Elder Tyler Peterson
Hey y'all!
What's up? This past week was super good! I've felt the spirit so much this past week, especially during study and teaching lessons, it has been absolutely incredible!! :)
Sunday was like one of the best ones yet! Earlier in the week, one of our teachers taught us about how we can receive revelations by going to church with questions in mind and seeking answers, and I was like, "What?! Just like the Book of Mormon??" I had never even considered that before, but this past Sunday, I went into Sacrament meeting seeking to feel the Spirit, and it was incredible! There was such a strong spirit there, and now I know that getting investigators to go to church could have such a great impact for them! :) Also on Sunday, Jenny Oaks Baker spoke and performed for the Sunday Devotional, and it was so good, she really did amazing, and like her kids were playing with her too! Like her seven year old was playing classical guitar like a man, it was super cool! More importantly, their music brought the Spirit and it was so sweet!
Oh my gosh! On Wednesday, some elders in my district were teaching an investigator about tithing, and they came back with this crazy thought I'd never considered! The mission is two years right? How old am I going to be when I get back? 20! That's 10%!!! Holy cow!! This mission is like tithing on my life by giving two years of service!! :D I almost started crying when that sunk in, it was SO COOL!! :)
Then, yesterday, we got our flight plans! AAAHHH!!!!!! I'll be in Mexico in just over 9 days from right now!!! :D We're flying on Monday from Salt Lake to Denver to Houston to Villahermosa!! I have loved the MTC so much, like it's been incredible! But I'm ready to get down in Mexico!! :)
I've now officially been on my mission for a month! I'm so glad I'm here, I've learned way more than I could have hoped, and I really would not want to be anywhere else at all!! If the rest of my mission goes by as fast as this first month does, it'll be over way too fast!
You are all beautiful people!! Thanks for being my friends and good luck to all with school starting again! Especially those going to college holy cow! That's so crazy, and awesome!! Love you all, hope to hear from ya soon!
¡Nos vemos!
Elder Tyler Peterson
P.S. Spanish word of the week: misericordia - mercy :)
P.P.S. Pictures! Me, Bronson, and Ryan (he´s in Tallahassee now!!! Stud!!!) and the missionaries that we room with in front of the Provo Temple :)
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Elder Joshua Nieman
Ahhhhhhhhhhh P day. Oh by the way my P day is Thursday if you wanted to know. Family Im going to be honest with you this past week sucked so much but its probably the greatest thing that has ever happend to me. Everyday I spend a night in the CCM brings me closer to heavenly father and Jesus. But wow they sure do know how to punch you in the gut. I love you all so much and I feel like when we said goodbye at the airport... it wasnt a good goodbye. I just want all of you to know I love the heck out of you guys. I cant believe its been a week. It feels like a freaking year. I talked to all the missionaries and they said it goes faster and faster, so that helps me out a lot.
Oh my companions name is Elder Sitirud. Hes 21 years old and hes from huntington utah. Hes super nice and its good that we are companions. Oh my gosh spanish is so hard but I will get it down sometime. I spend so much time trying to study and I feel like Im getting it pretty well. Yeah I bought soap at the store so Im good with that. This past week was so crazy and like jason said, I asked myself Where´s my mommy? haha but thats ok cause I will need to get used to that for the next two years. Oh man it rains so much down here and the thunder and lightning is amazing. The thunder shakes the whole casa. It feels really good to be done with a week and I hope it goes way fast cause I want to be out in the field. The food here is really good even though I dont know half of the food I eat. haha But this is probably the healthiest ive ever eaten in my life. Im eating fruits and veggies and whatever the heck the meat is.
Mom I read the letter and it has helped me so much overcome the homesickness. Homesickness sucks but whatever Im feeling a lot better than I was. Like on the second day of the CCM I had to teach someone in spanish. Crazy I dont even know spanish but somehow I made it through the whole lesson. I know how to say many things in spanish now like my testimony, praying and some other stuff. Its amazing how quick you learn here but I still have a long ways to go. I have been looking at my pictures of our family and dang we are a good lookin family. I miss you guys so much but sorry the lord needs me for two years. I have been getting so excited to go out in the field and teach families about gods plan. We have been teaching lessons all about eternal families and how they can live forever and I cant wait to live with you all together and forever.
