Letter Dated January 28th

Dear Mom and Dad;


The MTC has been great, I gotta say that the food is getting old.  Ha Ha, it all kinda tastes the same after a week, but only 8 more weeks till I get some fresh Argentina steak! (Hopefully).


My Normal MTC schedule is something like this:
      6:30   wake up, go to the gym

Elder Gleason & Elder Geary

      7:30   come back and shower
      8:15    Breakfast
      9:00-1:00     Class
      1:00              Lunch
      1:45-6:00      Class
      6:00              Dinner
      6:45    Personal & 
                 companion study
      9:00    Plan
      9:30    Get ready for bed
     10:30    Sleep

Elder Stewart

So we pretty much sit in class all day.  Usually by the end of the day I am so sleepy that I fall asleep during the 10:15-10:30 gap.  But the work is good and worthwhile.  Learning how to teach the discussions isn't very difficult, in fact, sometimes I get into it too much and don't let my companion say much.  Which he doesn't mind because he dislikes talking to new people.  but he still needs a chance to say something.  but my companion is way good with the language.  And since I'm not exactly strong in that category he really helps me to understand things better.  Which I am thankful for.

Mike's Zone

At the MTC they organize us into Zones which consists of about 50 or so missionaries (the zone is also our Sunday Branch)  and then into districts, which is our classroom guys and our roommates.  My District is super awesome.  Most of the guys have really strong testimonies and are nice to everyone.  They all are examples to me of what a good missionary should be.


Well I am writing this on Friday, Since that will be my P-Day until I leave for Argentina.  We go to the Provo Temple at the 9:00 a.m. session.  the Provo Temple is a pretty sweet temple, except you don't move from room to room which is, well, not as nice, ha, ha.

Mike's District from Left to right:  Elder Kirchner (Ohio), Mike, Elder Genry (Burley), Elder Flamm (Virginia), Elder Stewart (Rigby), Elder Vaterlars (Boise), Elder Hair (Alpine, UT), Elder Gleason (Utah somewhere like 15 min. from the MTC)

The firesides and devos (devotional) they have on Sunday and Tuesday nights are really good.  The speakers are always fantastic, and its cool to see 2,000 missionaries in one spot.

Elder Vauterlaus

There is a rumor floating around the MTC that they are changing how they train missionaries in April-May time period.  So when Fatido gets here it will probably be way different.


Coming to the MTC is for sure the best thing for a young mad to do.  The spirit is so strong that you can't doubt what you are doing here or you will probably leave.  I have seen a few kids who doubted, and they either go home or decide its right.  No middle ground.


I think it would be nice to have some kind of sheet to go inside my sleeping bag.


I can't say I have really thought much about the fact that I will be gone for two years.  1.  because I am to busy and 2.  because its just like I'm at college.  We will see if I notice or I guess realize in a month whats really going on.


Thank you for your letters.  I do enjoy hearing a bit about the home life.


Love


Elder Obray

First Letter from MTC

Dear Mom & Dad;

Mike & his companion Elder Kirchner from Ohio

Provo Temple grounds

Well I got through my second day at the MTC.  Tell you what, its kinda a big change.  Getting up way early and working for a few hours, lunch, more class time, dinner, more class time.  They sure like to keep us busy.


My Companion is Elder Kirchner form Ohio.  He is a pretty cool guy, he is really quiet in class, but outside he is pretty talkative.  The food is alright, close to the kind of stuff served in the Crossroads in Rexburg.  Not quiet as good though.  I saw Jake Johnson, Isaac Wood, and Tyson Oswald, all kids from High school at lunch.  Jake and Tyson should both be leaving really soon (a.k.a. next week).  The teachers I have, Brother Heap and Mamon are great teachers, they make it very easy to fill the spirit.  My district has 8 missionaries, 3, including myself are going to Bahia Blanca, one, Elder Kirchner is going to a place in Northern Argentina, the other 4 are going to Asension Paraguay.


We always seem to have things to do here, which is good.  We start our normal schedule next week and it will continue for weeks 2-8, then week 9 will change, and the next week I will leave for Argentina.  Yea!  Its going o be a long 9 weeks since I already can't wait to be there.

