Well, i have no idea if you will even get this, so please, someone dear elder me today and let me know if i need to write you a real letter if you don't get this! they changed the email system here so now i have half of my time because i had to spend half of it figuring stupid stuff out! kind of frustrated to be honest.
anyway, it's been another crazy crazy crazy crazy week! so busy all the time! but it's just the same old kind of week in the 84604! with being zone leader, i have so many responsibilities and it's just crazy all the time! most of my "free time" is either spent doing interviews or helping someone or in meetings so i don't get much time to study for myself anymore! it's kind of sad but the Lord knows what i am doing and he will bless me for trying! =)
so, this week we had a really cool experience right before most of my district left where we got to have an hour "alone" if there is such a thing in missionary work! we got to be ten feet away from everyone and have an hour of quiet time to pray! a whole hour to pray! at the start of it i wondered what i would pray for and i didn't think i had enough to take the time, but as soon as my knees hit the ground, a shock came over me! it was the spirit so strong! i never felt it like that before! as soon as i said "Heavenly Father" i just bawled! i have so so so so much to be thankful for! an hour later, i was still on my knees not wanting to quit. we went into our dinner time and on into the night just praying with our Heavenly Father! i always used to get sick of hymn 142 because it is a regular in most every priesthood meeting, but now, i am so thankful for that sweet hour of prayer! i love prayer! i know god listens! i know he is dying to hear from us very similar to the way that you are dying to hear from me mombo! =)
the language is starting to come! we were challenged yesterday to never speak english again for two years except in letters and on the phone home! how awesome is that! so far i am impressed with what i know! the gift of tongues is so real! it's amazing the kind of miracles God can work through missionaries who totally just put their trust in him and not themselves! ether 12:27. god gives us our weaknesses to humble us and make us strong! on our floor right now there are the first missionaries ever from the marshall islands or so i think that's what they said! it made me think of chet a ton! i am actually sending him my testimony that we translated into marshalleese! i thought that would be nice for him to see his mission language again! speaking of uncles...if you read this, thank you so much for your example! i love you all! and one more quote about the language..."it's kind of fun to do the impossible!" i love that quote! someone special sent that to me from a fortune cookie! and it hit home when i read it! it's so true that it can be fun but only if we do it the right way through the lord!
this week has been really rough to be honest! mombo you wanted to know how i really am well here it is. 8 of the 13 people in my district have now left for brazil with visas. younger missionaries than me (as in weeks in mtc) have received their visas as well. as for me...well no dice! i have felt somewhat alone lately. the mtc used to seem full of close friends...some i would call family and now they are gone! it's very tough! but as soon as i feel alone my best friends come back to me! namely everyone who writes me from home and most importantly the savior! he is always my best friend and right by my side! i love him for it! on wednesday, before they all left, we had a district activity that was really nice! we had "the golden chair" where one person would sit in the chair and everyone else would say what they liked about them and then we went through everyone including our two teachers! it was amazing! not only because of the spirit that was there and the compliments that were given but also because i learned a lesson! (-my time is getting short but i will try to hurry!-) just remember this always..."this is your life, are you who you wanna be?" that's a quote from one of my favorite songs before the mission! cassi will know it for sure! love you sis! but ask yourself this question! close your eyes and picture this...imagine the person you want to be...now open your eyes and go be that person! stick to who you want to be! be the reflection you want to see! i know we all have the power to be that! i want to be someones hero so i will try to reflect that to myself everyday!
i love you all. i'm sorry that i don't have more time! pray for me. i am teaching a real investigator named lorenzo on the phone this week and i am close to my first legit baptism! i can't wait to tell you the story! i love you all so much! never underestimate yourself or God! he can do anything through you and you can do anything through him! thank you for everything! i love you all so so so so so much! anything you do...do it 100 percent!
Showing posts with label MTC Provo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MTC Provo. Show all posts
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Pictures in the Mail!!
These are the pictures we received in the mail this week along with the captions he'd provided on the back!! -
Day #1 - From left to right: Anderson, Me, Hann, Nash
Meu Companneiro - Elder Anderson
Superman!
Our First P-Day
Me and Elder Sid Horrocks (Iago!)
My New Badge!
Me and Elder Hann
My College Roommates: Dave Barton, Me, Jake Avenius
Me on the Map
My Creation! :)
Day #1 - From left to right: Anderson, Me, Hann, Nash
Meu Companneiro - Elder Anderson
Superman!
Our First P-Day
Me and Elder Sid Horrocks (Iago!)
My New Badge!
Me and Elder Hann
My College Roommates: Dave Barton, Me, Jake Avenius
Me on the Map
My Creation! :)
Friday, February 19, 2010
February 19, 2010 - Provo MTC
Another P-Day!!
Wow what a crazy crazy week it has been!! seems like since last friday so so so so much has been happening.
this week was actually the week we started talking in nothing but portuguese! it has been way tough but also such a learning experience! i have learned so much from just speaking it all the time!
last sunday i was called as a zone leader!! talk about unexpected and feeling incapable of performing those responsibilities! i am in charge of the new district that comes in every week and orienting them and also in charge of sacrament meetings and district leader interviews weekly and not to mention my own interviews with the branch president! it's very very busy and makes me appreciate my study time even more now that i have that much less! but i love the calling! it's such a great opportunity to learn how to lead people and not feel authoritative! not to mention i think putting 19 year-old boys to bed every night is tougher than kids will ever be! =)
now the big news!! 10 people out of the 13 people in our district got their visas yesterday!!! crazy!! i'm so happy for them! i am still here though! which to be honest, i love! i already feel myself getting attached to teachers and people and just this place! it's gonna be tough to leave! i can't even imagine how hard it will be in brazil! but i know i am where i am supposed to be! reminds me of a scripture in D&C 100:4 it talks about God's purpose in sending you certain places! i know the provo mtc is where i am meant to be! there is something more for me to learn or someone else to help! i love it here!