Im still in shock that Im in Mexico and I have started my mission but wow Mexico is so amazing and beautiful. I love the nights where you see all the lights of the houses just light up the sky. I also love the nights cause I get to sleep. Im actually doing pretty well with my sleep and waking up. Sometimes the streets of Mexico are loud and they start blasting music. It kind of makes me want to get up and dance but things here at the CCM is a party but thats the most that has surprised me is that I can wake up and not go back to sleep. It doesnt even phase me. haha oh my daily schedule is get up and practice spanish and then go to sleep. Ok not really but pretty much. My teacher is a latino and he teaches in spanish and its really hard to understand but I think Im getting the hang of it. They speak so fast and it feels like all that studying is for nothing but I know it will take time and I feel like Ive been pretty patient with the language. I know I will speak this language, I tell myself that every morning, evening and night and it really helps me throughout the day.
My district is amazing also. My whole district is going to Lima Peru East. So Elder Pierson and Elder Griffin are in my class. That helps out a lot knowing someone but Im getting to know so many people here. I get excited every time I think about teaching the gospel and sharing this true message to Peru. Oh yeah and I have to buy myself a watch cause I dont have my phone anymore to check the time so I have to ask Elder Siterud what the time is all the time. haha But keep me updated with like football and just anything you can think of.
Mom and dad I love you so much and I miss you guys but this is where I need to be. If I write I want to come home dont accept my offer cause I know this is where I need to be. It will be tough sometimes but heavenly father will help me through it. Trust me he already has. All of my sisters you are the most amazing people in the world and I miss you guys so much. You are all my best friends and I love you so much. I think thats about it but make sure to write me every week cause all these emails are helping me out so much.
I love you all so much and if you have any questions I would love to answer them.
oh and I want my friends to see this email to cause I love them all and I would love to tell them how Im doing.
oh and I want my friends to see this email to cause I love them all and I would love to tell them how Im doing.
oh oh and again I love you and I am taking a lot more pictures than my senior trip. Joni Im taking like 4 a day cause I cant really take pictures unless its my P day but I will sneak some in there.
Love Elder Nieman
*Follow the next two years on our blog for Joshi. More pictures will be posted here: http://joshison.blogspot.com/
Love Elder Nieman
*Follow the next two years on our blog for Joshi. More pictures will be posted here: http://joshison.blogspot.com/
Elder McKlayne Marshall
Okay so this week has been absolutely crazy!!!!
First off, last P day after writing home we went out to town and did some shopping, we missed our stop to metros which is a store in peru, similiar to walmart. anyways we awere like oh no!! thats not good!! but man it was the best thing the lord needed to happen. WE get off and start walking and we walk past this man and he says elders elders, turns out Oliver Flores, is going to be a future missioanry, he lost his scriptures and needed a libro de mormon, i had one in my hands, crazy talked to him for about 20 min, i had the prompting to give him my tie, so i wripped off my tie and gave it to him and told him, you wear this tie when you are on your mission!!! blessing come from when you follow the spirit. Anyways that was the coolest expierence ever, then we walked a little further had this prompting again to talk to this guy sitting on the side of the street, which we wouldnt of ever saw this guy unless we missed our bus, talked to him learned he didnt believe in god, didnt have a family and knew nothing about happiness, WE taught him to pray, gave him a book of mormon, and taught him about how much god loves him!!! it was incredible!! then we made it into metros, were standing in the check out line, and yet again i get another prompting to talk to the guy directly behind me, i fought this one a little cause he was a huge latino, but i turned i talked to him, he was soo suprised i knew spanish it was hilarious, talked to him, gave him a book of mormon. it was steller, so this past week i have gotten 3 references for the missionaries the other one was while i was at interpol i sat enxt to this lady and she asked me some question about the church, taught her the doctrina, and she loved it!! it was incredible!!!! I love talking to latinos they are the best!!!!