Provo Temple

An interesting thing happened the other day.  The older guy in I think the church video "The Testaments" where Christ comes to the Nephites, well the father (older balding guy) was here and I met him.  He looks pretty similar to what he looked like in the movie.


The one shot I need is going to cost $97, so you will want to send me money for it, and I cannot use my debit card to pay for it.


Well I can't say I have much more to write.  I love being here with all these fantastic missionaries, they are great people and great example.  I am excited to continue learning so I can become a good missionary.


Love


Elder Obray

Provo Temple grounds

The Trip to the MTC

After two months of dragging Mike shopping to get all the necessary items for his mission, making sure that everything would fix in his suit cases and finally packing it all up, it was time for him to go.  Tuesday night Bishop Berry and our Stake President, President Fuller, came over to our house to set Mike apart as a missionary.  President Fuller set Mike apart and gave him a beautiful blessing.  After the blessing he gave him counsel and one rule that he was obey.  The counsel was to be obedient to the mission rules, work hard, and rely on the spirit.  The one rule was to write home every week.

Mike and his Dad

After being set apart Riley Salmon and Paige Hanny came over to say their final good-byes.  Dan, Lauralee, Aaron, Andrew and Matthew Page also came over.  This is the last time that Mike and Aaron will be together until Aaron comes home off his mission.  Both Mike and Aaron were emotional when it came time for Pages to leave.  They have been friends since they were two year old.  They have always been there for each other.  I believe it was hard for both of them to say good-bye.

Mike and his Mom

In keeping with missionary rules Mike turned over his ipod, ipod touch and cell phone to his mother and was in bed by 10:00.  After a restless night, Mike was up and dress early making sure that everything was in order for the long ride to Provo.  He seemed pretty calm and laid back but he said he was nervous and excited to get going.  I don't think that he ate a very big breakfast, too many butterflies flying around in his stomach.  We got everything packed in the car and headed out.  We left early enough, that if  we encounter bad weather we would still be there on time.  It was a much longer ride for Mike than he was use too.  No ipod to listen to, no games to play with on his ipod touch and no phone to text anybody.  So for about four hours he sat and stared out the window, read his scriptures and then stared out the window some more, getting more nervous the closer we came.

Getting out of the car at the MTC

When we arrived in Provo our first order of business was to make sure that we knew where the MTC was and how to get there.  We weren't suppose to drop Mike off until 1:15 so we had plenty of time to kill.  Since the temple was right there by the MTC we went and took some picture there.


We told Mike before we left Idaho Falls that we would take him to lunch anywhere that he wanted to go.  After taking pictures at the Temple we decided to go to lunch.  We ask Mike where he wanted to eat.  Mike didn't care where we went, he wasn't sure that he could even eat, he still having butterflies in his stomach.  Driving down the street we saw a Sizzler and decided that would be a good place to go.  Once inside and sitting down waiting for our delicious food to come, we notice that other people were there with their missionaries.  We visited with a few of them.  There was an atmosphere of excitement that came from each of the different families and there missionary.  The manager came over and visited with us for a few minutes.  It seems that a lot of families have lunch there before dropping off their missionary.  It was really nice to have a nice meal with Mike before we dropped him off.

Meeting and visiting with the welcome missionaries

Missionaries helping with the luggage

Mike beginning his journey

with the help of the welcome missionaries

To soon it came time to leave the restaurant and head to the MTC.  I would think that by this time the butterflies in Mike's stomach were going crazy.  We did not know for sure what to expect when we dropped him off at the curb, but were very impressed by how organized and smooth everything went.  When we turn onto the MTC grounds and went pass the gates, we were greeted by very happy and friendly traffic controller.  He gave us a number and told us to look for that number and that was were we were to park.   Pulling into our parking spot we notice some missionaries standing there by our number.  As we got out of the car they greeted us.  There were there to escort Mike into the building.  Mike's dad opened the trunk and the missionaries help us unload the suitcases.  They visited with Mike about where he was going on his mission and where he was from.  They were very friendly and in no hurry to drag Mike off.  It was really nice that they let us spend as much time as we needed to say our good-bye.  Giving Mike a big hug it was hard to let go. If I didn't know that this was the right thing for him to be doing at this time in his life I don't know that I could have let him go.  It was difficult to watch him walk away laughing and talking.  A lot of different emotion sweep over you.  I knew, watching him that everything would be alright.  He was were he belonged.  I'm proud of him and his desire to serve God.

