Ty's last week in the MTC

Hi Family!

I´m still in the MTC but I leave for my mission area on Monday. It’s a 6 hour drive.... At least I´ll be able to study and read. I have gotten to love reading.

 There was an Elder that had appendicitis last week, one of the guys in my house said a "Specific prayer" asking that if it was the Lords will, the guy would go into surgery at 1 o clock on Tuesday, everything would be fine, and he would return home safely on Friday. He said this prayer Monday morning and then told us about it. Midday on Tuesday a man from the hospital came into our class to give us an update on him, he said that he would be going into surgery in an hour and would probably return the next day. It was noon when he told us this. He went into surgery at 1 and came out fine. His process of recovery was normal, and the doctor said he could probably return the next day. His recovery was taking longer than the doctor had expected, he then ended up returning safely on Friday. Prayers are real, I know they influence our lives when we just ask sincerely.

Oh! We watched a devotional that was recorded at the Provo MTC and sent to all the MTCs through the world. It was by Neil L Anderson and it was great. I bought a smaller journal to record all of my spiritual experiences in. I call them my Small Plates, and I call my regular Journal full of my day’s experiences in the mission my Large Plates. I think it’s pretty funny and all the guys in my room think it’s a good idea and we all get a good laugh at what I call them. When they were announcing the program at the devotional, I didn´t hear what he said but he said that some sister from West Jordan would be giving the closing prayer, my companion leaned over and asked if I knew her because she was from West Jordan but I didn’t know because I couldn’t hear. At the end of the devotional I looked to see who it was and I knew who she was!!!! It was Meghan Rollins. (Parker Rollins sister) I explained how she had been in most of my classes throughout elementary school and then in some in high school! I thought that it was really cool and that you should share this experience with her Dad.

Talk to you next week…Love you

Ty

Hi Family,

I love and miss you guys too. I don’t have a whole lot more time to email so I will try and cram as much as I can in. Everything is good and I´m continuing to work hard. I strive to feel the spirit and the Book of Mormon is awesome. There are so many cool stories and I´ve been reading my missionary library as well. Jesus the Christ is mind blowing and True to the Faith has so much information on doctrinal things that I have had questions about. I have enjoyed reading a lot more and it’s been great. My Spanish is coming great, too.

Elder Putnam is actually in another District but he is in my zone. I went yesterday to keep him company and he´s doing better. (Elder Putnam just had his appendix removed and the Elders have been taking turns staying with him in the hospital.) The work is good and my stomach is good. I´ve shared a lot of stories with my companion and my District. We’re all pretty closely knit. I haven´t listened to my iPod because they don´t let us listen to them in the MTC. I can once I get out but that’s all I know. I need another USB cord that can plug into my camera and the speaker. I just used the speaker cord for the camera and it worked fine. I can´t find it anywhere.

I have a new favorite scripture. Alma 26:22. Read it and apply it to yourself. Take out the words ¨he that¨ and ït shall¨ and replace he that with your name and it shall with the word you. It is my favorite scripture. I’ve been reading my patriarchal blessing a lot more and it’s been a blessing. I look forward to more great opportunities. You should read mine and take it literally. It’s mind blowing.

I have to go but I wish you all luck in your endeavors.  Pray for good dreams.  I do every night and I always enjoy them.  Stay safe and healthy.  I love you all.

Ty

Hi Family,

I have been reading my Patriarchal blessing A LOT more and things are coming more clearly to me. It is mind blowing. I want to live worthily already but by continuing to read it makes me want to be perfect. Even though there may be quite a bit of symbolism in it, I take everything literally so that I live my life according to receiving the blessings. I encourage you to read your patriarchal blessing.

Not much has happened around here that’s new. There have been a lot of gun shots just outside the CCM and Policia sirens follow shortly after. We just study study study and the days just fly by. I’ve been reading Jesus the Christ on my own time in the mornings and nights and its really good. During the day if I have time, I read the true to the faith book. It’s really good and I´ve really gotten into it. Did you know that when a church is divided into Stakes (Welby stake for example), it’s in reference to the prophet Isaiah when he said the church of the last days will be like a tent and supported by stakes?

I did get your package and I've been eating it sparingly ;) I wanted to save my package for Halloween, but we started our Sunday fast right after lunch on Halloween. My companion and I got sad, and the candy was staring at us the whole time during our fast... Even though I enjoyed my time fasting, and didn't feel that hungry. The candy still looked REALLY gooooood :)))) I haven't taken really any pictures this week because there isn't much to capture. I can't find my camera cord anywhere but I'm still continuing to look for it. Oh! I just remembered what we did for Halloween. One of the guys in my room Elder Stewart, and I had a costume. He got on top of my shoulders and he put on my trench coat. We walked into breakfast with it on and everyone loved it. Everybody wanted pictures and even our Mission Presidents second counselor thought it was hilarious. We combined our name tags so it said, Elder Koontzwart. I have a picture and I’ll send it as soon as I can. It’s rained quite a bit here and I've been getting great use out of the trench coat. People love it. They say I pull it off quite well. 

Love, Ty

Halloween Treats!

I sent Ty a treat for Halloween.  It was delivered the day before so hopefully it was a sweet surprise. I also hope he shared with his district.  :)