19 DAYS TO GO!

Dear Mom and all,

I only have 19 days here at the MTC, then i am in TOnga!! im so excited to get out in the Field and start serving. Also it has been really cold here in Utah and i cant wait to get to warm sunny Tonga!! Plus the food here at the MTC does things to a persons stomach that i wont mention here and i cant wait to have real food in tonga

Well this week went by so fast, actually all 6 weeks ive been here have gone by super fast, it feels like yesterday i arrived here.

On saturday i finally saw Dana Kendall, that was really cool, also on Saturday we taught lesson 1 in only tongan at the TRC and it went really welll. Elder Rose and i practices teaching twice before we got to the TRC and that really helped. I think that the language is coming along really well the Lord has blessed me with the Gift of Tounges and i am being blessed. I got a package from grandma and grandpa Michael full of valintines day goodies that was really awesome. Also on saturday we got done with service in 30 mins which is warp speed and i used the extra time to take a small nap and study the language, its always important to shapen the saw.

On sunday i tried my best to stay focued the entire day and use my time wisely, on the Temple walk i toook a lot of pictures and saw some friends from BYU, speaking of friends from BYU yesterday i had the opportunty to be a NEw missionary Host, The elders who greet the new elders as they arrive at the MTC, i hosted one of my good friends from BYU Elder Jake Shuss who was in my summer ward. It was really cool beuing a host, you can see the excitement on the new elders faces wayy awesome.

Monday was another productive day got a lot of studying done, i saw a kid from Uncle Johns ward, Elder Call who is going to texas.

Tuesday was not a productive day at all, as a district we wasted a lot of time and didnt get anything really done, and the Devotional speaker's talk was just what we needed.

The Speaker was Elder Pearsons of the 70, i was sad at first because it wasnt an apposle but the talk was the best one ive heard at the MTC, it was all abut how we need to be 100% obedient and jhave the faith to succeed,

One thing that stood out from the talk was that he said these exact words "happiness is a choice" no lie he said that, chills ran dwon mty back bec that was Aunt rachels famous saying, and i realized that its up to me to become who i want to become.

sorry i ran out of time love you all

Ofa atu Elder MIchael

LONOGO LAHI (really excited)

Dear Mom and Hello everyone else i hope all is well where ever you may be,

This week has been a really good one,

I got your pakage mom, thanks for all the goodies and the extra clothes. i love getting packages they are the best.

This Sunday was Fast and Testimony Sunday and i bore my testimony, i feel like when ever i bear my testimony it grows stronger so i am going to try and share it as often as i can. We had Mission conference this Sunday too and that was really cool, all the missionaries in the MTC were gathered together and the MTC presidency spoke to us. I fell asleep through the first half, (just like in school) but woke up for the second half and im glad i did, President Nalley spoke to us about 10 things that missionaries should never forget, they were things taht we need to be reminded of and they were things that i needed to hear. President Brown spoke about how important is that we never forget that we are representatives of not only the Lord Jesus Christ, but also we represent our surname or family.

Sunday Night i watched a fireside that Elder Holland gave to Missionaries a few years ago and it was the best talk i have ever heard. He talked about how we as missionaries are basiclly apostles, just with a lower case a. This is the only chance we will ever have to have that apostelic calling and we need to do our best as representatives of the Lord. I hope this is all making since, i read a lot of emails and i dont have much time so im not elaborating on likne anything sorrry

Oh the high light of my week (after Holland's talk) was being able to ride in a car for the first time in over a month. An elder was having surgery on his stomach and i got to be his companions companion while he was in surgery. We drove by Helaman halls and that was really weird since i loved there a month ago. It was really cool to be on the outside of the MTC people were all really nice and stuff. on the way back to the MTC we drove right p[ast the Cannon Center and that was sooo strange that a lot of my friends were probably eating there at that instance.

Well i leave for tonga in 27 days i am lonogo lahi (*really excited)

Love you all sorry this is a short em,ail

'Ofa 'Atu

Elder Maikolo

ONE MONTH

Dear Mom and all,

Im really sorry if I havent written some of you back yet.

This week was a really good one, we had a lot of neat experiences. I'll try to tell you about them all.

