Christmas in the MTC

I had "In-field Orientation" On friday which deal with aspects of misssionary work that aren't covered during the rest of your stay at the MTC ; things like working with members and and using mormon.org. It was a long long long day because we were in the same 2 rooms all day.

This morning in our sacrament meetind Elder David A. Bednar spoke to us. I found out that he grew up in Oakland, CA!!!!!!! he mostly talked about getting to KNOW the Savoir not just learning about Him. He showed us how The savior never thought about Himself and always looked out to help others. For example right after he had suffered in the garden of gethesamnae and had His 3 Cheif Apostles and another Apostle betray Him he waas being taken prisnoer and in the scuffle that ensued a guard was injured and bleeding. The savior did not take pity on Himself but turned to the Guard and healed him. That is the Charcter of Christ and the opposite of the Natural man. The Natural Man can only be overcome through the Atonement of Christ, or else he will remain an enemy to God.

I have a Christmas Devotional tonight and also a depature devotional so Its gonna be a great long Christmas!

I hope your Christmas is amazing!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Elder Luis Gonzalez

December 22, 2011

Happy Christmas Everyone!!!!!

On Thursday we had Elder Clayton L. Whitney from the presidency of the Seventy speak to us. I love all the Christmas messages that the general authority give to us, because outside of the christmas lights in the courtyard and the chrsitmas music in the hallways, it doesn't feel much like Christmas. Elder Whitney showed us a news clip during his devotional. Alot of the missionaries were pretty excited to be able to see some sort of media, espacially the ones that have been here for 10 weeks. But the clip was pretty cool. It waas reporting about how people are paying off other people's lay-away balances. It really made me think about the real meaning of Christmas.

I leave the MTC wednesday morning at 5am and soon after that I'll be in Oakland!!!!!!!! I love the MTC but I just can't wait to get out in the field and use everthing i"ve learned here.

I can't wait for Christmas in the MTC! I'm personally hoping the Elder Holland will be speaking to us but any of the Twelve Apostles would be so amazing to listen to!!!

I want everyone back home to think about the recieving part of Christmas. Half the joy of giving a present is seeing the great reaction when someone recives the gift you have given them. We must learn to become grateful receipents! It is only in the deepest gratitude that we can fully recieve the gift Chrsitmas. Jesus Christ's birth was a great miracle in of its self, but the greatest miracle, and gift of all time, came at the end of His Ministry, when he performed the Atonement. " And he shall go forth suffering pains and afflictions,and temptaions of every kind...and he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death...and he will take upon him their infirmities that his bowels may be filled with mercy....that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people" (Alma 7:11-13)

That is the message of christmas, that is the gift we must recieve into our lives not only this Christmas, but everyday.

I Jesus Christ is our Savoir and Redeemer and that His Atonement is suffcient for all men. His power will never cease.

Feliz Navidad!

Elder Luis Gonzalez

December 15, 2011

Hey Everyone!

It snowed on Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!  Finally!!!!! People were wondering why I was acting so weird, but then I told them that I was from Arizona they understood!!!!!

I got to go to the temple today and it was so awesome.  I felt so happy to be in there and to be learning about the Plan of Salvation! 

My Spanish is improving everyday.  I no longer wake up with sore arms (My district makes me do 5 push every time I talk in English). I LOVE my district, they are some of the greatest people I have ever met!  They help me learn and grow everyday! 

It was funny to see all the new missionaries come in and be just as lost as I was. I'm finally starting to get in the swing of things here and I don't get lost every time I leave my room.  Now I just get lost once a day....

Sundays here are the best!  But I am dead scared of being called up to give a 5 minute talk in Spanish because they don't give you any warning and ask you right before sacrament starts! 

Sister Elaine S. Dalton and her husband came for a fireside this last Tuesday.  She is an amazing speaker!!! 
Some thoughts from her talk:

You must be willing to give up the life you want for the life God wants for you.  And he has in store for you more marvellous things than you could ever imagine.  Take for example Mary.  An angel appeared to her and told her that she would be the mother to the savior of the world.  But she knew that she must trust in the lord with all her heart and lean not unto her own understanding and that he would direct her always.  As Paul said, "It is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of the Lord."  Mary must've been scared but she said "How is this to be done?"  And the Angel declared "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

Take care all!!!!

See ya in 2 years minus 1 week,

Elder Luis Gonzalez

December 14, 2011

Letter dated December 14, 2011

I love this place!!!!!! The Spirit is so strong all the time!!!! But I'm always tired!!!
I ran 3 miles on the track yesterday, but I forgot about the elevation here in Provo so I was dying at the end.
People keep calling me "Elder" and I look around to look for the missionary then I realize they are talking to me. I still don't feel like a missionary but I think I'll get there soon. Every time I see my badge I think about how the Lord trusts me to do this great work and how I feel so inadequate to do it.
My Spanish is rapidly improving. My district makes me do 5 push ups every time speak in English.
I know this is where I need to be at this time. The Lord has blessed so much in such a short amount of time. Nothing can stop this work from progressing!!! I see miracles everyday here at the MTC.
Godspeed,
Elder Luis Gonzalez

no word yet!

Haven't heard from Elder Gonzalez yet, but that doesn't mean you can't write him!
Go to www.dearelder.com, add Provo MTC to the drop down bar and write a letter. It's free
and will get to him the same day, as long as you send it before noon.

flying off to cold Provo, Utah

Abby & Luis

 Aaron Call, Luis & Calvin Memmot- best friends leaving for the MTC on the same day.

 Luis, Bryce Cluff & Aaron Call

 Rich, Jodi & Abby Sawyer

typical Luis giant smile as he heads off on his mission

being set apart as Elder Gonzalez

 Luis was set apart Tuesday, Dec. 5 by President Alyn McClure.

His Mom, Dad and brother Carlos welcomed us all into their home.

Jason Thayn, Luis home teacher

 Rich, Jodi, Andrew, Carson, Ryan, Kyle and Abby Sawyer

Todd and Brody Pacheco

Called to Serve

Luis Gonzalez, Jr. called to serve in the California- San Francisco/Oakland Mission

teaching the gospel in Spanish and reporting the Missionary Training Center on December 7.