MTC = HTC

FOR all the Guys: Cousins, Brock, Conner, Jon, Daegon, Kyle, Jake, Friends, Michael,

I'm going to share a revelation that I and one of my Zone leaders had while in the MTC.

Before reading onward, Go on Wikipedia and look up the basic premise for the Hyperbolic Time Chamber that's found in Dragonball Z. OK?

OK!

Revelation time.

The HTC and the MTC are one and the same.

MIND. BLOWN.

Proof? The HTC and MTC are both places where you enter and train for what seems like years at a time, only to leave and find that you've only been inside for a few weeks or months. They are both places where days pass like weeks, and weeks pass like days. Time is distorted and warped inside the MTC.

"Time is an invention of man. When you're on the Lord's errand, time has no meaning." I probably made that up, but it's true nonetheless.

Here's another proof: In the HTC one of the people training remarks to his dad how much he hates the place, how he can't wait to get out, and so on and so forth. There are people who also do that in the MTC. However, when the person finally got out of the HTC, he was the most powerful character in the series, and in fact was the first one to ever go Super Sayan 2.

I testify that the MTC is the same. People go in weak and helpless, but we come out as elite members of the Lord's Army. Never forget how much potential you all have.

Elder DArcey

Hey I Ran Out Of Time!

Family,

This is a continuation of my letter on P-Day because my email time ran out insanely fast; (remember how time is all messed up here in this dimension.)

Mom, I hope you are able to blog this as I don't want to think that I wasted all that time, sitting next to you while we set up the blog, watching you mangle the computer while I couldn't touch it (as I was already set apart) .

[We are learning how important the internet is to the work of the Lord and I'm reminded of the admonition of the apostles in previous conferences about not wasting time on-line, but do family history by blogging diligently of our testimony of His work.]

So, I'm working out a lot (in the cafeteria) and have gained ten pounds since getting here. My ribs, spine and kneecaps feel bruised. For someone who never aches, this is new. I got injured from sit-ups. Don't believe me? Speed-pull a hundred on a dare on a hard gym floor and see what happens. (I mean you, Brock Atkinson).

Someone, please listen to the music, "My Kindness shall not depart from thee". I love that song at the moment--sometimes when we feel lost, this is what God is saying to us.

[Mom butts in here: Dia and Brian performed it at her farewell in Lehi.]

Aidan, go online to LDS.org, go to the media library, click on feature films and watch Johnny Lingo. It is one of the best films and I'm still hanging with the Samoans, so when we watch it, that makes it double awesome.

That's all I have to say, so I'll stop writing now.

Oops! So I lied! I felt that I need to end with something spiritual and I HAD AN AMAZING experience in the TRC (Training Room). Me and my companion taught an honest-to-goodness real investigator. SERIOUSLY !!!!! Actually TWO OF THEM!!!!!

He came from a college here and was brought to the MTC by friends who were volunteering. He tagged along to get a lesson because he was really curious about Mormons. We gave him and his girlfriend two copies of the Book of Mormon (that said, PROPERTY OF THE MTC, but we told them they could have them anyway!) and asked him to be baptized.

I am told that it is never too early to ask people to be baptized like Christ. He said, "If this book is true, then I will have to get baptized."

I asked him to read the last paragraph from the introduction in the front (Hey, go Read It!) and then I told him, "This book is true. I've lived my entire life, and staked my reputation on that fact. If you read it and pray about it, I swear to you that you will get a confirmation one way or the other."

Both of them looked at me in shock. Why would God not tell them? They both said they would and I know they'll get an answer.

Seriously people. If you really want to make a difference... I mean--Save a life kind of difference, serve a mission.

Elder Darcey

Password is Mission!

Mom,

The blog password is mission. [not anymore it isn't] It's now the 27th of October and I just got your first dearelder. It doesn't matter that you sent one the day before I got here. That one didn't count because I think it was written to Sister Darcey and I just got a carbon copy. And the drivers stuff and social security card doesn't count either because you had to send those.

I don't know why I haven't received the other five letters you sent. I think there must be another Elder Darcey here, or you sent it again to China.