now spiritual stuff...there's a lot, get comfortable! first thought...in alma 41:14 which to start out i love how the chapter and the verse are inverses of each other! it will make more sense after you read the scripture but it talks about how everything we do here on earth we will be given in heaven! i love it! God made the golden rule! that should be reason alone to follow it better! i learned this week that our church is called the brotherhood of the suffering by peter in the bible! i love it! it isn't supposed to be easy for us! it never was easy for jesus christ! he served a 39 year mission from the time he was born til his very last seconds on the cross! good people suffer for a reason and i fully believe that reason to be so we can know jesus christ and the atonement! now the best thought yet - i've always known what the atonement is and how to access it but it's so different for me now! to access the atonement we have to have faith in christ, repent, get baptized, receive the holy ghost, and endure to the end. that should sound familiar to you all from article of faith number 4. in the articles of faith though it says that those are the basic principles of the gospel. so essentially, isn't the gospel the atonement? isn't everything in this gospel centered on the atonement? now here is my challenge to all who read this....go to preach my gospel and read the first lesson and count how many times the words gospel, faith, repent, baptize, holy ghost/spirit, and endure are in just the first lesson. there are tons!! even the lesson topics have the word gospel in them! now replace all the words with the atonement, especially the lesson title for lesson 1. the restoration of the "gospel"...essentially isn't it the restoration of the ability to access the atonement? now to wrap up this thought shut the book and read the title....preach my "gospel". the atonement is everything on this earth! everything! this earth was created for it. we are here for it. we live for it. we die for it! it is everything! i always knew, but i didn't always want to do. when i came on a mission i knew and i was going to do. but now i know and i can't wait to go and do. i want everyone to know this gospel or this atonement is real! there has never been nor ever will be a greater moment on this earth than that which was spent in gethsemene and on the hill of calvary! i used to know of jesus christ...now i know jesus christ! he is my savior! he is my redeemer! he is my everything! without him none of us would have hope or have any purpose in our life. the atonement is everything! jesus christ walked this earth, took on every sin and emotion, and he will, without a doubt, come again! i know this better know than i ever have!
sorry i got preachy and so spiritual...i can't help it sometimes!
share my love with everyone please! i love you all so so so very much! i want you to know that no matter where you are, you are in the right place right now! god gives us trials to strengthen us and make us better! i love you all! mom thank you for everything! please let me know what i need to do for missionties.com! when i call on the phone when i get my visa we can discuss it more! i would love to get letters from you in 3 days instead of 3 weeks!
now to close here is my thought i made up this week! 2 of them actually - the first... put both feet where they should be because where your feet are, your heart will follow. and lastly my best thought... you don't have to be a hero but you do have to give heroic effort!
i love you all! you are amazing! i love you!!! i love you!!! til next week!
Wow what a crazy crazy week it has been!! seems like since last friday so so so so much has been happening.
this week was actually the week we started talking in nothing but portuguese! it has been way tough but also such a learning experience! i have learned so much from just speaking it all the time!
last sunday i was called as a zone leader!! talk about unexpected and feeling incapable of performing those responsibilities! i am in charge of the new district that comes in every week and orienting them and also in charge of sacrament meetings and district leader interviews weekly and not to mention my own interviews with the branch president! it's very very busy and makes me appreciate my study time even more now that i have that much less! but i love the calling! it's such a great opportunity to learn how to lead people and not feel authoritative! not to mention i think putting 19 year-old boys to bed every night is tougher than kids will ever be! =)
now the big news!! 10 people out of the 13 people in our district got their visas yesterday!!! crazy!! i'm so happy for them! i am still here though! which to be honest, i love! i already feel myself getting attached to teachers and people and just this place! it's gonna be tough to leave! i can't even imagine how hard it will be in brazil! but i know i am where i am supposed to be! reminds me of a scripture in D&C 100:4 it talks about God's purpose in sending you certain places! i know the provo mtc is where i am meant to be! there is something more for me to learn or someone else to help! i love it here!
now spiritual stuff...there's a lot, get comfortable! first thought...in alma 41:14 which to start out i love how the chapter and the verse are inverses of each other! it will make more sense after you read the scripture but it talks about how everything we do here on earth we will be given in heaven! i love it! God made the golden rule! that should be reason alone to follow it better! i learned this week that our church is called the brotherhood of the suffering by peter in the bible! i love it! it isn't supposed to be easy for us! it never was easy for jesus christ! he served a 39 year mission from the time he was born til his very last seconds on the cross! good people suffer for a reason and i fully believe that reason to be so we can know jesus christ and the atonement! now the best thought yet - i've always known what the atonement is and how to access it but it's so different for me now! to access the atonement we have to have faith in christ, repent, get baptized, receive the holy ghost, and endure to the end. that should sound familiar to you all from article of faith number 4. in the articles of faith though it says that those are the basic principles of the gospel. so essentially, isn't the gospel the atonement? isn't everything in this gospel centered on the atonement? now here is my challenge to all who read this....go to preach my gospel and read the first lesson and count how many times the words gospel, faith, repent, baptize, holy ghost/spirit, and endure are in just the first lesson. there are tons!! even the lesson topics have the word gospel in them! now replace all the words with the atonement, especially the lesson title for lesson 1. the restoration of the "gospel"...essentially isn't it the restoration of the ability to access the atonement? now to wrap up this thought shut the book and read the title....preach my "gospel". the atonement is everything on this earth! everything! this earth was created for it. we are here for it. we live for it. we die for it! it is everything! i always knew, but i didn't always want to do. when i came on a mission i knew and i was going to do. but now i know and i can't wait to go and do. i want everyone to know this gospel or this atonement is real! there has never been nor ever will be a greater moment on this earth than that which was spent in gethsemene and on the hill of calvary! i used to know of jesus christ...now i know jesus christ! he is my savior! he is my redeemer! he is my everything! without him none of us would have hope or have any purpose in our life. the atonement is everything! jesus christ walked this earth, took on every sin and emotion, and he will, without a doubt, come again! i know this better know than i ever have!
sorry i got preachy and so spiritual...i can't help it sometimes!
share my love with everyone please! i love you all so so so very much! i want you to know that no matter where you are, you are in the right place right now! god gives us trials to strengthen us and make us better! i love you all! mom thank you for everything! please let me know what i need to do for missionties.com! when i call on the phone when i get my visa we can discuss it more! i would love to get letters from you in 3 days instead of 3 weeks!
now to close here is my thought i made up this week! 2 of them actually - the first... put both feet where they should be because where your feet are, your heart will follow. and lastly my best thought... you don't have to be a hero but you do have to give heroic effort!
i love you all! you are amazing! i love you!!! i love you!!! til next week!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Three Excell Missionaries at the MTC!
