Week #6 - Provo, MTC - November 30, 2019

Hi everyone,

So first off, I do have my visa for Peru, so that's good! I  will be going there next Tuesday instead of a reassignment in the states. Also, this week was very strange since it was our last week at the MTC and it was also Thanksgiving weekend. Every single day this week we had a TRC which means we had to teach someone a lesson in Spanish for like 20 minutes. Those honestly have been the best thing for me at the MTC so far. Learning Spanish is very frustrating, but speaking it (at least what I know) is muy bien and sometimes muy divertido.

So Thanksgiving was interesting. We didn't know if we would get a Thanksgiving dinner (it was actually lunch) or not, but they gave us one! We had turkey and pies and all the fixings, real food for once, so that was good! We also had 2 devotionals on Thanksgiving day and did a service project. One of the devotionals stood out because Neil. L Anderson of the 12 apostles came to speak to us. As you could imagine, he spoke about gratitude on Thanksgiving, then proceeded to give one of the most powerful testimonies about the Atonement I've ever heard! One of the things I wrote down that stuck with me was when he said "your ability to lift your arms or move your fingers, or see with your eyes, your very life, this was given to us by God. And because he gives all this to us, we can never repay Him. Never in anything we do can we ever give back to Him what he's given to us!" So many other things I wish I could share with you! It was very good. Then later, the MTC came together to do a service project. We packed meals for the needy and it was pretty fun because I was a runner, which meant I just hauled boxes around for an hour and a half. We also got to call our families which was nice.

I also drank a whole bottle of soy sauce on a dare, which is a terrible idea, but you know, I don't back down on a good dare. So I chugged the whole thing, and needless to say, all of it went straight back up in about 20 minutes. So if I learned anything, it's that I shouldn't drink that much soy sauce again, or anything that you know your body can't handle that much of.

Anyways, a lot of things happen throughout the week but I always have a hard time remembering on P day, so I'm sorry about my short emails. I'm really excited and nervous at the same time about going to Peru, but I know I'll be able to handle it as long as I stay in tune with the spirit and God's will. So next time you'll hear from me will not be my usual P-day in the MTC,, but the week after, probably on a Monday. Adios, amigos!

Elder Dyal

 Elder Dyal and his companion, Elder Kempler

 Elder Dyal's MTC District

 Elder Dyal's MTC District

 Thanksgiving Lunch at the MTC

 Service Project on Thanksgiving

 Elder Dyal with his 2nd MTC teacher, Hermano Lyon

Elder Dyal with an MTC buddy

Week #5 - Provo, MTC - November 23, 2019

Hi everyone,

So I only have a little over a week left in the MTC and I couldn't be happier that I'm close to leaving. I don't hate the MTC but I'm just anxious to get out of this environment and start teaching people and use the Spanish I've been learning. I know the MTC Spanish is only the beginning and I will REALLY start learning Spanish in Peru and I'm excited! I haven't heard if my visa has come in yet which is kind of frustrating, but they told us they are getting our travel plans ready so I should hear about it soon. I will either be heading to Peru or temporarily reassigned in the states. It'll be ok either way. I'll only be reassigned for probably one transfer and I'm ok with that.

So my companion went to the high school in southern California that had the school shooting last week. His sister was in school when it happened. He was really shocked and had to take a day for counseling since he knew one of the guys who was shot. Crazy how stuff just keep happening after you leave for your mission. Time doesn't stand still and bad stuff still happens. He's better now though.

So this week, our MTC teacher was promoted so we got a new teacher. So that was pretty different. We had gotten use to his method so now just trying to readjust to a new style. But both of them are equally as good so esta bien. My Spanish is definitely getting better all the time. I can understand almost everything in the TRC practice teachings. I can't speak quite as well as I would like but I'm ready to learn so much more once I'm in the field. 

Hope you get the chance to watch The Christ Child nativity movie. We watched it in devotional a week ago and it was very powerful. It's released now so it may be in the gospel library or online on the church website. On Thanksgiving this week, we were told that a general authority is coming, but they didn't tell us who, so I'm excited to see who it will be. When President Uchtdorf came a few weeks ago, his devotional was so good and the spirit so strong that I'm anxious to feel that again. And I don't know if I'll be eating turkey this year or not, but I'll definitely be wearing the turkey hat that Grandma sent me! haha! It's crazy to think that Christmas is approaching because it doesn't even feel like it at all around here. I'm excited to see what they do for Christmas in Peru. I'll be arriving just in time to find out!

Anyway, if you couldn't tell I'm so ready to get out there and do some good. The MTC is fun but there's so much one can learn here, and I just think I will learn so much more when I'm out there! I'll send another email next week and hopefully send more pictures. I have a picture of my district I need to get a hold of and I'll probably take a ton more since it's my last week.

