First week of MTC!

Hey everyone! Elder Tillotson here coming from Connecticut! Last Monday I started Missionary Training, and I've already felt the blessings that have come from being set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! The first week has been over Zoom, so I've been able to be with my family for these last few days, and it's so great being able to pop in after each break and catch up on everyone. Eloise will come into the room basically every class and say hi, and while it can be a little distracting at times- I'm very grateful that she and the rest of my family can be a part of this experience at least for a little while.

My missionary companion for these next two months is Elder Maumau! He's from Hawaii, and he's also going to Fukuoka, Japan! Although when studying with him yesterday we discovered his visa might be delayed, we don't know! Pray that everything will work out and he'll be able to go straight to Japan with no difficulties! Also I think I included him in the email list, so hi Elder! You're awesome! I'm part of District 3-A of the MTC, with 10 other missionaries, half elders and sisters, who are all going to different parts of Japan. We've gotten along so well and it's made the long zoom classes go by smoothly! I love all my teachers, especially Brother Sasaki (don't tell the other teachers Elder Maumau !!), he has a very peaceful yet challenging style of teaching that has been very beneficial for my stretching and growth while starting training.

I'm grateful to be out of my comfort zone and to be doing things that would once seem scary to me, like public speaking, and roleplaying teaching one on one. Overall, I just feel the Spirit of God very strongly and consistently throughout this entire week, and despite eight hours of Zoom every day, I have come out of every single class energized and excited for what will come next! I know that through loving and serving God in the name of Christ, through the love and service of others, you will be strengthened in your abilities and your capacities to do so will grow exponentially. I can testify of that!

One passage that I have loved while studying this week, and was also mentioned in General Conference today, has been John 15.1-17. It's a lot for an email, but Jesus's words are too good to cut down!! "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because

apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and wither; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

I wish you all a wonderful Easter weekend, and God bless!

Sincerely, Elder Tillotson

The Place Where Magic Happens(TM)