Zack joined Uncle Evan and Aunt Nicki at the famous Map Wall for a few pictures. They are headed to Boston and we are so glad they were able to see Zack at the MTC and pass on hugs from the family!!
Pictures!
Zack's companion has a blog that I happened upon and imagine my surprise at who I saw!! I'm borrowing pictures from him since we haven't received any yet. It looks like there is still time for a little fun at the MTC!!
Friday, February 12, 2010
February 12, 2010 - Provo MTC
week #...idk...i lost track
Hello Family!!!! First off mom, thank you so much for the package! i loved the chex mix as did my room mates! we always share and they loved something different around here! i realized i think that's the first superbowl i have missed out on since i was probably like 2 years old but the lord has a better game to watch right now for me! it's funny...i kind of think of missionary work as a game of strategical moves and rules. this game is amazing!
Dad thank you so much for your example! i need you to know i am so proud of you! i need you to know how much i look up to you and i need to tell you how much i regret missing out on the times i stayed inside when i could've been outside with you! thank you so much for being my example and role model! you're the best dad i have ever met! i love you! the priesthood meeting sounded awesome! i'm glad you went! i love pres. finn! i haven't ever met his son but i know his feelings! i love the brazil people so much! i miss them and i haven't even met them! i can't imagine standing at the judgement bar of god and seeing those people i should have taught but didn't by staying home fulfilling my own selfish aspirations! i couldn't bear it!
anyway...also thank you for taking care of the insurance for me! i appreciate it so much! let me know what happens there and with the car! i'm so glad that lawrence came over! tell him i owe him some ice cream when i get home! i need their address too...i had a thought for maddie the other day so if you could send that i would appreciate it!
as far as money goes with missionaries! the money that is paid for them goes into a giant missionary fund for the world! it then gets divided for whatever the cost of living is and travel and running the mtc and everything else involved with the work! right now we receive 6 dollars a week on a campus card that we can spend on mail or haircuts or in the bookstore, we call it the mall! =) so far i have spent very little of my travel money because i get that 6 dollars so that is nice!
as far as visas go....not this week! but i know that i am where i am supposed to be! i am serving the lord and he is directing me! in doctrine and covenants 67:13 it says "continue in patience until ye are perfected!" i don't think i am going to be perfected for a very long time so exercising patience is mandatory! it's really not that bad! i'll get there when i am supposed to get there! and speaking of which...you asked if you would know when i get it...i get to call home for 5 minutes when i get it so mom keep your cell phone on and i will try home first but if not i will call you! mom thank you so much for your letters! i love them! i love you so much!
now for the bad news, our room once again received a "outer darkness" rating on cleanliness but i want you to know that right now my bed is made and MY stuff is put away! but we are only as strong as our weakest person! companionships truly are teamwork!
on p-day we get to go to the temple and do whatever we want as far as sessions! i love it! i get a lot from there! going weekly is such a blessing! then for the rest of p day we get to do laundry and clean and write letters! it's always a well needed day!
spiritual thought for this week...in alma 7:23-24 it has some virtues! i have been reading of captain moroni! he is amazing first off but i have learned more about the virtues he has! while in the scriptures it doesn't say what they are - with him you can easily tell! i've made myself a standard of truth and these verses explain my virtues! i put them in order of importance but my advice to everyone, sit down and pray to know what your virtues should be. god will answer your prayers! he does mine everyday! in fact today when i was in the temple i got an answer to a prayer and i feel like i should share it. i have been trying to set that goal of how many people i will baptize but i've learned lately that it's not our goal to make! the lord provides the number and we provide the means and the work for those people. earlier i told you of my goal of 125...today while i was in the temple i received an answer...i missed one. there are 126 people waiting and preparing for me. i know there are that many people. i was off by one but just like in my farewell talk...how great is the worth of one soul!!! i'm glad i let god set my goals! i will work and do everything everyday to fulfill those goals! another thought....any goal is between you and the lord! he is the only person who can help you set your goals effectively i believe! another thought...john 15...the whole chapter is amazing but the last verse! always remember where you came from! remember you heard his testimony and jesus christ's testimony before!!
now if i have time here is a short Portuguese testimony. blake i'm sorry if i miss some spelling but can you please translate for me! eu sei que deus vive. eu sei que jesus cristo e nosso salvador e redentor. eu sei que o plano de salvacao e muinto importante para deus! familias podemos eternal atravez jesus cristo e o plano de salvacoa! o livro de mormon e muinto importante e muinto verdaderio! that's all the time i have! but i hope that was right and enlightening!
i love you all! a quote and a thought to leave you with! "shall we not go on in so great a cause" and remember love is the solution to every problem! love 3 things through every trial...yourself, the people involved, and jesus christ! you can not fail! i love you all so much! you're in my prayers daily...even multi-daily! i love you all so so much! you mean more than you will know! all of you who have supported me thank you! i owe you so much! to the fam - i love you!
Hello Family!!!! First off mom, thank you so much for the package! i loved the chex mix as did my room mates! we always share and they loved something different around here! i realized i think that's the first superbowl i have missed out on since i was probably like 2 years old but the lord has a better game to watch right now for me! it's funny...i kind of think of missionary work as a game of strategical moves and rules. this game is amazing!