So long Mike

An amazing site to see all the missionaries heading to the main door.

Mike's Farewell Talk

Mike's farewell talk was on January 9, 2011.  He has a lot of friends and family who attended.  Mike appreciated all of you for taking the time to come and here him speak and staying to visit with him.  For those of you who would like to have been to Mike's farewell talk but missed it, here is a copy of his talk.

Good morning, I got to admit, I didn't really ever think I would be old enough to stand up here and be giving a farewell talk and preparing to serve a mission.  When I was little I always new I wanted to serve a mission.  And I got to watch as my older brother, Nate, went on his mission and came back with all these cool stories and experiences that he had, and that just helped strengthen me in wanting to serve a mission.  I just never really thought I would reach the age necessary to go.  And now it is here, and I must say, that I am very excited to go serve in the Bahia Blanca mission in Argentina.

Riley Salmon and Mike

This probably wont come as a huge surprise, but I am going to talk today about missionary work.  I am going to talk from a soon to be full time missionary perspective, but these things can apply to everyone, especially when Every member is a missionary.

The purpose of a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy
Ghost, and enduring to the end.

As we try to find and teach people the gospel, it is important to keep in mind that we are trying to help them build a testimony of the Gospel.  We especially need to build there testimony of the Book of Mormon.  Fortunately we all have help from the Spirit.  As we teach the Gospel the Spirit will be with us to:

• Teach you new truths and bring doctrines you have studied to your remembrance
• Give you words to speak in the moment you need them
• Carry your message to the hearts of the people
• Testify of the truthfulness of your message and confirm your words
• Help you discern the needs of the people you are teaching 

In order for us to have the spirit with us to teach though, we need to make sure we are worthy of it, and prepare for it.

D&C 11:21 says:  "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men."

We Need to understand the Gospel.  We need to understand the scripture, so that the Spirit can be with us and bring into our remembrance scriptures we might need, or maybe an insight that might help an investigator.  This is one reason why it is important to listen in seminary and Sunday school classes.

There are several thing that I recommend doing to prepare physically and spiritually for your mission.  As a missionary we may be asked to bike or walk consistently for miles every day.  We should treat our bodies well before the mission so that we can be prepared to do this.  I would recommend getting in some sort of shape before you head out for the mission.

We should also try to live the same kind of schedule as the missionaries do.  Getting up at 6:30 and going to bed at 10:30.  I know this is not an easy schedule but we should have a few weeks before our missions where we try to do this so its not such a shock to our systems when we start.

Another idea to help missionaries prepare is if they are going to a country that speaks a foreign Language, they should start preparing.  I am going to a Spanish Speaking country and I have started to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish.  It is difficult, but is has also strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Scripture study, especially of the Book of Mormon is necessary for a missionary.  As a missionary we need to know the scriptures well.  So the spirit can help guide us.

Aaron Page, Riley Salmon, Todd Taylor & Mike

One of the MOST important scriptures we could ever memorize will the the first vision.  In my mission preparation class that I took at BYU-I we were told to prepare a lesson of the first vision.  I prepared one, just like almost every other kid did.  But there were three of four kids who memorized the first vision, and there lessons were by far the most spiritual and effective lesson in our class.

Another important thing to do is to study Preach My Gospel.  The book was inspired to help missionaries effectively teach people about the Gospel.  It has scriptures and quotes that can help you to understand the basic principles of the Gospel better.  As I have started studying it to help prepare me for my mission,  I have learned much about the Gospel.

Another thing that is important for missionaries to know is that as frustrating as mission can get you just have to keep going.

I have a story here about a missionary who converted one man, and thought he was a failure.

When I was president of the Southern States mission I had each missionary come into the office before he was released.  One day a young man can in and I asked "What have you accomplished?"

"Nothing" he said. "I am going home."

"What do you mean you have accomplished nothing?"