Brother Payne gave us a really cool lesson about teaching by the Spirit. He gave an anology about a power plant, power lines, and a home. He talked about how the Lord is the Power Plant, we the missionaries are the Power lines, and investigators are the home. We are the power lines that connect the Lord to the investigator and the only way to do that effectivelly is to have the Spirit with us. We need to have the Spirit with us when we teach or else our entire purpose is pointless. It really emphasizes how important having the Spirit with us all the time is... really great lesson. One of the things that he said at the very end was that we have two years to serve our missions and the rest of our lives to look back on it. I want to be able to look back and say i gave my all.

It is really weird that I have been here a whole month!! It has gone by soooooo fast it's insane! I feel like i got here yesterday and now it's already been a month. In another month I'll finally be in Tonga!! Woot Woot!! can't wait to get there. The MTC is great but I really am looking forward to nice sunny warm Tonga.

I have been really tired this week. I fell asleep while I was reading PMG out loud with my companion. It was really funny.

This Saturday I have to Teach at the TRC in only Tongan!! I'm really nervous but I know with the Lord's help I can do it. I feel like I can speak in complete sentences now in Tongan which is great.

On Tuesday we heard from Kevin R. Duncan of the 70. He gave a really good talk about building bridges between the Lord and the investigators. One of the things i took away is "it will not be easy, but work hard, work dilligently, and lose your self in serving the Lord". That has kinda been my motto since ive gotten here. I have had some difficult times with some of the Elders in my district who dont want to work and the language has been pretty tough at times but you just have to trust in the Lord and work hard and it will get better.

This past Wednesday when all the new missionaries were arriving here at the MTC, a couple of us experienced elders put our name tags on backwords and went up and asked the newbies where they got their name tags engraved. the look on their faces were hilarious, we asked some sisters and they totally fell for it; it was hilarious

Well, my time is just about done.Sorry this is kinda short. Tell Uncle John I met an Elder from Temecula who knows him. I didn't catch his name but he told me his dad works in Downey which was pretty cool. It's always fun to meet people from back home

Love you all hope all is well

Ofa Atu

Elder Maikolo

MALO E LELEI

dear Mom and all,
thanks for all the lettters that i recieved this week. they were wonderful, keep them coming, i only have one day to write letters so plese forgive me if it takes a while to get a response. this week was a good one, learned a lot of tongan it is coming along pretty good. i am still getting confused between spanish and tongan somtimes. i forget to pronounce my Hs and make a ye sound when i pronounce my Ls, some in my district say that i speak tongan with a hispanic accent haha.
We had a lot of fun this week, my companion and i pulled a playful prank on Elder Leavitt, we wrote him a letter and put it in the mail box. My companion dear johned him using some fake girl name and i wrote him an annyonimous poem, it was really funny. He reminds me a lot of cousin daniel gleason, really a funny guy and goood at basket ball.
One of my teachers Brother Yates just got back from Tonga in september and has been telling us what to expect when we get there, he said that there are these boils there that people get and they get really huge. he says the way to prevent from getting them is to shower using antibacterial soap, so i am going to load up on that before i leave. He also said that he did wake up one time in the Tonga in the middle of the night and a huge rat was nibbling at his feet, so it is true the movie didnt lie. but he said that was the only time so i am not scared. He also told us that they eat horse and dog over there and that they are delicasesy and really good, sorry if i just grossed you out.
Oh Mom i saw Uncle Gary coming to the MTC to volunteer yesterday, i talked to him for a little bit, it was really cool to run into him he asked about Russell and and everyone. I told him Russell is looking for a wife haha hope you dont mind that Russ. i saw Russell yesterday too, that was good. How is Uncle Ron doing, and how is Uncle Rob? Russell told me a little bit but not a whole lot.
I Elder Hilyard yesterday with his dark dot on that was really cool. He was one of my roommates at BYU and is headed to Japan, im really glad i saw him and hopefully we will have lunch or dinner together some time.
On sunday for the Devotional we had Brother Allen who works at Church Headquarters come and talk to us that was really neat, it was a very good talk. He told us how a mission is not going to be easy, there will be times that we feel like we should come home, but we cant we have to push throught the hard times and endure to the end. That was what i needed to hear, while over all i have had an amazing time here at the MTC there have been times where i have been really down because the language is not uber easy or people are just being jerks here at the MTC of all places, but i must grin and bare it and push through the hard times because i will get better eventually. Brother Bott my mission Prep teacher at BYU said that a mission is virtually one large spiritual roller coaster where you have good times and bad, but you will get through them with faith in Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel
I know i am where i am suppose to be and coming on a mission was the greatest decision i have made in my young life, thank you so much for all the support back home. i can feel your love when i read your letters and i feel the prayers that you are saying for me i hope all is well, all is well.
Ofa Atu,
Elder Michael