Dad thank you so much for your example! i need you to know i am so proud of you! i need you to know how much i look up to you and i need to tell you how much i regret missing out on the times i stayed inside when i could've been outside with you! thank you so much for being my example and role model! you're the best dad i have ever met! i love you! the priesthood meeting sounded awesome! i'm glad you went! i love pres. finn! i haven't ever met his son but i know his feelings! i love the brazil people so much! i miss them and i haven't even met them! i can't imagine standing at the judgement bar of god and seeing those people i should have taught but didn't by staying home fulfilling my own selfish aspirations! i couldn't bear it!
anyway...also thank you for taking care of the insurance for me! i appreciate it so much! let me know what happens there and with the car! i'm so glad that lawrence came over! tell him i owe him some ice cream when i get home! i need their address too...i had a thought for maddie the other day so if you could send that i would appreciate it!
as far as money goes with missionaries! the money that is paid for them goes into a giant missionary fund for the world! it then gets divided for whatever the cost of living is and travel and running the mtc and everything else involved with the work! right now we receive 6 dollars a week on a campus card that we can spend on mail or haircuts or in the bookstore, we call it the mall! =) so far i have spent very little of my travel money because i get that 6 dollars so that is nice!
as far as visas go....not this week! but i know that i am where i am supposed to be! i am serving the lord and he is directing me! in doctrine and covenants 67:13 it says "continue in patience until ye are perfected!" i don't think i am going to be perfected for a very long time so exercising patience is mandatory! it's really not that bad! i'll get there when i am supposed to get there! and speaking of which...you asked if you would know when i get it...i get to call home for 5 minutes when i get it so mom keep your cell phone on and i will try home first but if not i will call you! mom thank you so much for your letters! i love them! i love you so much!
now for the bad news, our room once again received a "outer darkness" rating on cleanliness but i want you to know that right now my bed is made and MY stuff is put away! but we are only as strong as our weakest person! companionships truly are teamwork!
on p-day we get to go to the temple and do whatever we want as far as sessions! i love it! i get a lot from there! going weekly is such a blessing! then for the rest of p day we get to do laundry and clean and write letters! it's always a well needed day!
spiritual thought for this week...in alma 7:23-24 it has some virtues! i have been reading of captain moroni! he is amazing first off but i have learned more about the virtues he has! while in the scriptures it doesn't say what they are - with him you can easily tell! i've made myself a standard of truth and these verses explain my virtues! i put them in order of importance but my advice to everyone, sit down and pray to know what your virtues should be. god will answer your prayers! he does mine everyday! in fact today when i was in the temple i got an answer to a prayer and i feel like i should share it. i have been trying to set that goal of how many people i will baptize but i've learned lately that it's not our goal to make! the lord provides the number and we provide the means and the work for those people. earlier i told you of my goal of 125...today while i was in the temple i received an answer...i missed one. there are 126 people waiting and preparing for me. i know there are that many people. i was off by one but just like in my farewell talk...how great is the worth of one soul!!! i'm glad i let god set my goals! i will work and do everything everyday to fulfill those goals! another thought....any goal is between you and the lord! he is the only person who can help you set your goals effectively i believe! another thought...john 15...the whole chapter is amazing but the last verse! always remember where you came from! remember you heard his testimony and jesus christ's testimony before!!
now if i have time here is a short Portuguese testimony. blake i'm sorry if i miss some spelling but can you please translate for me! eu sei que deus vive. eu sei que jesus cristo e nosso salvador e redentor. eu sei que o plano de salvacao e muinto importante para deus! familias podemos eternal atravez jesus cristo e o plano de salvacoa! o livro de mormon e muinto importante e muinto verdaderio! that's all the time i have! but i hope that was right and enlightening!
i love you all! a quote and a thought to leave you with! "shall we not go on in so great a cause" and remember love is the solution to every problem! love 3 things through every trial...yourself, the people involved, and jesus christ! you can not fail! i love you all so much! you're in my prayers daily...even multi-daily! i love you all so so much! you mean more than you will know! all of you who have supported me thank you! i owe you so much! to the fam - i love you!
Friday, February 5, 2010
February 5, 2010 - Provo MTC
It's been another amazing week! i am always suprised at how hard it can be but i know that god works with us harder! satan can be hard on everyone especially those who are trying to do the most good but i know i have the lord on my side and with him i can not fail!! we had richard g hinckley at our devotional tuesday and it was awesome! he talked a lot about what to expect from missions and i loved it! it's gordon b hinckley's son so he had some pretty intense stories! sometimes when he talked you could just hear the prophets voice ringing out in him but it has been awesome to listen to apostles every week! our other weekly devotional is on sunday and this week was kinda different! we had a straight up musical testimony meeting where people got up and just said what they liked about their favorite song! it was so spiritual!
i did see evan and nicki and it was so great!!! i just loved getting a real hug! you know how much i love hugs and so it was nice to get one from a woman! i love them! they are awesome and a great aunt and uncle!
so this week has been tough! you learn to just hate the food here! it's the same stuff every day and it all just starts to taste the same but i am so grateful for the people from byu who spend their time here serving us! it should be the other way around! this week has also been tough because you learn to rely on your own testimony a ton! satan works so hard on the lord's missionaries but i had a way cool experience wednseday in my personal study! we had about 6 hours of personal study that day because of the schedule and i loved every minute! i started with a prayer which i strongly suggest any scripture study should be preceded by! and i just asked heavenly father to help me with my rough day! to find something in the scriptures that would turn my day around and give me strength! not ten minutes later when i picked up my b.o.m. and picked up where i left off in 2 nephi i had an amazing experience! for lack of time i won't get to into the details but i know for a surety that god answers our prayers and that he loves us! the book of mormon is so real!!! nephi and jacob are my new role models! read the last chapter in 2nd nephi and hear his testimony and you can't help but feel the spirit! i love that book! i started over again last week and i am already into mosiah with some heavy marking and writing in all the columns!!
another way amazing experience was a talk that was sent to me by jeffery r holland about the atonement and missionaries!!! AMAZING!!!! i'm sending you a copy of mine i marked up real soon! mom thanks for the letter folding tips and also the thing from gordon b hinckley!! i drew a lot from that! i also know the blessings missionaries get are real! i see them every day in myself and also in others here and people like you back home! but i would like to say being a missionary isn't the only reason we receive blessings! anyone can receive them but it is all predicated on your faith in christ!! read hymn 136 and make it your testimony! go on you tube and watch a video called i believe in christ (piano) that is about 5 minutes long! amazing!!! christ is everything in this world! without him we would be lost and in darkness!! we would not have hope! we are teaching the lesson of the plan of salvation this week and i would encourage you to pull out dad's plan from his mission and go over it and understand it! and then when you put it all together, put it in one big circle labeled jesus christ! without him there would be no plan! remember that in heaven you heard his testimony of the plan before either you or me were on earth!! i love jesus christ! i believe in him!!