"Well,"  he said "I baptized one man in the backwoods of Tennessee.  I think it was Tennessee.  He didn't Know enough or have enough sense to wear shoes.  And that's all I have done.  I have wasted my time and my father's money.  And I am going home."

I later checked on that man.  The sense of failure with which that boy went home disturbed me, and I wanted to find out what had happened to the man he had baptized.  I found he had been ordained a deacon and had some assignments in the branch where he lived.  Later he was ordained and elder and was given further responsibilities.  He moved away from the tenant farm on which he had live and bought a little piece of ground of his own.  Still later he was made Branch President.  Eventually he sold his farm, moved to Idaho and purchased a farm there.  He reared his family.  His sons and daughters went on missions, as did there sons and daughters.  I have just completed a survey, which indicates according to the information I can find that over 1100 people have come into the church as a result of the baptism of that one man by a missionary who thought he had failed.

As a Missionary success is measured by your commitment to find, teach, baptized, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.  As a missionary you never know what kind of impact you will have on the people around you.  Some people you meet just might not be ready for the gospel yet.  And you may have planted a seed that another missionary could use.

You will know if you are a successful missionary when you:

1. Feel the spirit testify to people through you
2. Love people and desire their salvation
3. Obey with exactness
4. Live so that you can receive and know how to follow the spirit who will show you where to go, what to do and what to say.
5. Develop Christ Like Attributes
6. Work effectively every day, do your very best to bring people to Christ and seed earnestly to learn and improve
7. Help build up the church wherever your are assigned to work
8. Warn people of the consequences of sin.  Invite them to make and keep commitments
9. Teach and serve other missionaries
10. Go about doing good and serving people at every opportunity whether or not they accept your message.

Mike, Zack Zorn, Aaron Page & Paige Hanny

Throughout the scriptures we are given examples of many great missionaries.  Ammon and the sons of Mosiah who converted thousand of Lamanites.

Samuel the Lamanite who stood upon the wall and preached even though arrows were being shot at him.

Abinadi who was willing to preach and stand up for that he believed in even though death was right in front of him.

All of these men were great missionaries.  Willing to serve the Lord where he wanted them to go.  Despite adversity and trails they all continued to work hard.

All of these men were called of God to preach the Gospel.

I would like to share a story from Elder Ronald A. Rasband's talk in the April 2010 General Conference

I would like to relate to you an experience, very special to me, which I had with Henry B. Eyring several years ago when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve.  Each apostle holds the keys of the kingdom and exercises them at the direction and assignment of the President of the Church.  Elder Eyring was assigning missionaries to the fields of labor, and as part of my training I was invited to observe.

Candice Merrill, Mike, Sarah Merrill

I joined Elder Eyring early one morning in a room where several large computer screens had been prepared for the session.  There was also a staff member from the Missionary Department who had been assigned to assist us that day.

First, we knelt together in prayer.  I remember Elder Eyring using very sincere words, asking the Lord to bless him to know "perfectly" where the missionaries should be assigned.  The word "perfectly" said much about the faith that Elder Eyring exhibited that day.

As the process began, a picture of the missionary to be assigned would come up on one of the computer screens.  As each picture appeared, to me it was as if the missionary were in the room with us.  Elder Eyring would then greet the missionary with his kind and endearing voice:  "Good morning,  Elder Reier or Sister Yang.  How are you today?"

He told me that in his own mind he liked to think of where the missionaries would conclude there mission.  This would ad him to know where they were to be assigned.  Elder Eyring would then study the comments from the bishop and stake presidents, medical notes, and other issues relating to each missionary.

Holly Obray , Jenny Campbell & Scott Obray

He then referred to another screen which displayed areas and missions across the world.  Finally, as he was prompted by the Spirit, he would assign the missionary to his or her field of labor.

From others of the Twelve, I have learned that this general method is typical each week as Apostles of the Lord assign scores of missionaries to serve throughout the world.

Having served as a missionary in my own country in the Eastern States Mission a number of years ago,  I was deeply moved by this experience.  Also, having served as a mission president, I was grateful for a further witness in my heart that the missionaries I had received in New York City were sent to me by revelation.


