Adventures at the MTC

There has been a lot going in this week. Last we left of I had gone to the temple with my district which was a wonderful experience, and a stark contrast to what would hit later. One of my Saturday classes we learned about stress and ran up and down stairs to learn about physical stress. We then practiced teaching a nonmember who was role-played by our teacher Sister Ball. After we all had the opportunity to teach her, Sister Clark was hit pretty hard in class by the flu. The other elders and I had the great opportunity to give her a blessing before she was sent into quarantine. On Sunday we went to church and got to hangout more with our branch. Before the Sunday devotional my companion and I went to our first choir practice and then listened to a devotional by Elder Holland broadcast from Peru. Monday brought more class and workshops but we lost Sister Faleta to the flu as well. Monday night was our first TRC opportunity where we got to teach a real nonmember going to BYU. Speaking of BYU, I get great views of the Provo temple as well as the Marriot Center, Lavell Edwards Stadium, and BYU baseball field from my classrooms. Tuesday night we had Taco Bell for dinner and got to see Elder VoB(ss)ler's and Elder Veal's reactions to it. They are from Germany and the U.K. respectively and haven't had it before but said they enjoyed it.(Dad will probably know how to say VoBler by the way I typed it) Throughout the week my companions and I play basketball during our exercise time. I think I get a little too competitive though because I like to win, and the elders have been joking that I play a little too well. Our games are ended quickly and when I'm around, they all want to play knockout instead. Some nights this week the Elders on our floor have rubber band and slingshot battles with balls of paper. Thursday my companion wasn't feeling well and it turns out he has the flu so he is in quarantine but we did get Sister Clark back. I went with Elder Allen and Elder Postma in a trio and got to teach their TRC with them. All of our classes at this point include teaching a real nonmember or member or teaching one of our teachers roleplaying as a nonmember. Today, I woke up with the flu myself, but I can't check checked into isolation until 11. The rules before isolation were that I could receive and read emails all week and couldn't respond until Friday. Now that I will be in quarantine I can receive and respond to emails whenever I feel like it. I appreciate hearing all the great things that happen. They really lift my spirit and everyone else's as we are all struggling a little in the MTC.

-Elder Thompson

Note from his Mom

Josh was sent to the BYU health center to be checked for the flu since they didn't have enough room at the MTC. He is back in quarantine and will probably be there until Monday or Tuesday. He has a companion in quarantine and is only allowed to read missionary materials and watch movies from the gospel library. He would love to get email. He can check it at any time while in quarantine.