as for t.a.l.l. it is available to us but it's not my favorite...learning the language is coming along awesome! i feel so comfortable with it! hopefully i'll have time today to write you my testimony in portuguese and blake can translate for you! as far as visas...we have gottten 80 or more this week so the chances of me being in brazil in a week are very likely! it all depends on how hard the consulate there parties for carnival which is right now so pray for me! i know you are i feel it! prayer is so powerful! proverbs 3:5 trust in him with everything! excercise faith and he will help you! 2nd nephi talks a lot about that! i love it!
cassi i loved the new picture! mom you did a great job! cassi my room mate wants you to write him a letter! he thinks you are cute! his name is elder hann!...if you get a chance...cassi i miss your hugs! i miss hugs a lot actually! from everyone! but imagine how great a 2 year absence of hugs will be when i get back! that first one will be amazing! imagine the hug when we die and christ sees us! that will be the best! sorry i am kinda rambling! i hope you all know i love you so much! dad hang in there! i know for a fact that god blesses those who trust in him and use the atonement to it's fullest degree! it encompasses everything! even cuts in pay! christ took those emotions as well! i love you all so much! mom try not to jump up and down too much when you read this but hopefully i will get to call you this week!! we'll see....i love you all so much! i miss you all! tell everyone hi for me and i love them!! i love you all soo much! i can't wait to see you all again and share with you these stories and many more! make christ your foundation! make the b.o.m. your offensive stumbling stone and you will win!!! i love you all so so so so so much!!! good luck!!!
i did see evan and nicki and it was so great!!! i just loved getting a real hug! you know how much i love hugs and so it was nice to get one from a woman! i love them! they are awesome and a great aunt and uncle!
so this week has been tough! you learn to just hate the food here! it's the same stuff every day and it all just starts to taste the same but i am so grateful for the people from byu who spend their time here serving us! it should be the other way around! this week has also been tough because you learn to rely on your own testimony a ton! satan works so hard on the lord's missionaries but i had a way cool experience wednseday in my personal study! we had about 6 hours of personal study that day because of the schedule and i loved every minute! i started with a prayer which i strongly suggest any scripture study should be preceded by! and i just asked heavenly father to help me with my rough day! to find something in the scriptures that would turn my day around and give me strength! not ten minutes later when i picked up my b.o.m. and picked up where i left off in 2 nephi i had an amazing experience! for lack of time i won't get to into the details but i know for a surety that god answers our prayers and that he loves us! the book of mormon is so real!!! nephi and jacob are my new role models! read the last chapter in 2nd nephi and hear his testimony and you can't help but feel the spirit! i love that book! i started over again last week and i am already into mosiah with some heavy marking and writing in all the columns!!
another way amazing experience was a talk that was sent to me by jeffery r holland about the atonement and missionaries!!! AMAZING!!!! i'm sending you a copy of mine i marked up real soon! mom thanks for the letter folding tips and also the thing from gordon b hinckley!! i drew a lot from that! i also know the blessings missionaries get are real! i see them every day in myself and also in others here and people like you back home! but i would like to say being a missionary isn't the only reason we receive blessings! anyone can receive them but it is all predicated on your faith in christ!! read hymn 136 and make it your testimony! go on you tube and watch a video called i believe in christ (piano) that is about 5 minutes long! amazing!!! christ is everything in this world! without him we would be lost and in darkness!! we would not have hope! we are teaching the lesson of the plan of salvation this week and i would encourage you to pull out dad's plan from his mission and go over it and understand it! and then when you put it all together, put it in one big circle labeled jesus christ! without him there would be no plan! remember that in heaven you heard his testimony of the plan before either you or me were on earth!! i love jesus christ! i believe in him!!
as for t.a.l.l. it is available to us but it's not my favorite...learning the language is coming along awesome! i feel so comfortable with it! hopefully i'll have time today to write you my testimony in portuguese and blake can translate for you! as far as visas...we have gottten 80 or more this week so the chances of me being in brazil in a week are very likely! it all depends on how hard the consulate there parties for carnival which is right now so pray for me! i know you are i feel it! prayer is so powerful! proverbs 3:5 trust in him with everything! excercise faith and he will help you! 2nd nephi talks a lot about that! i love it!
cassi i loved the new picture! mom you did a great job! cassi my room mate wants you to write him a letter! he thinks you are cute! his name is elder hann!...if you get a chance...cassi i miss your hugs! i miss hugs a lot actually! from everyone! but imagine how great a 2 year absence of hugs will be when i get back! that first one will be amazing! imagine the hug when we die and christ sees us! that will be the best! sorry i am kinda rambling! i hope you all know i love you so much! dad hang in there! i know for a fact that god blesses those who trust in him and use the atonement to it's fullest degree! it encompasses everything! even cuts in pay! christ took those emotions as well! i love you all so much! mom try not to jump up and down too much when you read this but hopefully i will get to call you this week!! we'll see....i love you all so much! i miss you all! tell everyone hi for me and i love them!! i love you all soo much! i can't wait to see you all again and share with you these stories and many more! make christ your foundation! make the b.o.m. your offensive stumbling stone and you will win!!! i love you all so so so so so much!!! good luck!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
January 29, 2010 - Provo MTC
Hey everyone! thanks first off for all of your letters and for all of your support and i can't even begin to tell you how happy they all make me! This week has been crazy crazy crazy! you'll all also notice that for a while you won't be getting hand written letters! we were reminded of a rule here that i wasn't aware of until last sunday but our branch president said that we only can write letters on p day. so this week has been a lesson in obedience! it's so hard for me not to write back to all of you when i get something! i so wish that i could but i know i will be blessed for being obedient! as well as everyone that i love and care about will be blessed for me being obedient! it's hard but worth it! mom thank you for the package and everything in it! it is exactly what i needed and so i am so thankful for that! thank you for your help there and also with taxes! thank you for all the support that you guys have given me! sometimes i need it to make it through these long long days! the missionties.com idea sounds fantastic! i would love hearing from everyone in 2-3 days compared to weeks! just let me know what you need from me to do that!