That means, Atkinsons 6 + a package and Darceys 1, but who's keeping count?

I've been here exactly a week and a day and it's amazing how much I've learned and grown. Ask Dia if she knows Elder Wright or Elder Merrill serving in Hong Kong, as I am serving with their relatives. Elder Merrill is our branch president and Sis. Wright is in my district.

Here is my note to my home ward:

Hi Ward. I think about you and your love and support often. I don't miss any of you, and I think that's because I've been too busy and happy and spiritually blessed to miss anyone or anything. I don't even miss my family yet and I think it is because of all of the prayers on my behalf. I hope that you are all doing well.

Love, Elder Darcey

Samoan Choir Boys

Family:

It is still P-Day; and there's still no email, mail, letters, postcards from anybody. Oh Well.

I haven't really eaten yet; we decided to just eat sack lunches instead of getting clothes on and going to the cafeteria. Unfortunately, I found there's almost nothing I can eat in the sack lunch line. Add that to the fact that we missed breakfast because we were in the temple from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. -- and you get one hungry elder!

(LDS Temple in Samoa)

We've done laundry and are almost to dinner, but not for a few hours. I tried to get in a nap for a few hours after the temple, but all the Elders on the floor decided to use our room as the party area for one reason: Our zone leaders are leaving Wednesday, so they were released and who got called but our own district's Elders Ryan and Smith! So that's why we slam hosted the party. These elders are absolutely awesome for the job and together they are such amazing companions.

Last night Elder Finai and I sat in the Samoan section of the auditorium for the firesite. A couple of days before, Elder Finai had been needing to speak Samoan with some missionaries for practice so I went along because our companions were busy. Elder Finai was amazing at this task and I enjoyed just being in the room with them . This time, Elder Finai convinced me to join the Samoans singing group after the other Samoans asked him to bring me along because I was "cool." (All this said in Samoan, so I didn't know until later.) We sang Samoan songs and church songs in Samoan. it was amazing and spiritual and even though i didn't know most of anything that was said. I now know one word in Samoan: Talofa mans Hi.

4 hours pass...

Hi, I'm back, dinner was wonderful and still no letters. I got many plates of food and ate well, but there is no keeping up with eating with the Samoans. Ah Ha! My roomies just brought me a letter! A Dear Elder from... The Atkinsons! My cousins have officially sent me a letter sooner than my parents!

I'll write them personally, but let me say this is on the blog: (You are putting this on the blog, right?)

Thanks, Atkinsons, so much for those thoughts and prayers. I am so glad for all of you and pray for all of my family every night, and morning and every time inspiration strikes me.

I close with love to everyone, even those who haven't written me.

Elder Darcey

FUN FACTS about ALASKA

The Alaska Mission is the largest (LAND) mission in the church. Guam is bigger, but most of it is ocean.

Alaska is the Western-most and the Eastern-most state as well.

FROSTY FACTS

AND FOR THE KID COUSINS?

How Do You Kill Frosty the Snowman?

Stab him with an Icicicicicle! Weird spelling!

I would know the sharpness of an icicicicle as I am knowledgeable about all things sharp.

Birthday Scriptures

Before my mission I was searching for my birthday scripture and I found some irony:

All of my birthday scriptures are dark and scary. By the way, it's almost all of them. I'll start in the Bible and then more on to the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine in Covenants. (Mom, blog.) If the chapter doesn't go to 6 or the verses to 29, they're not listed.

Love to you, even who haven't yet written,

Elder Darcey

Exodus 6:29 Not bad, not good, Lord tells Moses to speak to Pharoah

Leviticus 6:29 Ditto Exodus, Priests eat.

Judges 6:29 Gideon has just desecrated an altar--Yes, one to Baal, but still...

1 Kings 6:29 Not bad, not good, Solomon's temple carvings so it does involve knives.

2 Kings Woman angry because they boiled and ate her kid. I know, creepy.

1 Chronicles lists the sons of Merar

2 Chronicles Yeah, death, pestilence, sores, grief visited to any man.

Job begs God to kill him

Proverbs Adultery

Jeremiah Jerusalem being destroyed - Not pretty.