Oh man went to interpol this past week, which is like fingerprinting and teeth checking, it was a steller time, tonz of little kitties walk around in this government building, I love it!!!! we also went to pizza hut afterwards, which is like a fanzy resturant here, and goodness it was so good to have some pizza!!!
WE have learned everything we need to learn for spanish, now i just have to practice practice practice and try not to be way mad about past subjuncitive i hate that!!! anyways the teachers are great, the ccm is great, but i ammmm sooo pumped to go to trujillo and preach the gospel fulltime!!!! ahhh!!! cant wait!
Ahh few awesome things we had a devotional this past week with a latino 70, i dindnt get a transelator and i understood everything!! so the spanish is coming!!!
Okay more spiritual storeis and then well get into the crazy funny ones!
Today I went to the temple, probably the last time for a year!!! it was SO good, I did it in spanish, and yup got about 80% of it to 100% of it!!! it was incredible, I was sitting int the sealing room and I realized thats what my goal is, too get as many families as i can to kneel around the altar!!! its not bautismo, bautismo is not eternal families, sealing is!!! anyways so many different emotions i had whiel sitting in the sealing room!
I am loving reading the scrips everyday!!! this week is 1 Peter3:15 WE must all be prepared to give the answer to ALL of why we have so much hope in our life!!! and that answer comes through the power of the Holy Ghost!!! 2 <nephi 32:1-3 i think we have been bautized, dont worry about what to do, just speak by the holy ghost, the tongues of angels!!! i love it!!!
Alright funny story time:
Lamanite army of latinos:
So during dinner saturday night, Elder craft decided to drink his favorite beverage Mtn dew, I decided i was going to take the last sip...just cause thats what friends do, anyways he got pretty mad, and talked to all the latinos, the latinos didnt think that it was to cheveras either, entonces, he raised this large army of latinos against me, so after the days over i went upstaries was talking to some people in a room when all of the sudden about 30 latinos came and picked me up ran me to the end of the hall, craft came through the army with a brooom and started fake kicking me and there all chanting k, i get slide by my foot into a different room of awesome nephities, stay in safety for a min or so then run to another nephite room anways craft finds me in that room with his army and calls me to repentence. USTed NecECITA ARRPENTIRSE AHORA!!!!! all the latiinooos go crazy!!!! the coolest thing ever!!!
yupp its a reall thing i get bullied here!!
SEcond, monday, everybody is whispering about elder marshalll elder marshall, finally someone comes up to me and says all of my stuff is gone in my room! i had only noticed when i went up earlier that day that my fAMILY PIC was gone, that made me mad enough, turns out that when i went up earlier everyting was gone in my closet as well, but hey i only care about the family! so the day is over i go up and booom my BED IS gone, you dont still another mans bed!!! craft and gubs and my whole district had came up earlier during dinnner or somehting and shoveed my bed in the shower!! punks!
Dont worry it wasnt to wet!!!
Alright! I dont have much time, but I love you all, Thank you for all the emails!!! please keep writing!
Te AmO Mucho!!!!!!
Elder Marshall
Oh almost beat the CCM presidnet in ping pong, hes like Yoda!!!! when he gets a ping pong paddle!!!
Trujillo Here I COME! on tuesday way early in the morning!
First off, last P day after writing home we went out to town and did some shopping, we missed our stop to metros which is a store in peru, similiar to walmart. anyways we awere like oh no!! thats not good!! but man it was the best thing the lord needed to happen. WE get off and start walking and we walk past this man and he says elders elders, turns out Oliver Flores, is going to be a future missioanry, he lost his scriptures and needed a libro de mormon, i had one in my hands, crazy talked to him for about 20 min, i had the prompting to give him my tie, so i wripped off my tie and gave it to him and told him, you wear this tie when you are on your mission!!! blessing come from when you follow the spirit. Anyways that was the coolest expierence ever, then we walked a little further had this prompting again to talk to this guy sitting on the side of the street, which we wouldnt of ever saw this guy unless we missed our bus, talked to him learned he didnt believe in god, didnt have a family and knew nothing about happiness, WE taught him to pray, gave him a book of mormon, and taught him about how much god loves him!!! it was incredible!! then we made it into metros, were standing in the check out line, and yet again i get another prompting to talk to the guy directly behind me, i fought this one a little cause he was a huge latino, but i turned i talked to him, he was soo suprised i knew spanish it was hilarious, talked to him, gave him a book of mormon. it was steller, so this past week i have gotten 3 references for the missionaries the other one was while i was at interpol i sat enxt to this lady and she asked me some question about the church, taught her the doctrina, and she loved it!! it was incredible!!!! I love talking to latinos they are the best!!!!