so a normal day in the mtc....well we wake up at 6:24 to be exact and we pray then we go to gym and pray and we stay there for an hour! we come back and get ready for breakfast at 815 and then we have our first set of classes at 845 until 1... and we pray about 6 times in there...usually depending on what our teachers schedules are like! we have two teachers! i love them both! both recent rm's from brazil! they are so awesome! we have lunch at one where we pray and than back to class or study time from 145 to 6. where we pray about 6 times in there as well! we have dinner at 6 til 645 and then depending on the agenda we either have a devotional or class again until 9. where we pray 3 times! then we have companion planning time and plan our goals for the next day until 930. we pray twice in there! then we do pullups and workout a bit more til ten and then we pray and write in the journal! it adds up to about 24 prayers a day...(not enough to be honest) and about 13-14 hours of class! it's hard work but so rewarding!
ok now for my favorite part of the email...the spiritual thoughts!...the first one is in proverbs 3:5. lately i've had a hard time leaving everything at home and questioning why i am here...which usually means your doing something right if satan is making you question it all...but anyway i said a prayer in the shower the other night and i haven't thought of this scripture since my freshman year probably and it came to me totally memorized and i know it was the spirit reassuring me! i know it! next thought is captain moroni! he was the best!!!! he was so amazing! go back and read the title of liberty chapters and there is a scripture that says even satan feared him! how amazing is that!! next thought is in nephi 1. i just finished the book of first nephi and it is amazing when you really truly intently study something to know if it's true! nephi was so amazing! one of my role models to be honest! then the final thought...alma 26:27-30! it's the sons of mosiah that were so wicked and repented and now they are on a mission! it hits home to me a bit more...because they gave up everything imaginable! it even says that in the scriptires but they did it! with joy in their hearts and ever trusting in the lord! they wouldn't have gone back and done it any other way! i know it's hard here sometimes...never leaving a certain area or leaving the side of someone but i know if i do it with joy and focus on the lord that he will bless me! in the trc (the place where we teach fake investigators) this week we had an amazing time! the spirit was so strong! "in my very hour of need i was directed towards what i should say!" i flipped open to scriptures that answered questions i would have struggled with before! it was so reassuring to know of the sprit and it's help to me! now for your challenge! read preach me gospel! you will never regret it! take it line by line! you could honestly write a whole talk in every line and every quote! especially read chapter 4! AMAZING!
thank you so much for all your support! the computer is blinking at me right now telling me i have 3 minutes so i better wrap up! for all of you stay strong! i know you are strong! i know it!!!! be stronger!! i love you all so much! i miss you like crazy but my obedience is blessing me and you and more importantly the people of brazil! i know it without a doubt! joseph smith was a prophet of god and those keys that were restored are the keys in the church today! i love you all! i love you all so much! have the courage of nephi! the strength of moroni. the persistance and joy of the sons of mosiah! i love you all so much! all my love! proverbs 3:5! trust the lord with all thy heart! love elder excell!!
so a normal day in the mtc....well we wake up at 6:24 to be exact and we pray then we go to gym and pray and we stay there for an hour! we come back and get ready for breakfast at 815 and then we have our first set of classes at 845 until 1... and we pray about 6 times in there...usually depending on what our teachers schedules are like! we have two teachers! i love them both! both recent rm's from brazil! they are so awesome! we have lunch at one where we pray and than back to class or study time from 145 to 6. where we pray about 6 times in there as well! we have dinner at 6 til 645 and then depending on the agenda we either have a devotional or class again until 9. where we pray 3 times! then we have companion planning time and plan our goals for the next day until 930. we pray twice in there! then we do pullups and workout a bit more til ten and then we pray and write in the journal! it adds up to about 24 prayers a day...(not enough to be honest) and about 13-14 hours of class! it's hard work but so rewarding!
ok now for my favorite part of the email...the spiritual thoughts!...the first one is in proverbs 3:5. lately i've had a hard time leaving everything at home and questioning why i am here...which usually means your doing something right if satan is making you question it all...but anyway i said a prayer in the shower the other night and i haven't thought of this scripture since my freshman year probably and it came to me totally memorized and i know it was the spirit reassuring me! i know it! next thought is captain moroni! he was the best!!!! he was so amazing! go back and read the title of liberty chapters and there is a scripture that says even satan feared him! how amazing is that!! next thought is in nephi 1. i just finished the book of first nephi and it is amazing when you really truly intently study something to know if it's true! nephi was so amazing! one of my role models to be honest! then the final thought...alma 26:27-30! it's the sons of mosiah that were so wicked and repented and now they are on a mission! it hits home to me a bit more...because they gave up everything imaginable! it even says that in the scriptires but they did it! with joy in their hearts and ever trusting in the lord! they wouldn't have gone back and done it any other way! i know it's hard here sometimes...never leaving a certain area or leaving the side of someone but i know if i do it with joy and focus on the lord that he will bless me! in the trc (the place where we teach fake investigators) this week we had an amazing time! the spirit was so strong! "in my very hour of need i was directed towards what i should say!" i flipped open to scriptures that answered questions i would have struggled with before! it was so reassuring to know of the sprit and it's help to me! now for your challenge! read preach me gospel! you will never regret it! take it line by line! you could honestly write a whole talk in every line and every quote! especially read chapter 4! AMAZING!
thank you so much for all your support! the computer is blinking at me right now telling me i have 3 minutes so i better wrap up! for all of you stay strong! i know you are strong! i know it!!!! be stronger!! i love you all so much! i miss you like crazy but my obedience is blessing me and you and more importantly the people of brazil! i know it without a doubt! joseph smith was a prophet of god and those keys that were restored are the keys in the church today! i love you all! i love you all so much! have the courage of nephi! the strength of moroni. the persistance and joy of the sons of mosiah! i love you all so much! all my love! proverbs 3:5! trust the lord with all thy heart! love elder excell!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
January 22, 2010 - Provo MTC
Alright so it's hard to write back to everything because you guys are just so supportive! i love it so so so much! getting a letter from all of you was fantastic! i miss you all so very much but the work must go forward! Alright highlights for my week and then i will answer or at least try to answer some questions mom. The highlight of the week was teaching my first lesson to a real investigator in english of course but still so so so cool! now for the awkward part of that...blake said that i would see a lot of nursing when i got to brazil..well i didn't even have to wait that long to see it! they have volunteers that we teach and this lady had an 8 month old baby that was hungry so...bam there it is when i look up and talk about i lost my focus! me and my comp just kept going but talk about something hard to work around! the lesson went so well tho! the spirit was so so strong especially when she said our closing prayer! she knows it's true! eternal famlies is a concept that hit her very hard with her and her new family! she spoke portuguese too so we got to do our contact in portugese! i feel so blessed in how well i am grasping the language! it's amazing! gifts of god are real! when you just start talking with the spirit and in another language but you don't know it til your comp looks at you and says..."i didn't understand a word of that portugese you spoke, how did you learn it so fast" Gifts of god are real!
