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June 9: MTC Half-way point. And New Building

More than half way there ladies and gentleman, boys and girls. Normally nothing very exciting happens at the MTC, but this week was an exception.

First off, they opened the two new buildings in the MTC, (T3 and T4---very exciting names) and they are pretty incredible. They are not dedicated yet (sometime this fall I think that will happen), but the missionaries are in there fore class. I took some pictures, mostly of the interior, but inside and out it's very very nice. It seems extra nice to me and the other missionaries who were in the old buildings because the old buildings are hideous and prison-like. Dark brick walls, low ceilings, tiny chairs and desks, small windows. 

The goal of the new building was for it to be and feel like a temple. No food or drink is allowed in the building, you're encouraged to keep a quiet attitude of reverence when walking the halls (classrooms can be louder) and there is artwork, murals, quotes, questions, photographs, and things of such like everywhere. When I first walked into the front door, I definitely felt a spirit of peace and learning in the building. It's bright, open, tons of natural light, and the views from the upper floors aren't too shabby. There's 2 large murals on each floor, depicting an event in the scriptures and on the wall opposite the mural is the scripture reference for the story and a question relating to it. The first day it was open, our district spent an hour and a half just walking the halls and looking at all the artwork and quotes, and we only hit one side of 3 of the six floors. It's insane, they spared no expense. Probably my favourite aspect of the new building is on each end there are these "ponder spaces." It's a quiet area with a large mural of some natural landscape (they're all different--the one nearest to our classroom is a Lavender field), there's several scripture quotes and references, and the option to listen to soft, instrumental music while studying/pondering. It's such a relief from the daily grind of MTC life to go to one of those ponder spaces, enjoy the sunlight coming through the enormous windows, enjoy the picturesque views of provo from 6 stories up, enjoy the beautiful mural, enjoy the music, and sit and reflect and read and ponder and study. I have felt the peace of God there and received some pretty direct and clear revelation from God in those ponder spaces. And it's only been 4 days there. It's night and day. 

Elder Wallace and I have also had to opportunity to witness/be a part of some significant experiences. I never thought that the MTC would be very spiritual, or that I would see miracles or anything like that, but I was wrong. I thought once you're out there in France or wherever you're assigned to, then stuff happens, but yeah. I don't want to get into details for the sake of the privacy of others, but we witnessed the Lord guide, comfort and heal His children. 

The French is coming along, we're doing better with teaching in unison, especially now that Elder Wallace understands more of the language. There's still the hilarious misunderstandings as always. Elder Wallace google translated "I am a peacock, and you gotta let me fly" into French, and he's been saying it to all the teachers and missionaries. So that's been happening. It's some movie quote. 

Our branch president, President Weir pointed something out that I hadn't realized before in John 5:39 "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." He taught that that passage is very often misunderstood, particularly in English. At first glance, it looks like an admonition to read the scriptures, however if you read the whole chapter in context you find that it's actually Jesus chastising the Pharisees, essentially saying something like, "You search the scriptures, thinking you'll find eternal life there, but you don't understand them because they scriptures testify of me, and I am the way to life eternal." He used that example to remind us to always centre our studies and teachings on Christ. In the French bible, verse 39 begins with "Vous sondez les Ecritures..."--"You search the scriptures." One word changes the whole meaning.

I'll try to add a bunch of pictures of the new building 'cause it's pretty. One of them is the old classroom, to see a bit of the comparison. 














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