Merry Christmas!

MTC 10 July, 2013

Well today's my second P day, and I'm doing fantastic. We usually start off our Christmas ("P Days") by singing Christmas carols and doing laundry. I was really glad to hear all about your 4th of July. We got to watch Stadium of Fire from the CCM (Spanish acronym for MTC), which was pretty neat.

The past few days I was feeling homesick. We call it feeling "trunky" here. But I prayed and after a while received confirmation that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. It was one of the strongest spiritual experiences I've ever had in my life. I have a quote from Jesus the Christ that I really love - it's an excellent book by the way. I'd recommend that you read it. This might not be exact, but it goes something like this: "And a man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, such is not fit for the Kingdom of God."

I know that I'm exactly where my Heavenly Father wants me to be. I'm already developing a love for the people that I'm going to be teaching in Mexico.

Tell Jess and Libby that I hung up their pictures in my room! They're awesome.

Sam - The food here is pretty good. There's LOTS of it. All you can eat. They say the average weight gain for CCM missionaries here is 15 pounds. I'm trying to stay under that goal, but it's hard when they have Captain Crunch during every meal...The beds are probably a little bit short for you, too.

Right now we're 5 to a room meant for 4 people, but it's not too bad. It's awesome that there are so many missionaries who want to serve missions that the CCM is packed. Learning a language has been fairly easy. If you have the spirit with you, it becomes easy to learn and understand everything you need to. We've been told many times that we're not here in the CCM to learn Spanish, but to learn how to teach and love our investigators. The spanish will come in the field.

I hope you're doing great, Kate. Take good care of my ipod ;)

Mom - Thank you for the scriptures. I'd like it if you could maybe send me a note card with each family member's favorite scriptures on it. I'll get it laminated and carry it around with me. My spanish is coming along really well. We learned the Subjunctive form yesterday, which is pretty tough, but I can now teach my lessons in spanish without any notes at all. I've started trying to memorize a few scriptures in spanish too.

Being confined to the space of a city block for 6 weeks is the hardest part of the CCM. I'm excited to get out to the field. But I'll do fine. I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks. I attached some pictures of my new comp. He's great. His name is Elder Hardy.

Thank you for being such a supportive, loving family. I love you all!

Sincerely,

Elder Nichols

P.S.

Thanks for all of the letters! I love getting mail from you guys!

 

NEW ADDRESS AT MTC :)

 

 

Hey Mom and Dad, I've been moved up to the intermediate Spanish class! Wednesday is my new P Day, so they said I could go ahead and send you a quick email letting you know about the changes.

 

I have an entirely new zone, district, and companion. His name is Elder Hardy. My address has changed too. Instead of Unit 140, write Unit 156.

 

Moving all of my stuff has been rough, but I'm doing well.

Love,

Elder Nichols.

 

*Jake's full address at the MTC:

Elder Jacob Steven Nichols

AUG05 MEX-TOR

2005 North 900 East

UNIT 156

Provo, UT

84604

So Many Missionaries!

Hey Mom and Dad!

It's P Day right now, so I've got email time. The MTC is great! I took an oral exam yesterday to see if I could get into Intermediate Spanish, and I think it went really well. My spanish has improved a ton since I've been here. I can pray, bear my testimony, teach about the scriptures, and even read and understand about 70% of the scriptures in spanish. I feel like the spirit really helps you learn. Being on a mission has been great so far. I'm doing really well.

 

My companion's name is Elder Kimball.  I'm trying to figure out how to upload pictures right now, so I'll send you them if I can. He's a great guy. I hope I get into a more challenging class. I've realized that I'm not in the MTC to learn a language though. I'm here to learn how to teach, and to learn the fundamentals of the gospel. Tell Sam I miss him, and everyone else too.

There are so many missionaries here! It's crazy! We might be 6 to a room starting tomorrow.

 

We started teaching our first investigator two days after we got here. "Completamente en espanol". It was nerve-racking. It's gone pretty well so far though.

Dad - I'm glad to hear the theater room is being taken care of in my absence, as well as the movie list. I appreciate all of the lessons you've taught me more than I could ever say. Both in and out of priesthood. I'm glad that you've been such a good example to me all of my life. It's prepared me to be away from home and serving a mission.

Mom - I miss you. Thanks so much for all that you've done for me. You don't really appreciate how much a mom does for you until you have to do it all yourself.

I love you guys! Hope you're all having fun!

Love,

Elder Nichols

 

 

First Letter From the MTC (Missionary Training Center)

Hola! Como estan ustedes?

I survived my first 24 hours in the MTC!  Everything is great.  I'm loving it here.  The Spirit is here 24/7.  I have asked to be moved from the beginner to the intermediate "clase de espanol", so we'll see what happens. 

I'll be sending pictures and an email next Tuesday.  I love and miss all of you guys!  It's been a long and exhausting, but fulfilling two days.  I've learned more in this short time than I have in months.

Dad, those scripture study classes* have helped me more than I can even express.  I'm leaps and bounds ahead of other elders here.  I'm excited and happy to be serving.

I hope Kate has been having fun and camp.  Hugs and kisses to Libby and Jess.  Mom, I miss your cooking (and you, too.  don't worry). 

Love,

Elder Nichols

p.s. Read this scripture during family study - it's an excellent one about missionary service:
Doctrine and Covenants 43:15-16  http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/43?lang=eng


*Note:  the "scripture study classes" Elder Nichols refers to are weekly Preach My Gospel study sessions that he benefitted from in his LDS priest quorum (16-18 year old young men).  They would meet almost every Sunday, scriptures and Preach My Gospel books in hand, and discuss missionary work.  Jake mentioned often how beneficial it was to hear about mission experiences from his leaders, one of whom was his dad:)