Teach People, Not Lessons

Date: April 18, 2012

Companion: Elder Gray

Area: MTC

Zone: MTC

Hey everyone! So this is my second weekly email that goes to everyone! Haha wow! It's already been two full weeks here in the MTC! Oh how I've loved it here. I mean, of course some days are harder then others, but I am loving it so much here! I love it here! One of the things that they are stressing a lot to us new missionaries is teaching people, not lessons. That is very powerful stuff. Think about the difference between teaching people and teaching lessons. When we teach lessons we just go straight out of the book and just give people information regardless of how the person feels or says. Now if you are teaching a person rather then just teaching them a lesson you are listening to what they have to say, going by the spirit, and trying to give the lesson in the way that that person needs it specifically. I believe that is the main reason why they started Preach My Gospel in replacement of the old missionary memorization way. Elder Holland said in a talk that Benji showed me before I came to the MTC and he said that missionaries were coming home from their missions and going inactive within a couple of months. Now that just sounds ridiculous to me. How could anyone feel the spirit and teach with the spirit for two years straight and come home and go inactive. But that's just it. They weren't feeling or even teaching by the spirit. They were just teaching lessons for two years. I am very thankful for Preach My Gospel. I hope and pray to be able to carry the spirit with me everywhere I go, so that I can teach people and not just lessons.

One thing that has really hit me hard on my mission is how important this Gospel really is. I mean, I have always known that it's really important, but I have never really thought of it in the sense that it is THE most important thing in our lives, to this degree. I've never fully understood why it would be the most imporant thing in our lives. Now, I'm getting a better understanding of that. Like I said, I've alway known that inside, but I've never really brought it to the front of my mind. I always thought of it more of something that makes our life easier and more enjoyable.

Elder Plotkin is doing better! He still has his moments where he is hard on himself, but he is getting better. I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to write him. I am so thankful for all of you. He came up to me the other day and was like "Is this something your family does to all your district members or something?" He says you all are awesome. I worry about him a lot. I really wish I could just take him to Nebraska with me so that I could make sure he is taken care of and cared for, but I have faith that Heavenly Father will give him someone who will be good to him. I just wish Elder Plotkin could see in himself what I see. A wonderful son of God that is very very loved.

Elder Gray is awesome! The other day we were laughing so hard because he was giving us riddles to find out and I couldn't get a single one, so I decided to make one that everyone could get! We laughed like all day as we told it to everyone. Here it is. "So there is four chicken wings and three guys. All of the sudden there is only three chicken wings. How is this possible?" If any of you can figure it out, please let me know. Haha ;) just kidding.

Well I'm running low on time! I got to wrap this email up! This will be my last email in the MTC by the way. I am leaving for Nebraska Omaha next Tuesday at 8 in the morning, so if you don't hear anything from me for a week, that's why. OH! I think I forgot to mention in my last email that on Easter Sunday Elder Boyd K. Packer came and spoke to us! And this last Sunday Elder M. Russell Ballard came and spoke to us! I loved hearing from both of them. It's always great to hear from the Apostles.

Well thank you to everyone who wrote me so far. It's always get to hear from people, even people I haven't really talked to much in the past. I've had so much support in the last two weeks. I am so blessed. I have been my whole life and I will always be. I have faith in that. Thank you all for being the best! I love you all and hope to hear from more of you. I love the updates. :)

With tender love and care,

Elder Timmy Nelson

P.S. I love you all! I love the mission. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. Got to go! Bye!