Elder Dyal  

With his MTC teacher that just left, Hermano Shumway

Turkey hat from Grandma

Goofing off with filters

Week #4 - Provo, MTC - November 16, 2019

Hey everyone,

This week has been sort of interesting. Still up early every day and learning lots of Spanish. But then on Tuesday, I got sick so I missed class. Don't know if it was the food or just exhausted, but everything was out of whack! Missing class one day didn't hinder my Spanish at all though. 

Also this week, my district had a service project. We were working with one of the janitors named Christian. We got to know him pretty well. He was very friendly and was from Peru, so my companion and I instantly got along well with him. I think he mostly liked us because he knew we were going to Peru on our mission. He liked talking to us about it. The next day, our teaching assignment got messed up, so we were told to to to a new room to teach a different person. We walked in and it was Christian the janitor! He spoke some pretty fast Spanish but I could understand about 60% of what was said. We were able to teach the whole lesson in pretty decent Spanish. It's amazing how I've only been here 3 weeks and I already know so much!

For devotional this week, they showed us the church's new Nativity video that is about to be released to the public next week. It's called "The Christ Child" and it was so good. The best nativity movie I've seen so far. It comes out next weekend and I strongly recommend looking it up and watching it.

The spirit here is incredibly strong. Even when I do something pretty stupid and look back on it, the spirit still comes back to me. Since being ordained a missionary, there truly is a difference and I feel it. I know that what I'm doing here is the work of the Lord. I can't wait until I leave for Peru, I'll continue to update you guys and I'll be sure to take more pictures.  I've been slacking on that. None this week, sorry! 

Elder Dyal 

Week #3 - Provo, MTC - November 9, 2019

Hi Everyone,

There isn't too much to report from this week. We're just learning Spanish everyday and learning Preach my Gospel in depth. I'm not going to lie, it's extremely hard learning a new language but I feel I'm understanding more and more everyday but it's still difficult for me to speak cohesively. Despite the fact that it's hard, I'm still having a fun time out here. I'm trying to prepare myself the best I can so I don't have too much of a culture shock, but even so I know it's inevitable. 

On Tuesday I sang in the missionary choir for the devotional. Like ten minutes before the devotional started, we were informed that Elder Uchtdorf was coming to speak to us. Everyone got really excited. When he walked into the room, everyone stood up as a sign of respect, and the spirit filled the room.  He gave a really good talk about how to be a successful missionary. His main focus was that if we want to be successful on our mission, we should focus on the things that we have control over, like our thoughts, feelings and actions. He also told us that a missionary's influence extends far beyond what we see or even know. He told many interesting stories that I wish I had time to write out here. But I took several pages of notes in my notebook. Even after he left, the spirit continued through the day. That was really cool because Elder Uchtdorf is one of my favorite speakers. 

So I'm doing good. I hope I'll be able to say more next week but until then, PLEASE email me! Those letters really make my day!

Elder Dyal

Week #2 - Provo MTC - November 2, 2019

Hi everybody,

Well here I am officially into my second week of the mission. The MTC has been interesting so far. It's just routine now so there's nothing too interesting going on in the day. We try to make it as fun as we can though, especially since learning Spanish can be discouraging and frustrating sometimes, although we are learning a lot every day. It seems like we're in a constant state of exhaustion. But it's funny watching my whole district attempting to stay awake in class. Everyone's eyes are fluttery and everyone is trying to act awake and normal. I will say though, it's infinitely less funny when it's me and I'm feeling like passing out.

I'm happy that we have workout time everyday because that's what I always forward to. The gym isn't the greatest, and it's always very crowded. My favorite is playing basketball and showing everyone up! Then I'll either go running on the track or workout my arms, chest, back, and legs depending on the day. 

Halloween wasn't really Halloween here. Except that my companion, Elder Kempler, dressed up as Harry Potter. I thought it was funny that he came prepared to the MTC with a costume. He was the only person dressed up so we got our fair share of funny looks in our direction the whole day. I thought it would be funny to dress up as Hagid but I decided against it because we were planning to teach somebody that day. I had a pillow that I was going to put under my shirt and a beard I made out of black construction paper, but then decided against it. We taught the discussions in English and it went pretty well, but when we tried it in Spanish, it wasn't so good. We have a long way to go!

The spirit is very strong here at the MTC. It's very nice to have it constantly around. I feel the spirit in class especially. It helps me really keep my focus on what I'm learning. I've already had a lot  of mental and spiritual growth, and I have also grown a lot in the language. 

I really appreciate any emails that you can send me. I really look forward to them every day. I can read them anytime of the week and then I can respond on Saturdays. I've gotten a few care packages too that have made my day! Thanks for your prayers. I can feel them in my life every day.

Elder Dyal

Elder Kempler was Harry Potter for Halloween

 Candid picture of Elder Dyal in class

 Another candid picture studying in bed

 Hands got beat up from boxing during exercise time

Studying to be a missionary is tiring!