Oh man went to interpol this past week, which is like fingerprinting and teeth checking, it was a steller time, tonz of little kitties walk around in this government building, I love it!!!! we also went to pizza hut afterwards, which is like a fanzy resturant here, and goodness it was so good to have some pizza!!!
WE have learned everything we need to learn for spanish, now i just have to practice practice practice and try not to be way mad about past subjuncitive i hate that!!! anyways the teachers are great, the ccm is great, but i ammmm sooo pumped to go to trujillo and preach the gospel fulltime!!!! ahhh!!! cant wait!
Ahh few awesome things we had a devotional this past week with a latino 70, i dindnt get a transelator and i understood everything!! so the spanish is coming!!!
Okay more spiritual storeis and then well get into the crazy funny ones!
Today I went to the temple, probably the last time for a year!!! it was SO good, I did it in spanish, and yup got about 80% of it to 100% of it!!! it was incredible, I was sitting int the sealing room and I realized thats what my goal is, too get as many families as i can to kneel around the altar!!! its not bautismo, bautismo is not eternal families, sealing is!!! anyways so many different emotions i had whiel sitting in the sealing room!
I am loving reading the scrips everyday!!! this week is 1 Peter3:15 WE must all be prepared to give the answer to ALL of why we have so much hope in our life!!! and that answer comes through the power of the Holy Ghost!!! 2 <nephi 32:1-3 i think we have been bautized, dont worry about what to do, just speak by the holy ghost, the tongues of angels!!! i love it!!!
Alright funny story time:
Lamanite army of latinos:
So during dinner saturday night, Elder craft decided to drink his favorite beverage Mtn dew, I decided i was going to take the last sip...just cause thats what friends do, anyways he got pretty mad, and talked to all the latinos, the latinos didnt think that it was to cheveras either, entonces, he raised this large army of latinos against me, so after the days over i went upstaries was talking to some people in a room when all of the sudden about 30 latinos came and picked me up ran me to the end of the hall, craft came through the army with a brooom and started fake kicking me and there all chanting k, i get slide by my foot into a different room of awesome nephities, stay in safety for a min or so then run to another nephite room anways craft finds me in that room with his army and calls me to repentence. USTed NecECITA ARRPENTIRSE AHORA!!!!! all the latiinooos go crazy!!!! the coolest thing ever!!!
yupp its a reall thing i get bullied here!!
SEcond, monday, everybody is whispering about elder marshalll elder marshall, finally someone comes up to me and says all of my stuff is gone in my room! i had only noticed when i went up earlier that day that my fAMILY PIC was gone, that made me mad enough, turns out that when i went up earlier everyting was gone in my closet as well, but hey i only care about the family! so the day is over i go up and booom my BED IS gone, you dont still another mans bed!!! craft and gubs and my whole district had came up earlier during dinnner or somehting and shoveed my bed in the shower!! punks!
Dont worry it wasnt to wet!!!
Alright! I dont have much time, but I love you all, Thank you for all the emails!!! please keep writing!
Te AmO Mucho!!!!!!
Elder Marshall
Oh almost beat the CCM presidnet in ping pong, hes like Yoda!!!! when he gets a ping pong paddle!!!
Trujillo Here I COME! on tuesday way early in the morning!
Elder Kyle Jensen
Anyway, just a few thoughts. Throughout my MTC experience I've had the opportunity to exercise the Priesthood and that is such an honor. People struggle, things are hard, but through the power of the Priesthood and through the receiver's faith, miracles can happen. In my personal study I read through Alma 13. If you want to learn more about foreordination and the priesthood, head in that direction because it's pretty amazing.
