Well. First week has been crazy. Long, fun, spiritual, and so much learning. I am loving the MTC. There are 27 of us here and 20 are going to Cape Town. The others are going to either zimbabwe or kenya! Its cool that we all are here together. 10000 miles away. But, there is no other place I would rather be. There are about 15 missionaries in the Provo MTC and they will be meeting us in Cape Town.
SO, I have felt every like emotion you can imagine. Physical, spiritual, emotional, just wow It is awesome being here. I think the reason I got sick was because of some chicken for dinner that just hit me so wrong. It was actually awful. So throwing up was not the highlight of the week. Hahaha but I did have some jet lag the first 2 days but getting here at night really helped.But just the fact I was on a plane for 16 hours without stopping was weird. But the people of South AFrica are so cool. When we were going through the aiport we had to check in, and I asked a question to the two lady workers about what the purpose of something was. They looked at each other and just started laughing. like, full on shouting laughter and pointing at me. It was humbling and I also just thought like, What?!?! It was way funny.
President and Sister Ashton are so cool. They are way funny together and they make it real fun to be here. on the first full day here they set up companionships, and my companion is Elder Bozer! He is way cool and from Gilbert Arizona area. He is way smart in the gospel and it helps to have him when we teach. We ran a marathon last year and all this summer before coming to the MTC he was a veil worker and ordinance worker in the temple!! We get along pretty well and I love him already. That first day, me and him were made Zone Leaders over the whole MTC. It is kinda a lot of pressure but its actually way fun. They said we have to b e the best example to everyone and of course be the MOST OBEDIENT to show that example.Our district/room is so fun and its cool cuz at times we are all fun and joking and then other we can feel the spirit soooo strong. Its so cool to hear everyones testimonies as we all grow and learn together.
We started teaching the next day and the investigators are return missionaries and it is cool because they try to give you the hardest reasons and questions they can to prepare us for the field. It helps a lot but is a real eye opener and humbly that we don't know everything, and that when people ask us questions we don't know, that is okay! Just tell them and go find out!
Me and 7 other elders were asked to sing in sacrament on Sunday. I was a little worried, cuz I'm quite awful at singing. But We sang hymn 335. And it was soooooo cool. We brought the spirit so strong and it was a great meeting. A couple missionaries were asked to speak and then the president and his wife and their sons too. The spirit was sooooo strong. I loved it and sunday was by far the best day.
The second day, I started to get a rash from these new shirts, as did most people, but mine was the worst haha. So I put that new lotion on and I didn't read that it is "bathe lotion" and you are supposed to wash it off, but it cause me to have a HUGE rash on my neck. I would send pictures but the computers have awful internet so we can't send pictures in the MTC, but I will when I get to the field. Anyway, This rash hurt so bad. so I kept putting more and more on. Which made it worse and worse. We all thought I started to get a reaction to the food, or the shots, or to the pillow or to something. I used other lotion from others and I guess that mixed with the lotion and has been making it worse It is like black on my neck and looks and feels like elephant skin! So now I am called elder puke, elder elephant, elder rash, or elder Ivins. Its all funny tho. So this morning the secratary took me and my companion to a doctors office about 20 minutes away. They drive over there was crazy. People just cross whenever, a motorcycle has 6 people on it, and then a super small truk had 4 people inside and about 15 in the bed. But the doctor said it turned into a chemical burn!!! and it was working its way up my neck and onto my face and mouth. So he gave me some pills and this special lotion so hopefully It will go away. It burns and itches ugh its the worst hahahha. But it has been cool in a way because everyone here has been so willing and so kind to help me. They always ask if they can help or if it hurts or say its getting better. This morning another kid had an allergic reaction and his eys swelled shut and then his companion and some people in his dtistrict gave him a blessing. It was the kid from boise who gave it. It was so cool to see how he is that young and inexperienced but the Lord was talking through him.
There are 2 elders from England, 2 from South Africa, and then one from Australia and 1 from New zealand. The rest of us are utah, arizona, nevada, cali, and spokanne! The food has been allright. Kinda weird. We have eaten horse, donkey, goat and weird yogurt to name a few hahaha.
It has been hard to face trials and to be so far from home, family, and friends and it seems easiest to give up. But I won' and neither will you guys! Keep your head up! This week I have learned so much about the gospel and how to use the Holy Ghost. My testimony is so much stronger and I love how the Spirit is always here. I know God lives and that He loves us and Blesses Families.
I Love you ALL!!!!!
Elder Ivins
(Elder puke, Elder Elephant, and Elder rash)
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