I'm Lovin' The MTC!

On February 21, Nate will leave his beloved MTC for Osorno, Chile. Here are some pictures of his activities during Christmas, New Years, and preparing for Chile! Pedro and Nate are showing where they're serving the next two years.

Nate's District had a great time celebrating Christmas with their 12 inch tall Christmas tree, and a variety of gifts they received.

It's New Years Eve, and they're already hitting the bottle... Looks like Sparkling Grape,
thank goodness!

Enough of the partying at the MTC, it's time to get back to missionary work!

Nate loved going to the Provo Temple once a week. Here's some thoughts from one of his letters:
"This week was the fastest week of my life! I think teaching so many lessons makes time fly! I love it! The temple this morning was awesome! We did initiatories today for the first time, and that was really neat to hear many of those promises and blessings again! I am so grateful for the temple and for all the wonderful things taken place in there! I am going to be sad when I can't go in Chile! This week Elder Evans, a member of the 70 spoke to us. One thing he said that stood out to me was that Pres. Monson has said 3 times in the last 4 months is the need for MORE missionaries!! With him saying that so many times, we know how important it is!"

Elder Williams and Nate (companions) and Elder McGuire and Elder Cizmas (companions). Don't they look nice in their matching suits?

Here's another excerpt from one of Nate's letters:
"This week has gone by so fast! I am leaving in 2 and a half weeks!!! Everyone in my district is very excited to get out of here! I am excited, but would be TOTALLY fine staying here for another 2 months! I am just so comfortable here and I like knowing what is coming up, or what I am going to be doing. So when I leave for Chile... there is going to be that uncertainty that I have no idea what is to come! I am nervous, but I know it will be fine! This week one of my teachers gave me the goal to ONLY speak Spanish! He knew I could do it! My Spanish has improved a TON since I have spoken almost all Spanish!"

Nate's note on the back of this picture said, "I'm not this short! Haha I was squeezed under Smith's and Winsors arms so I appear shorter than everyone! Ha"

Here is a quote from Nate's last email from the MTC:
"The devotional this week was the BEST talk I have heard since being here! It was Kevin W. Pearson of the 70. He spoke with such great power and confidence - giving us missionaries what we needed to hear! The main thing that stood out to me was that we ALL need to become disciples of Christ! And the only way to start becoming a disciple is to STOP thinking about yourself, and realize its not about YOU. Nothing is about you. It is all about Him and His children. I have been working my hardest and praying to become a disciple of Christ. I have to make this transition or else I will never know what it means to preach with the power and authority of God. I challenge all of you to see what you can do to become a disciple or become a better disciple of Christ."