now for the questions...yes my companion is chase anderson entered same day as me from bluffdale utah. we get along great! still trying on the patience but so awesome to have a comp like him! so far i have lost 5 pounds! i've beeen working out hard and not eating all of the stuff they have here! you could live off this kitchen for probably decades! it's gigantic! yes the schedule is crazy hence the amount of letters home have been few! sorry! i don't even have time to think sometimes! i decided the weeks go by like days but unfortunatley the days go by like weeks sometimes too! we spend about 14 hours a day in the same class room. we have two teachers and they are both amazing! irmao peterson and irmao smith! oh p.s. i saw chad ruger today! he gave me a good well needed hug so that was good! when we started we had 19 people in our district! it's ginormous! now we only have 14 because five got visas the first day!!! so so so lucky! our zone is huge too because it's everyone waiting for visas to brazil! some people are now going into their 15th week here! i hope i'm not like that! we could be shipped out anyday theoretically...but yes you would get a call from me! they will let you know everything! i got the envelope and it's already sent back so be watching for it and dad thanks for helping with taxes! just let me know what you need from me and how it turns out! whoever said portuguese is like spanish is completely wrong! it's so different! i wouldn't even know a difference to be honest! it's tough but like i said i have been blessed extremely well! thank you so much for your prayers! i feel them everyday! my thoughts for the week...ether chapter 2 and ether 3. it's the story of how the brother of jared lights the boats! relate it all to goals! he has a plan and he asks god what to do. he gets an answer and does it! just remember a high goal missed is better than a low goal achieved! apostles have told us that in brazil it could be possible to baptize 1 person a week so i am shooting for the stars and maybe landing on the moon! i'll tell you right now my goal is to baptize 125 people! it's not going to be easy but goals are meant to stretch you! preach my gospel is amazing! you could seriously write a book just about each sentence! it's amazing! i love that book! this week i started reading the book of mormon again and i want you all to look at the first 10 verses of the book and you will find at least one core gospel priciple in each verse! it's an incredible book! i love both of these books! they compliment each other so well!
well time is running short and i'm sorry i don't have more! i could write to you all forever! dad the vikings should be in the bowl! we all know that! =) i love you all so so so so much! i will get you all a letter in the mail today! remember that god lives! deus vive! eu sei que jesus cristo es un salvador! i love you all! ttyl
now for the questions...yes my companion is chase anderson entered same day as me from bluffdale utah. we get along great! still trying on the patience but so awesome to have a comp like him! so far i have lost 5 pounds! i've beeen working out hard and not eating all of the stuff they have here! you could live off this kitchen for probably decades! it's gigantic! yes the schedule is crazy hence the amount of letters home have been few! sorry! i don't even have time to think sometimes! i decided the weeks go by like days but unfortunatley the days go by like weeks sometimes too! we spend about 14 hours a day in the same class room. we have two teachers and they are both amazing! irmao peterson and irmao smith! oh p.s. i saw chad ruger today! he gave me a good well needed hug so that was good! when we started we had 19 people in our district! it's ginormous! now we only have 14 because five got visas the first day!!! so so so lucky! our zone is huge too because it's everyone waiting for visas to brazil! some people are now going into their 15th week here! i hope i'm not like that! we could be shipped out anyday theoretically...but yes you would get a call from me! they will let you know everything! i got the envelope and it's already sent back so be watching for it and dad thanks for helping with taxes! just let me know what you need from me and how it turns out! whoever said portuguese is like spanish is completely wrong! it's so different! i wouldn't even know a difference to be honest! it's tough but like i said i have been blessed extremely well! thank you so much for your prayers! i feel them everyday! my thoughts for the week...ether chapter 2 and ether 3. it's the story of how the brother of jared lights the boats! relate it all to goals! he has a plan and he asks god what to do. he gets an answer and does it! just remember a high goal missed is better than a low goal achieved! apostles have told us that in brazil it could be possible to baptize 1 person a week so i am shooting for the stars and maybe landing on the moon! i'll tell you right now my goal is to baptize 125 people! it's not going to be easy but goals are meant to stretch you! preach my gospel is amazing! you could seriously write a book just about each sentence! it's amazing! i love that book! this week i started reading the book of mormon again and i want you all to look at the first 10 verses of the book and you will find at least one core gospel priciple in each verse! it's an incredible book! i love both of these books! they compliment each other so well!
well time is running short and i'm sorry i don't have more! i could write to you all forever! dad the vikings should be in the bowl! we all know that! =) i love you all so so so so much! i will get you all a letter in the mail today! remember that god lives! deus vive! eu sei que jesus cristo es un salvador! i love you all! ttyl
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The First Email Home!!
oh my gosh i can't even explain to you how nice it is to finally get to talk to you!! I miss everyone tons but the MTC is seriously so so so amazing! i love it so much! the spirit hasn't left since i got here! I guess i should start at the beginnning! as soon as you enter the mtc you walk into this room and it's just like the missionary army assembly line! they set you up with everything you need while you are here! You saw the host as he picked me up and i went through the line with him and he carried all of my luggage all the way to my room (which wasn't a small feat by any means!) we had enough time to drop off my stuff and just head straight to class! as soon as i got to class i watched a intro movie with a whole ton of rules and stuff like that! not to exciting but it was necessary! after that we got straight into portugese and it was amazing! i already feel so good with what i have learned! i'm not gonna lie at some times i think about how i only have 9 weeks to learn this and i have no idea how to even form much of my own freestyle sentence yet but it is still way awesome! after that we went to a big large group mtc orientation where the mission presidency and their wives all talked and it was amazing but out of no where elder jeffrey r holland walked in and at the end of president smith's talk he gave an impromptu talk like i have never heard in my life! imagine the same kind of mood as his last conference talk about the book of mormon but it was about missionary work this time! i have never felt the spirit so strong in my life! he said "this is not a fairy tale, we didn't make all of this up just to tease you and trick you all into being here! this gospel is real and so is this work!" i can't even explain the feeling in that room! just jaw dropping spirit! i could have walked on the spirit it was that strong!
now to answer some of your questions...i'll see if i remember most of them...