THANK YOU FOR "HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES!!"

dear Mom and all,

Sorry that that last email was kinda lame i hope this one is much better.

this past week was good, and it started off reallly well with my birthday being on friday, all the guys in my district barged into my room at 6:25 and woke me up by singing happy birthday to me that was really cool, they are a bunch of fun loving gospel praising guys from all walks of life there is one kid who is 23, and has been through a lot his brother committed suicide when he was just 14 years old, and Elder Trower fell away from the church for a while but then he turned his life around and is a great missionary. He is Zone leader and has an amazing testamony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. he reminds me kinda of Will lumstend because he came on his mission a little latter and it changed his life.

Any way thanks everyone for all the birthday wishes, i fell like an official missionary now that im 19, i got tons of cards from a lot of people, i got your package mom thanks a lot for that, krissy hall sent me brownies, and some girls from BYU sent me some cookies, thanks for that. sarah ortiz dearelder'ed me all the people who wrote on my wall for my birthday and that was really cool to read all those. thanks sarah!

I saw paul and rosie the first day they were in here, paul's class is close to mine so i see him like 5 times a day, i have taken a bunch of pictures and will be sending them home soon. telll people to send me pictures, i have no pictures of any one here and would like some so can you tell people to send me some, can you send me a family picture as well.

elder Rose and I moved rooms on tuesday because we were getting new elders in our Zone and would have had roommates that we didnt know so we moved in with two elders in our district who didnt have any roommates either. One of the Elders is Elder Hetig, he is really cool, he is room New Zealand and has a sweet accent and strong testamony

The tongan is coming along pretty good i got my prayer down in tongan, and i am working on my testamony. we have learned a lot in a short amount of time and remembering it all can be kinda hectic sometimes. I played alot less basketball this week, i decided that i should hone my vollyball skills because thats what they play in Tonga and if your good they respect you.

Oh my branch presiedent use to be the stake president in Uncle Johns stake and knows him, his name is President Connors and was going to try to facebook Uncle john.

Okay so thats the worldy stuff that happened this week now on to spiritual stuff

On sunday we had a fireside with the new MTC president, President Brown he and his wife spoke it was really good, they talked about our purpose as missionary work which is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and His atonement, repentance, baptisim, recieving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. it was a really great talk. right after the talk we watched the Joseph Smith movie and that was really amazing. I love that movie and it is a very moving movie the spirit was really present in the room we were watching. I know that Joseph Smith sawGod the Father and Jesus Christ and did restore His Gospel to the earth.(I can almost say all that in Tongan!!)

On Tuesday we had another devotional here and it was Elder Gong from the quorm of the 70, he gave a great presentaion of why we should be of good cheer. he talked about how there is scientific evidence that the Book of Mormon is true and the difference between perfectionism and striving to be perfect in Christ. it was really goooood. man the devos are amazing here at the MTC

My favorite thing was wedensday we watched Elder Bednars talk abouyt recognizing the spirit, and how we need to stop worrying about wheather it is us or the Holy ghost prompting us to do someting, if we obey the commandments and honor our covenants then the lord will guide us

okay i only have a min left so i ll say thanks for all the Birthday wishes hope all is well and i love you, I know i am where i am suppose to be and that the Lord has blessed my life with so many wonderful family and friends who love and care abnout me

ofa atu

Elder Maikolo

ELDER MAIKOLO

I got all your dearelder letters. Thanks a lot for that; they helped me get through the hard days. It has been a roller coaster ride here in the MTC, ups and downs.

The Tongan is coming along well. we have learned a lot in a short amount of time. I can pray, tell people I am a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and bear my testimony. We sometimes get to talk to the Native Tongans here at the MTC and that is scary because they don't speak English very well and we don't speak Tongan very well.

