Week 3 - MTC

Buenos dias

It's official I'm already half way done with the Mission Training Center experience. It's loco loco because it feels like I have been here for both only a day and for months(hard to explain). We had our older Elders, who basically have been taking care of us, leave yesterday and it was super sad because they became really really close over the past couple of weeks, but the good side of this is that now Elder Wynn and I, the zone leaders, are basically in charge of the TEN new elders that came in and we met them yesterday so this will be an interesting experience. Other than that it's been a pretty good week. Elder Wynn, Elder Fonua and I are still teaching our investigators which is supposed to be practice, but you get so involved with the language and the lesson and their acting of their character is done so well that it feels 100% real, like when they are having a hard time and not understanding something it really makes me feel their pain of what they're going through. Also, when they understand new doctrine and pray and feel the holy ghost answer them and help them it truly brings joy to both the investigators and ourselves.

For example one day we were teaching a 20 year old investigator who's mom had died at birth and her dad was now dying from cancer, but we taught her about the plan of salvation as best as we could, and its super difficult because of all the new vocabulary in Tagalog, and the spirit was so so strong during that lesson testifying of the truth that we all became teary eyed. We have stories like this almost everyday here and it really just make my testimony grow and grow.

Another example this week is when we were going to teach a member of the church, but we didn't know what to teach her about so Elder Fonua happened to be reading a scripture about the power of prayer and said we should teach her about that and I randomly opened my preach my gospel to a page about praying with faith so we were like I guess the spirit is telling us something. After we taught about prayer to her we heard from our teacher who talked to the person we taught that whatever we taught was exactly what she needed to here at that time.

Well I like keeping these short so that's pretty much it for this week. please everyone send emails because I love hearing from everyone and I will reply as soon as possible. Also here are just a few pics from this week.

Everyone to the left of me are the ones that left yesterday...they will be missed​

 Imma go there... looks like a donkey head

 Us making fun of other cultures

 food is so good​

see you all next week

Love, Elder Terry

Week 2 - MTC

Kumusta po Kayo brothers at sisters

Only 2nd week here and it feels like I have been here for months, but at the same time feels like it's flying by.

This Sunday was Easter and we had the opportunity to have a devotional with Dallin H. Oaks speaking who talked about not fearing death because we will all be resurrected through the atonement. I seriously cannot stress enough how every single day here is so spiritually overwhelming and my testimony has basically doubled in size on the truth of this church and I cant wait to share it with the people of Urdaneta. I also love the people here because they're all in the same position that i'm in and we motivate, help, support, and keep each others spirit high mentally and spiritually and Sara Davis who is here as well can attest to that. So basically it's been a fantastic week. haha

The MTC is for sure not easy though. Some Elder was sent home because the stress got to him and he literally went crazy and started chasing elders around threatening them and some other Elder came in to the bathroom and punched and ripped off a paper towel dispenser that was bolted to the wall. All I can say about this is that the only way to really be able to get through a mission successfully is through help and comfort from the holy spirit and relying on that.

Our class is super small compared to normal because the summer high school kids aren't here yet I it makes it so nice because you can get one-on-one help. Here are some pics from this week to keep you going and to not forget me.

This is our main teacher Sister MiGrath​

 Our District squad​

 Representing my mission flag​

 Love these guys​

That is all for this week

- Elder Terry

Week 1 - MTC

Thursday April 13, 2017
Week 1

Here at the Provo MTC and today was finally our first day off woke up at 5:00 am to beat the laundry rush. The people here are amazing and fantastic, and feels like I've been here and known them for months. So each day I've been trying to keep the best attitude about everything, even though I wake up early, and just work my butt off and it is really really paying off. It's been one week and I know more in Tagalog then Spanish after 2 years of taking it which isn't saying much but still. On Tuesday though I was having a rough day I first off had to teach an investigator and he talked about losing his Pananampalataya(look it up)in Cristo It was sabrang mahirap (very difficult) to try and communicate, and after that in the language class we just went over stuff we needed to know and I learned like nothing in 4 hours, and I was tired and hungry, but instead of getting angry, as a class we read scriptures and talked about the (embanhelyo) and I truly felt the Espirito Santo(Holy Ghost) calm me down and help me feel so much better and gain pananampalataya in myself to keep pushing through and the best part was that night I got these giant bomb cookies so everything worked out.

So basically every day goes wake up eat, study, gym, study, lunch, class, dinner, teach, class, shower, sleep....just a lot of work and it is so so so nice. I found myself just getting lost in the work and motivating myself to keep working and push through till the end of the day and then crashing. Here are just a few pics of this week.

I love these guys they are both my companions

 ​(left Elder Wynn)(right Elder Fonua) Yes it was snowing and freezing

Our zone...we're all learning Tagalog here at our temple walk

 Elder Wala and myself

This is a hard boiled they had the nerve to serve us here please send all kinds of food asap i'm hungry

Overall It's honestly been an amazing week and I cant wait to serve and learn and grow my testimony more every single day.

Ingat

-Elder Terry

Day 1 - April 5, 2017

Notes from Dad:

Having my son set apart last night by our good friend and member of the stake presidency, Tim Miller, was  really awesome. Collin had several of his friends at the house too. It was a great opportunity to explain and teach about why Collin was leaving for 2 years and serving the Lord. Collin received great council and an amazing blessing. He is in good hands for 2 years. After the setting apart, Collin spent the rest of the night checking the packing list and getting the final things ready. The only thing he forgot, since he didn't bother to do this sooner, was a watch and a battery clock. I guess he will have to trust his companion. Collin ended up with his big suitcase, his carry on suitcase and his shoulder bag. Well, I went to bed around 11:30 but I'm pretty sure Collin stayed up later than that. I set my alarm for 5am so we could be at the airport at 5:30am for a 7am flight out of SNA on Delta to SLC. I woke Collin up, gave him a breakfast bar and had him say a prayer before leaving. He was mostly nervous about traveling and arriving. We headed to the airport and got him checked in and I waited and watched him make it through the security checkpoint. Then that was it. I turned around and drove home.

At 9:18am our time, I got a call from an 801 number and it was Collin calling from the airport saying that he arrived okay.

At 1:30pm our time. I got an email from him with the subject "I didn't die". Here are the contents of his first missionary email from collin.terry@myldsmail.net:

"I arrived safely and everything is going super well. I'm already leaning Tagalog with only four other people in the class and it's only kind of really difficult. I actually have two companions as of right now and they are both really good guys. I am very excited to continue learning and get used to this life. it's also nice to be surrounded by people who are doing the same thing i'm doing and are just as freaked out as I am, but i'm already getting used to it. Talk to you soon. 

Love, your favorite son Collin"