The MTC Experience (So Far)

Hey Everyone!

So, how are all of you doing? What's it like in the outside world? I honestly think that nuclear war could be going on in the world and I wouldn't even know about it in here. Not a bad thing, but it's just really weird to honestly have no idea what's happening. Well, the MTC is starting to get into a rhythm now: Get up, Breakfast, Study, Morning Lesson, Study, Lunch, Study, Exercise Time, Study, Dinner, Night Lesson, Sleep, Repeat. The only things that break this up are when we teach, when we have devotionals, Sunday, and P-day. I'm going to be honest, the MTC is awesome! I love the fact that we study for 6-10 hours a day (because I'm a nerd like that ;). I love doing everything with my district and I think I've made some life long friends here. Probably the weakest part here is the food, and it really isn't terrible, just cafeteria food. Devotionals are the things I look forward to the most, partially because an apostle could come, but even without apostles, the devotionals are absolutely spectacular! We had the Managing Director of the Missionary Department, Gary Crittenden, on Sunday and the 2nd Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, W. Christopher Waddell, on Tuesday and I loved each of their messages. Our first investigator, Nico, committed to baptism, so no big deal, but I already have a baptism, soooooo... yeah. His real name is Hermano Cahoon and he's now one of our teachers, and one of our new investigators, Adriana, is our first teacher, Hermana Parks. A little interesting to get used to, but it's a great experience! We have another investigator right now named Arlando, and he is what's called a TRC investigator. These investigators are a lot more real and a lot harder, but it is SO fun. Our investigator is from Argentina and his Spanish is way to hard to understand (sorry Dad, but Argentine Spanish is 100% not the best), but I find that I understand enough to get the point of what's being said. My thought for this week (because I want to start doing this consistently) has to do with the Spirit. I'm realizing more and more how important it is to have the Spirit with me at all times. Not just in lessons, not just while teaching, but in everything I do. I'm learning more and more that if I don't have it while studying, my teaching declines. If I don't have it during lessons, I don't learn nearly as much. I'm also learning that the Spirit doesn't stick around AT ALL if we're not worthy of it. I'm not perfect and I struggle sometimes, but I'm learning, I'm getting better, and I'm loving my time here at the MTC. I have felt the peace and comfort of the gospel more strongly here than everywhere else in my life combined. It is my hope that all of you will make a conscience effort to do better at something this week, whatever it may be, for me, it's becoming more in tune with the Spirit, but I hope you'll evaluate what you're doing and find something in your life you can improve. One of my favorite quotes is,"Do something today that your future self will thank you for." I love all of you so much and if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer. Honestly, any contact with the outside world is awesome and I enjoy hearing from you so much :) Wish me luck as I go into week three!

Love,

Elder Wynn​

Es La Verdad!

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

Okay, I don't even know where to begin, the MTC is NO JOKE! I mean, day one you walk into your first class and your teacher speaks 100% Spanish, and on day three we taught our first lesson... in Spanish! This has been such a crazy adventure so far and I will do my best to catch all that has happened here in the first week. So I arrived at the MTC and right away was taken to my room to drop stuff off and then right to my first class. My teacher's name is Hermana Parks and she is fantastic! I was supposed to meet my companion, Elder Hunt, in my first class, but since his shuttle from the airport was late I didn't have a companion for quite a while on the first day, but it was all good! The day continued with a meeting with the MTC presidency, with all 800 of us that arrived on Wednesday, and that was amazing! Then I finally met my companion for the first time and went to kind of a group role play session where we taught an "investigator" in a group of probably 30 missionaries, which was really crazy! Then we met our zone leaders, who seem like a couple of really chill, but really crazy Elders and that was cool. Then our first day was over. It didn't take too long to type, but it was a LONG day. Day two was another day just trying to get into the groove, so we had another Spanish lesson, then another group meeting, and ended the day with meeting our branch presidency, and they were all super nice. Again, a LONG day just trying to adjust to everything going on. On Friday we had our morning lesson, then had our first exercise time, which was more needed than I can explain, followed by our first lesson in Spanish. Our "investigator" is named Nicolas, or Nico for short, and we've been teaching him for a few days now. It's hard because I feel like I know the stuff I need for the lessons, but then just getting the message across in Spanish is a whole different ballgame. I feel like the motto for my time so far in the MTC is "Great! Now, let's learn it in Spanish!" On Saturday morning we taught Nico again (so we had very little time to prepare) and it went kinda-sorta alright. Then we had exercise time and a night Spanish lesson. Sunday was a crazy day with so many meetings, between District, Priesthood, and Sacrament in the morning with a big group meeting in the afternoon and a devotional at night. The devotional was AMAZING! I had heard that these meetings were legendary, but I don't think I really understood. Kenneth Cope came and played music and spoke with us and I loved it more than I can express. Then we watched a talk by Elder Bednar called "The Character of Christ", which was absolutely spectacular! We had another devotional on Tuesday, where President Weatherford T. Clayton spoke, and I loved that as well. The past couple days have been kind of just business as usual, we teach a lesson, exercise, and learn a lesson at random points in the day and then study during all other available time. The MTC does not mess around at all, but that's good because I'm always super busy and just enjoying it all. Finally, more about my companion and district. Elder Hunt is my companion and he is from Gilbert Arizona. He loves Basketball, so we've done that a couple times for exercise. My district is composed of 10 Elders all going to Bolivia, 5 to Cochabamba and 5 to Santa Cruz North. All the companionships have elders going to the same mission, except for mine, which is split because Elder Hunt is going to Santa Cruz. My district is SO fun and we basically just do everything together. The title of this, Es La Verdad, is an inside joke between our district, and that just shows you how amazing it has been with them. I'm loving my time here, but it is crazy how fast you move into everything! Tonight we plan on committing Nico to baptism and we're just going 100% all the time. Love you all and hope that everything is going well between school and anything else. Please email me about anything! Hearing from anyone while here is honestly one of the best things EVER! Hope you all have amazing weeks!

Elder Wynn

I'm Here!

Mom and Dad,

I have safely arrived at the MTC! Loving it already :)

Love you all so much!

Elder Wynn

Mission Emails

Hi all!

As you probably know, I leave tomorrow! Thank you for asking for my emails and I can't wait to begin sending them to you. Love all of you :)

Elder Wynn

Mission Address

ELDER WYNN'S ADDRESS

Elder Paul Richard Wynn

Misión Bolivia Cochabamba

Casilla de Correo 1375

Cochabamba, Cochabamba

Bolivia

Elder Paul Richard Wynn