Sorry that my email wasn't too good. They only give us like 30 minutes to read everything and respond. Next week will be better.

The Elders in my district are Elders Pau'u, Martinez, Howell, Chandler from Utah, Elder Hetig from New Zealand (really cool accent), Elder Unga from San Mateo, California and Elder Trower who is 23 and a really awesome guy. He is the Zone Leader and he reminds me of Will Lumsden.

I love my teachers, Brother Williams, Brother Payne and Brother Yates. They are each different but are very smart and know the Tongan language very well. Brother Yates just got back from Tonga in September and he has told us alot of what it is like over there. He says that mail takes about 2 weeks to get there and back. He also said that he never wore a suit over there and that the food is really, really good. I've eaten some gross stuff here in the MTC. I felt like I was going to throw up on occasion, like during Elder Holland's talk.

It was a really awesome talk and the spirit was so strong. I know that I am in the right place and I am where the Lord wants me to be. I know that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died for me so that I could be forgiven and return to live with my Heavenly Father again.

One thing that Elder Holland mentioned in his talk was that we as missionaries, like Peter of old, can never go back to the lives we had before our missions. That really struck me. I can't go back to that life I had in high School or Freshman year at BYU where I put hanging out and partying above studying, both school and the Gospel. I don't have any regrets, but that time of my life is over. Elder Holland said that we need to feed HIS, (the Savior's) sheep forever. We need to be Missionaries forever. I am so grateful I have the opportunity to share the gospel with the people of Tonga and invite them to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and by enduring to the end.

I know these things to be true and I testify of them in the Name of Jesus Christ.

I love you all...

Ofa 'atu (love you)

Elder Maikolo (my Tongan name)

'Ofa 'atu

Dear Mom and all,

Sorry that i havent written yet my Pday is on thursday and i didnt have a p day last week, this is a reaally bad keyboard so excuse my errors they only give me 30 mins to email so can you just dearelder dads email, i couldnt read it all.

So this first week has been amazing ride full of ups and downs. my first day i felt the spirt right as i walked into the MTC doors. that was cool. I was really overwealmed that first day then in my bag of missionary stuff that they give you here Arrio had included a note about how it is overwealming but it will get better, that was a great source of comfort and since then it has been good. those first 3 days felt like 3 weeks. but since sunday time has flown thanks for all the letters from every one. i prefer letters to email cuz there is no time to read everything.

Elder Holland came on tuesday and that waz really AWESOME. man you felt the spirt so strong when he came into the room. that night had dinner i had some sourkraut and my stomach was really upset, so i didnt think i was going to make it through the whole fireside, but i wasnot going to miss seeing an apostle of the lord speak live. He bore a powerful testamony about how we need to to be the best missionaries the Church has ever seen. no pressure right? It was an amazing experience. Elder Holland told the story of Peter when the Savior came to see the Apostles after He had been ressurected, and how the Savior asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Peter said yes three times but it wasn't until the third time that he really understood what the Lord meant. Then the Lord said to Peter, If you love me, feed my sheep. That is what i am going to do in Tonga i will be teaching the people there the restored Gospel of Jesus Chirst.

I love my District there are twelve of us we are all fun loving guys there are only 3 tongans the rest are palangis. MY companion is Elder Jacob Aaron Rose, thats not a typo, we haver the same first and middle name, really funny. he is from Layton Utah We sing and pray in tongan and are always quoting The Other Side of Heaven.

I love Gym time, it is like our escape to reality. We all play basketball, I am too agressive on defence sometimes. i play like im playing lacrosse. i have gotten a few people upset at me b/c im too agressive, but there all like 3 ft taller then me so i have to be aggressiv. I shut this kid down the other day who was like 6'4'' he was one of those really cocky kids who things his is Gods gift to humanity. i humbled him a little. Off the Basketball court im trying to be more Chris-like haha

Churh was really good My branch President is President Connors, a really awesome man full of the Spirit.

I love the gospel im almost out of time so im gonna rush,

love you all hope everything is good and that Gpa is okay tell everyone i love them and thanks for the letters

i got the dearelder package and a birthday card from the sterlings okay gotto go

'Ofa 'atu

Elder Maikolo

PS dear elder me hillarys letter