hey mom, yah I got your letters and it was good to read. The MTC is an amazing place and the spirits crazy strong. The sisters are hecka pretty............. strong daughters of God too.  I love my companion too. If you didnt get my letter yet, hes from sacramento and serving in vegas too. crazy right?! anyways, I hope everyones doing fine and doesnt miss me. Tell Grandma I love her and say hello. Our schedules are so crazy and busy though its hard to keep track of what to do next and find time to study for our investagtors. non stop 16 hour days arent the most fun, but they are SOOOOO FUN! if that makes sense. haha. I LOVE every second here. even though its a little stressful when your investigator teaching doesnt go so well. but thats ok, I see it as opportunity to grow. One of my roomates last night, not my companion, kept complaining about how he didnt have a "connection" with one of the people they were teaching. He felt a connection with every other person but this one. And how much he didnt feel the spirit. Ironically our lesson about 20 mins. before that was on stress relief and that morning on TEACHING THE PERSON not the lesson. Honestly, it was probably the most Ive wanted to punch someone acting like a whiny baby in my whole life. Alas, I kept my fist to my side and told him to humble himself. The spirit was telling me to not be violent or Ill get to see my parents really soon. so yah. Of course were not going to "connect" with every person we meet, but then you have to ask yourself if its the person that were trying to help, or is it the Elder that needs to be humbled and address his attitude. Ive come to realize this morning that the reason I got so angry is because I love these Elders so much, they all felt like family the first day here. We grow closer and closer every day. And, so far, I dont miss you guys. sounds bad, but trust me! ITS GOOD. Its like I have a campus full of long lost brothers. I just want all of us to progress so quickly, but I know its a process. Im really nervous to get out into the field because of the heat, mostly, and because soon it will be REAL people and not "actors". That will be fun. Ive also noticed a change in myself throughout the MTC. I had a good friend on my mind a lot since I walked in. Hoping that they will make good choices and stay on the right track, and I probably spent a good 5 minutes each night, praying just for them. Every time I thought about them I got a sick feeling in my stomach like something was wrong. After the 3rd day or so, I kept thinking about them and hoping there being the best person I know I could, and suddenly, I didnt get that feeling anymore. I felt at peace, which was wierd. But its just a growth of my testimony that if you lose yourself in the work, the HG will take care of you and those people will be put behind you, and you wont care so much to feel sick about them. I still pray for my friend every day because I see the amazing potential that they hold, and rarely do I see someone with that potential and be able to spread it around, like I know they can. But I know that you can only do so much, and those people have to take the time to dig down and change for themselves... on their own time. Which is the same for my roomate, my friend, and even myself. I love you guys so much, but I know youll be there when I get back, even if some of those people Ive come to know and love arent around, Ill continue to pray and hope theyre striving to choose the right for themselves.

 

I love you guys,

 

ELDER RYAN NONU

 

 

Las Vegas, Nevada Mission