Here Comes Elder Gebhard!

Hey everybody! 

My first week in the MTC truly has been amazing.  I have been studying so hard to learn the doctrine at a level where I can comfortably teach someone and invite the Spirit that needs to be there.  In order to do this, I need to know the lessons and be in tune with the Spirit so all of my focus can be on the investigator and his/her needs.  Alright, so here's what's happened.

I have been made District Leader of my district with 8 guys.  3 are going to Jak, Flor and 5 and going to Albuquerque, NM.  They are all amazing!  We had a testimony meeting with the Branch Pres. and everybody had a different story and a different reason for serving.  They were all touching.  Studying wise, my district is also top notch.  Everybody takes the long hours head on and rarely does anyone fall asleep or slack off.  Branch Pres. Miller mentioned it to me that this is the best prepared district he's seen, that it's something special and we should cherish it and make the most of it.  Elders: Rudy, Jensen, Riggs, Olsen, Porter, Hanks, and best of all, my companion Elder Bailey.

Elder Bailey and I were meant to be companions. At first take you might not think so because he is nearly as old as Grant (25 yr old) and from Washington, but or personalities are perfect together and we encourage/motivate each other to grow and learn.  We are both humble, so we have yet to have a conflict that needs resolving.  Every night in companionship inventory we have to dig really deep just to find some "potential" problems that might come up.  He has an amazing story where he fell away from the church for 4 years and came back when he was 24.  He met the love of his life in his YSA branch, and they plan on getting married, but he knew he needed to go on a mission.  His much greater sacrifice than me touches me and amazes me.  It is so powerful and also geerrrreat to meet another person completely dedicated to "inviting others to come unto Christ."

As I'm sure you've all imagined, I've been tearing up the Bball courts.  Me and my three golden retreivers (dog shirt) are taking no prisoners and draining to many buckets!  It has be hilarious because probably like fifteen have complemented my shirt and Elder Bailey doesn't understand why everytime!  Little does he know of the power that lies within the animal shirt and Wildlife Wednesday.... ;)

The Food is great here and I think I probably am eating too much.  I learn my lesson yesterday when the Chimichanga had a cage fight with 3 brownies and a rice krispie treat in my stomach.  No me gusta, pero muy interesante!!!

It turns out that no one in my zone can play piano!  I was so thrilled by this because I got to play all three songs in sacrament (I had to learn them during personal study) and I was overjoyed that it ended well!  I also accompanied a musical number.  I hope I get to play again next week.

Yesterday, we had a surprise TRC appointment that they rushed us too.  Elder Bailey and I were assigned to a new volunteer named Glen Wooden.  We learned he was from Tennessee and just moved to Orem looking for work and found this job.  He was telling us his actually life, not a made up one.  He has gauged ears and tattoos and is a hardcore baptist.  He said " good luck" to us and was pretty stubborn. After getting to know him a little, E. Bailey came out with his life story and why he has gone on a mission and what he had to sacrifice to be on one.  It really touched the real Glen.  I followed suit with a personal story about how when I sin, I go to my dad, jimmy, and he literally isn't upset, but rather loves me and gave me a hug.  I told him that his HF will also do that, that he just wants this children to come home and give them a hug.  Glen was crying and the Spirit was so strong.  It was a crazy experience that I never thought I'd get from the TRC.

Family, you're awesome!  Keep the prayers coming.  I am doing great!  Send me addresses of friends please

Love Michael Gebhard.

 Elder Michael with Grandma Tink at La Jolla Gardens the night before he left on his mission.

                                                        Greta's farewell cake

 Grandma Tink, Michael, Margaret Hampstead.  Margaret came over just especially to say goodbye to Michael even though she was already for bed.

                                                Grant, Carrie, Michael, Megan, Greta

                                                          The Gebhard family

                                                                       Dad and son

                                            Megan, Michael, and Greta at Provo Temple

                                                       Elder Gebhard

                                              Farewell lunch at The Brick Oven in Provo

                                      And....he is off...The Missionary Training Center