Meeting my Mission President & My First Field Companion

President & Sister Winder

Elder Cornell

I Made it to Boise Idaho

Jan 28, 2014

I made it to Boise Idaho!!! Its really great out here. The people are much nicer here than in TN when it comes to not wanting to hear about the gospel, and you don't get as many weird looks when walking with a missionary name tag on haha. I hope everyone is doing great! I get to email today just because I got here but Mondays will be my normal email day after this. My senior companion is awesome. We have a complete day scheduled today and have to go shopping and just great stuff!!! I love this. It's so much fun. Like the spirit is always there and you're walking around that there is nothing wrong about your purpose out here. We are just trying to bring more happiness to the people we meet. I love yall! This is so much fun! I cant even begin to explain it adequately. I hope I get to make some nice food for my companions haha good southern food. I want to make us some Key Lime pie from our restaurant so I'm hoping haha. There is this area up here that is the Idaho City mission and it is like really big up in the mountains but it only has a total of 3000 people who live there! I hope I get to serve up there it would be so much fun! I love you all haha Ill talk to everyone later!!!!

A Little Mess at the MTC

Another amazing companion

My amazing companion

Look who I found at the MTC!

So I have a pretty amusing story for everyone.  I will admit though that it involves me getting um......sick to my stomach and then the after effects of that:) I felt that I should share this one funny story because I cant share all that I have out here but this one is pretty awesome. So I have 7 Elders in my district and while we were at our last dinner together sunday night, because 5 of them left this morning and me and my companion leave tomorrow morning, we decided to have a Chocolate Milk drinking challenge right after we just ate a taco salad dinner. It was just me and one other Edler that mentioned the Idea and then my companion jumped up and filled up to big glasses of chocolate milk and someone started a timer and said "go." So we both got the first glasses down pretty fast but then my companion ran and got two more glasses. I could see the distress in the other Elders face I was competing against and Im pretty sure my face was mirroring his expression. But my companion said "Elder Irvine if you finish this glass you win!" and so I got the last glass down as quick as I could and the other Elder finished a few seconds after I did. I had won. But then I suggested that me and that Elder take a trip to the bathroom. We made it out of the cafeteria door and my body got pay back and I.....returned....the chocolate milk from my stomach to the world in the middle of the main hall way in the main building at the MTC!!! It was so graceful. So after that me and the Elder made it to the bathroom and I had another incident on the floor and then that Elder had two instances in the trash can. It was one of the funniest things that had happened so far and definitely a strong building experience between me and that Elder!! There has also been a lot of amazing experiences haha! Me and my companion are the Zone leaders or were, and so we were given the privilege of welcoming the new batch of elders and sisters into our zone this last wednesday. We have become very close and they have really grown. Its amazing to see what this work 
can do for people in just two weeks. I cant wait to see how different I will be in two years!!! So me and my
companion leave tomorrow morning at 435 A.M. so I have a lot to prepare! I love everyone and hope that 
you all are doing fantastic! One of my favorite quotes from a general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints is "You can either be stupid and be miserable or you can be smart and be happy."

 - Gordon B. Hinckley. 

Love,

Elder Irvine

My New Bros

"And so it Begins" -Theodin of Rohan

Look who found me at the MTC...Elder Balzer & Elder Craw

Hello everyone!!!!! This is Elder Irvine. The MTC is amazing! We study the doctrine of Christ for over 10 hours a day!!! Some of the computers are having trouble with pictures so hopefully next week I will be able to send yall some! Um im in a trio companionship and one of my companions and I have been called as Zone leaders. Basically we get to welcome the new elders and sisters this wednesday and we kinda have responsibility over the sunday meetings and some other stuff haha its crazy we got called our second day here haha. The rules are strict and the schedules are hard core but the productivity of each day is so awesome! I have witnessed the blessing that come from strict obedience to the commandments of God and the rules of the MTC and being an elder. Some elders and sisters dont understand how much better their experience would be if instead of trying to find ways to push the rules, they gave everything they had everyday. Its so amazing you can feel the comfort and impression of the Holy Ghost upon you almost every hour of every day. Its so amazing! I encourage all who feel a desire to serve the Lord as a missionary to prepare now and do all that you can to make it happen. I can already see that this is what I need to be doing with my life and where I need to be. Also I would encourage you to build your testimonies of the Lord and witness the happiness that it brings to your life. You all are amazing and I hope that you are making the most of this life. We heard an amazing talk this week and in it one of the big lessons taught was to become converted unto the Lord not just have a testimony of his teachings, and learn to follow Christ example and when the natural man would turn in to himself, turn outward and the the Lord will provide for you. I have gained a strong testimony of this scripture from 1 Nephi 3:7 "I will go and do the things the Lord commands for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which he hath commanded them." I also love the purpose given to the missionaries. "My purpose 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." LOVE IT haha anyways its awesome to serve the Lord!!!