A couple of other times as the process moved along, Elder Eyring would turn to me and say, "Well, Brother Rasband, where do you feel this missionary should go?"  I would name a particular mission, and Elder Eyering would look at me thoughtfully and say, "No, that's not it!"  He would then continue to assign the missionaries where he had felt prompted.

As we were nearing the completion of that assignment meeting, a picture of a certain missionary appeared on the screen.  I had the strongest prompting, the strongest of the morning, that the missionary we had before us was to be assigned to Japan.  I did not know that Elder Eyring was going to ask me on this one, but amazingly he did.  I rather tentatively and humbly said to him, "Japan?"  Elder Eyring responded immediately, "Yes, let's go there"  And up on the computer screen the missions of Japan appeared.  I instantly knew that the missionary was going to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

Mike and Sarah Merrill

Elder Eyring did not ask me the exact name of the mission, but he did assign that missionary to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

Privately in my heart I was deeply touched and sincerely grateful to the Lord for allowing me to experience the prompting to know where that missionary should go.

At the end of the meeting Elder Eyring bore his witness to me of the love of the Savior, which He has for each missionary assigned to go out into the world and preach the restored gospel.  he said that it is by the great love of the Savior that His servants know where these wonderful young men and women, senior missionaries, and senior couples missionaries are to serve.  I had a further witness that morning that every missionary called in this Church, and assigned or reassigned to a particular mission, is called by revelation from the Lord God almighty through on of these, His servants.

I am grateful for the opportunity the Lord has given me to serve a mission in Argentina.  I Know what my call is from God.  After I had opened my call and read where i was going, the Spirit bore witness to me that this is the place I should go and that this mission was right for me.

Hanna Treu, Mike, Jessica Hart

I encourage every young man to pray and discover if they should serve a mission.  I can promise that the Spirit will tell you that you should serve.

I would like to bear my testimony.  I know this gospel is true.  I know Christ is my savior and through the power of his atonement I can live with my Father in Heaven once again.  I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, and restored the gospel to the earth.  I know he translated the Book of Mormon which is a book that was written for us.  I know we have a living prophet today, and I am thankful that God restored the Church and that I can be a part of it.

Some of Mike's friends and family some time visiting at our house after church.  Here are some of the picture.

Blane Juber, ?, Candice Merrill, Sara Merrill, Mike, Mike Hoover, Loren Anderson, Spencer Horman, Paige Hanny

Half of Zack Zorn, Sara Merrill, Brandon Herrington , Mykel Thomson, Mike, Morgan Wilson, Aaron Capener, Aaron Page,  Spencer Horman, Mike Hoover , Loren Anderson

Zach Zorn, Sara Merrill, Brandon Herrington, Mykel Thomson, Mike, Aaron Capner, Aaron Page, Spencer Horman, Mike Hoover , Loren Anderson

Blane Juber, Jarom Prestwich, Candice Merrill, & Loren Anderson

Sara Merrill, Brandon Herrington, Mykel Thomson, Mike, Morgan Wilson, Aaron Capner, Aaron Page, Spencer Horman, Mike Hoover, Loren Anderson

These are some of the Hillcrest soccer players:  Paige Hanny, Riley Salmon, ?, Mike, Zach Zorn, Aaron Page, Spencer Horman, Logan Murray & Blane Juber

Jarom Prestwich, Riley Salmon, Paige Hanny, Chuck, Mike, Zach Zorn, Aaron Page, Spencer Horman

Mykel Thomson, Morgan Wilson, Aaron Capener, Jarom Prestwich

Morgan Wilson, Aaron Capener, Zach Zorn, Aaron Page & Mike

Hanna Treu and Braeden Hill

Blaine Juber, Jarom Prestwich, Mike, Spencer Horman, Logan Murry & Riley Salmon

Zach Zorn, Spencer Horman, Blaine Juber, Jarom Prestwich, Mike, Logan Murri, Riley Salmon & Aaron Page

Roommate:  Brandon Herrington, Mykel Thomson, Mike, Braeden Hill, Aaron Page

Mykel Thompson, Brandon Herrington, Mike, Braedon Hill, Aaron Page

Mike & Candice Merrill

Mike & Sara Merrill