1. yes the food is extremely good here! they have the best salads i have ever ate and on top of that i can eat cereal every single meal!!! they even have blueberry muffin tops!!!
2. my "companheiro" is awesome! his name is elder anderson and he is from bluffdale utah! it's also very weird to be next to someone ALL the time! his personality is patience trying sometimes but he is a son of god that is trying to be the best he can! what else could i ask for!
3. Mom...the Tool program is here but we haven't yet got into it! this week's schedule is deifferent than all of my other weeks here will be bcause we are new! speaking of which my p day from now on will be friday so you can look for emails then.
4. as far as visas go...right now our zone leaders have been here for 13 weeks and we are only supposed to be here for 9. it's crazy they just aren't going through but we pray for them everyday! i also can say my prayers and testimony in portugese already! so amzing!
5. don't worry about the balance between writing too much and not writing! i can't even describe to you what the support has meant to me! i have recieved several letters and a couple packages already and they seriously make my day!
6. Now you can take this however you want but i hope you know me well enough to know that i am in this for the long haul and how much i love it here!....it is so so so so so tough sometimes! satan is a dirtbag as kenon would say! (send me his address by the way) anyway it is so hard here to keep going sometimes! but i was called by god to do god's work! i was forordained to this mission to help someone in need and i know that i am in the right spot regardless of how hard it gets!
I'm sure i didn't even touch some questions at all but i hope this will help you to know i am ok! thank you for the support! i will never be able to explain to you how much it means! feel free to cut whatever of this out you want and put it on the blog! i am so excited to be here! i can't stress that enough! i know this work really is great and marvelous! i feel the spirit so strong telling me what i need to do to be the best i ever can be! every single single single thing we do here at the mtc is working towards preaching this great and marvelous word! we run and workout everyday to stay in shape to preach it! we study and pray so we can teach it better! I promise you from the best point of view i think there could be that this word is going forward in every way! i have met so many people that i instantly love! i can't wait to fall in love with people in brazil! i hope it's closer to 9 weeks than 13 but i know God has his hand in ALL THINGS!
i can't even explain how much i love each of you! Cassi i miss you a lot! when i see the sisters here i think of you! you don't have to be perfect, just be inspiring! Ty, how's band? Mom i miss you! i love you so much! thank you for helping me get here and stay here! your letters mean the world! Dad, i hope you know that you can say things to me that no one else can and they impact me so hard! here's everyone's spiritual thought or what i found interesting this week! it's one of the 100's of things i have learned! Moroni 7: 13,16,19! that's how to know the spirit! I know that without any doubt in my mind! the spirit is real and this gospel is incredible and it is for every single person on this earth!
i love you so much! til next friday! keep the emails coming now but never forget hopw much these hand written letters have meant! i can't say i love you enough! give yoursleves a big hug from me! i love you so much! I would say god bless but i know he already does!
Love Elder Excell!!!
p.s......don't dis on my grammar! i did my best!!!
now to answer some of your questions...i'll see if i remember most of them...
1. yes the food is extremely good here! they have the best salads i have ever ate and on top of that i can eat cereal every single meal!!! they even have blueberry muffin tops!!!
2. my "companheiro" is awesome! his name is elder anderson and he is from bluffdale utah! it's also very weird to be next to someone ALL the time! his personality is patience trying sometimes but he is a son of god that is trying to be the best he can! what else could i ask for!
3. Mom...the Tool program is here but we haven't yet got into it! this week's schedule is deifferent than all of my other weeks here will be bcause we are new! speaking of which my p day from now on will be friday so you can look for emails then.
4. as far as visas go...right now our zone leaders have been here for 13 weeks and we are only supposed to be here for 9. it's crazy they just aren't going through but we pray for them everyday! i also can say my prayers and testimony in portugese already! so amzing!
5. don't worry about the balance between writing too much and not writing! i can't even describe to you what the support has meant to me! i have recieved several letters and a couple packages already and they seriously make my day!
6. Now you can take this however you want but i hope you know me well enough to know that i am in this for the long haul and how much i love it here!....it is so so so so so tough sometimes! satan is a dirtbag as kenon would say! (send me his address by the way) anyway it is so hard here to keep going sometimes! but i was called by god to do god's work! i was forordained to this mission to help someone in need and i know that i am in the right spot regardless of how hard it gets!
I'm sure i didn't even touch some questions at all but i hope this will help you to know i am ok! thank you for the support! i will never be able to explain to you how much it means! feel free to cut whatever of this out you want and put it on the blog! i am so excited to be here! i can't stress that enough! i know this work really is great and marvelous! i feel the spirit so strong telling me what i need to do to be the best i ever can be! every single single single thing we do here at the mtc is working towards preaching this great and marvelous word! we run and workout everyday to stay in shape to preach it! we study and pray so we can teach it better! I promise you from the best point of view i think there could be that this word is going forward in every way! i have met so many people that i instantly love! i can't wait to fall in love with people in brazil! i hope it's closer to 9 weeks than 13 but i know God has his hand in ALL THINGS!
i can't even explain how much i love each of you! Cassi i miss you a lot! when i see the sisters here i think of you! you don't have to be perfect, just be inspiring! Ty, how's band? Mom i miss you! i love you so much! thank you for helping me get here and stay here! your letters mean the world! Dad, i hope you know that you can say things to me that no one else can and they impact me so hard! here's everyone's spiritual thought or what i found interesting this week! it's one of the 100's of things i have learned! Moroni 7: 13,16,19! that's how to know the spirit! I know that without any doubt in my mind! the spirit is real and this gospel is incredible and it is for every single person on this earth!
i love you so much! til next friday! keep the emails coming now but never forget hopw much these hand written letters have meant! i can't say i love you enough! give yoursleves a big hug from me! i love you so much! I would say god bless but i know he already does!
Love Elder Excell!!!
p.s......don't dis on my grammar! i did my best!!!
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