Matthew Not even Solomon

Mark John the Baptist, corpses and tombs

Luke Cheek smacking and cloak sharing

Helaman Satan, Gadianton, works of darkness, secret murder.

3rd Nephi More Gadianton's, destroy and murder.

Ether Jared and his brother die. Enough said.

D&C 6:29 rejecting the gospel. yay.

Moses-forsworth themselves,hell. woopie.

And there you go, most are bad, none are inspirational. Hffmmmmpt.

FIRST P DAY

Parents, family, friends, anyone?

Yesterday was Sunday and today is P-Day! I'm writing a letter despite the lack of letters (or anything, really...) that have come my way. As the apostle said to the Elder who never received letters from family, "send letters anyway." So here I am, sitting on the floor of the laundry room, writing to my uncaring family in the hopes that someone, someday will remember poor, poor, Elder Darcey abandoned to the MTC.

Nah, just kidding, you all must be super busy with life and stuff. Is anybody else pregnant? How is Cami's mission prep going? Is Aidan doing any better in school? I hope so.

Hopefuly you will email me in a few minutes. I've already sent an email--respond please? Also send Dear Elders when you can. It's free and it's really great to get physical mail.

Elder Darcey

MTC = WILDFIRE

Family, Friends,

It's Sunday, and the days have passed like wildfire. It really is true what they say about this place: "A day passes in a week and the weeks pass like days."

My district really is the best in the MTC and we're not the only ones who think so. At the time of this writing (7 a.m.) we're the only district who've made it to personal study. Our group is so cool.

The class yesterday was amazing. Brother Bacon (our teacher) gave each of us a personal application of the Restoration (lesson 1) the spiritual manifestations were amazing; Bacon pulled up things about each of us that I swear he didn't know. Elder Y was really touched when he spoke to him about families. Elder F did the same about the Book of Mormon. I didn't even know that I had question or a fear until Bro. Bacon helped me find it. The spirit is so strong here, it's amazing.

I'm wrapping up now because my hand is done writing. Love to all, both here and online.

Elder Darcey

JUST MTC BUSINESS: Did you get my other letters?

• Have you sent mentholatum?
• Did you post ALASKA facts?
• How is Aidan doing at school?
• Has the peace promised to families worked yet: Are big and little cats friends yet?
• Is Dia coming home ever again??
• Did Gadafi really die,
• Who won the BYU game.
• Do people miss me?

Elder Darcey, again.

SECOND LETTER

Letter TWO (Family got it Tuesday)

Mom, and family,

Elder Darcey again. It's the end of the third day and we've been in class for 7+ hours today.

There is so much going on that I don't have enough time to email it all.

The MTC is amazing, truly one of the most inspriational places on earth. I am so glad to be here. I'm going to share some thing I've learned, (Mom, put them on the blog please).

First I came to a realization today: When we roleplay, we play, but when we pray, we really pray. We teach with the Spirit through having the Spirit. One more thing: The Lord knows all that every person has ever gone through and we as missionaries are representative of Christ. Connect the dots. We are obligated and entitled to learn investigators feelings to help them through the Spirit. Cool huh?

I need letters. I can't use an Ipod, so don't send it until I learn otherwise later.

Thanks, Love Elder Darcey

FIRST CONTACT !!!

[LETTER ONE sent second day at the MTC yet not RECEIVED until four days later.]

Family:

It's my second day in the MTC; I'm never coming home. Sorry, but this place is great. I have an awesome companion and great roommates. All four of us in the room are headed to AK. I'll tell you more when I email.

Send me questions; They're easier to answer than making up stuff. My PD is on Monday, so plan for that.

Also, remember that I'm only an hour ahead of you, not twelve. Love Elder Darcey

...posted by the elder Sister Darcey

[P.S. YAY! Aidan worked electro-magic and reset the password!]

The Call

My RS got my call in the mail in Provo, July 5th. We took off, the cousins and me, and drove to my old dorm in Provo to pick the call up. Mom worried that we would never come back--we would open it, and then they would deliver me straight to the MTC!

I am unable to explain how cool getting the call was, but maybe you can tell by these photos and video. when mom finds them and puts them on.