zone last week! (sorry no pictures of the new zone this week, new missionaries have a lot going on their first week) We have nine more American missionaries, six more Korean natives with us, plus the eight that were already here sooo: twenty-three missionaries in the Korean Zone (up until the Wednesday after I leave). IT's been nice trying to help them out and help them de-stress and feel at home. And just a bit of venting here but: Sundays at the MTC are on the border of changing from a day of rest to a day of stress. They just recently overhauled everyone's Sunday schedules so now it's just jam-packed with meetings and other things up until dinner. I don't even remember breathing. But maybe more on that later.

Highlights of the week: PRESIDENT UCHTDORF WAS IN THE BUILDING. Unfortunately I didn't get to see him but I got to see a picture of him and I shook someone's hand that shook his so I basically met President Uchtdorf the other day. I'm pretty sure he was here to tour the new buildings. Which leads to my second highlight which is that I got to study on the top floor of the new building. It is so nice. The spaces in the corners play soft instrumental music from out of nowhere, the view is more than ideal, and the bathrooms are nicer than the temple bathrooms, no joke. But I digress...

So I mentioned earlier that Sunday is a gauntlet here at the MTC, and I'd like to share an experience about that. So the whole week, my companions and myself, were flooded with new or extra responsibilities so there wasn't a minute to spare the whole week. We've started teaching our first real investigator, along with teaching our teachers, and teaching ourselves. We participated in hosting this week (bringing in new missionaries on their very first day). And we had new responsibilities surrounding our new zone. Just listing this much sounds like a manageable workload but this isn't even accounting our Sunday responsibilities. Putting together and planning the entire sacrament meeting. Preparing five minute talks in full Korean. And preparing lessons for Priesthood/Relief Society and District meeting. So knowing that we didn't have any time during the week to prepare for Sunday, our whole Zone was in turmoil.

BUT, there's a happy end to this story. I'll share a scripture; Alma 26:27 "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." Our hearts were definitely depressed this week. And I'm not sure how you're able to turn back at the MTC but I'll admit I didn't have the best attitude about it 100% of the time. BUt at the end of the day, I just had to accept the facility's timing, which happens to be the Lord's timing. And when I finally learned to accept it when Sunday came around, I was able to complete all the things which I had been tasked to do. I felt the Spirit numerous times that day when I thought I would only feel despair. The Lord's on our side, and he will give us success if we abide with Him. 

Welp, that's all I got for this week. I'm not sure I'll be able to broadcast again next week, and if that doesn't happen: the next thing you will be reading is my experience in Korea! So stoked. But thanks to everyone who wrote! Thanks for the letters/packages! And thanks to Eliott for the cookies, they were awesome. I hope every one is well, and I'll talk to you later!

-Elder Metcalf

Some pictures of the new building/view. And a picture of my companions dying on Saturday.

just some pictures....

Gavin mentioned it is VERY hot in UT and lucky him it will be VERY hot and HUMID too when he gets to Korea. Its also the place in Korea with the most bugs, apparently. He's still enjoying the MTC and growing every day. He is so thankful for all the letters and support he is getting(so thank you from his Mom on that front).  Big shout out to Elliot Evans who sent him a bunch of cookies that made Gavin's day!  He said they were really yummy. He is counting down days now until he flies to Korea.  He'll be leaving on Jun 27.

In case you need his email again:  gavin.metcalf@myldsmail.net