Another cool experience we had was TRC. Usually during TRC we teach volunteers that come to the MTC, but this time we got to Skype a native! Because there weren't many volunteers this native wasn't actually in Korea, she was in Ohio, but it was still pretty cool. Tomorrow we have the same opportunity to Skype and teach a lesson so hopefully we get someone who knows zero English, that would be quite the experience working through a language barrier haha. The biggest language barrier of my life though is coming up quite soon, but I'm ready for the challenge :)
Another topic I'd like to share is about prayer. In years past, I probably treated prayer not the way I should be. I know that we can never have a "perfect prayer," but the concept of prayer is really coming alive to me. This really jumped out to me while I was reading in Alma 34. "Cry unto Him" with EVERYTHING you may need help with. Prayer is a direct communication we have with God. God knows everything that we may be struggling with in life, but he is waiting for us to show our faith and trust in Him by verbally telling Him through prayer. I can testify to you that if we "pour out our souls" and tell our Heavenly Father about everything we are going through, you will feel the power of prayer and this conversation can be that much more real. Through prayer, I've been blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and it has led me to be an instrument in God's hand. The joy that it has brought me in blessing the lives of others is quite indescribable, yet just a small glimpse of what eternal glory may be like. Don't take prayer for granted, and don't miss the opportunity to put your trust in God (Alma 36:3). Talk to God and he WILL talk back, through scripture, the Spirit, other people. And after prayer, always be ready and willing to listen.
Once again, thank you all for your love and support. I won't lie, the weeks ahead of me will be some of the hardest in my life, but I have faith, I have testimony, and I have God on my side, things will be ok :)
Big shout out to all my friends going to college too! I wish you the best of luck, it's probably a pretty foreign experience as well.
~Elder Kyle Brian Jensen
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Elder Kasey Crafts
Dear Friends and Family,
I forgot to mention last week some Sky View Elders that are here in this mission! Elder Berryhill, Elder Guyman, and Elder Smith!
Wow this week has been great! Lots of great things have happened! But before i talk about that i thought maybe id give you an update on some of the investigators we've been teaching.
Wow this week has been great! Lots of great things have happened! But before i talk about that i thought maybe id give you an update on some of the investigators we've been teaching.
We have several investigators that are really close to accepting a baptism date. Everyone down here are really open minded and it takes a bit more work to commit them to something because they just want to hear what you have to say.
One of our investigators name is Gabby. She is about 40 years old and we've taught her several times. She is really receptive to everything and loves having us come over and talk to her. We've gotten really close to her and her family. Her, her sister ( and her sisters family), and her parents all live in the same 2 trailers. Her sisters son got baptised the week before i got here and so we've been working alot with him and just the whole family in general. they are the nicest people in the world. But back to Gabby. We took a member over to her last night when we taught her about the Plan of Salvation. Sister Morales (who was the member) was perfect! we prayed about who we should take to help fellowship Gabby. And Sister Morales was the perfect choice! When she bore her testimony about Eternal Families the spirit was so strong (even though i couldnt understand some of it i could feel the spirit so strong) and It will really help Gabby alot to have a friend like sister Morales in the church. Members really help alot in missionary work. Some of the biggest set backs people have for not coming to church is the fact that they dont know anyone that is there. But if the missionaries can bring a member to help them they lose some of that fear that they have.
Contacting continues to be one of my favorite times of the day! One reason why is there is alot of using the spirit when you do it. We will usually pray before where to go or to have the spirit with us and then we go out on the street and talk to every person we can find. Another big reason i like it so much is because you never know who you are going to find! There are some really intersting people out here, and also you never know who has been prepared by the Lord to hear the Restored Gospel. Some of the people that have been most prepared have been just by contacting and talking to everyone we can find.
Ive learned so much from being here! Doing missionary work is so much fun! (even if i dont totally understand the language). There are so many great people here. Ive also learned that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can answer any questoin taht you have!
Love ya all alot! and i hope you have a great week!
Elder Crafts
Contacting continues to be one of my favorite times of the day! One reason why is there is alot of using the spirit when you do it. We will usually pray before where to go or to have the spirit with us and then we go out on the street and talk to every person we can find. Another big reason i like it so much is because you never know who you are going to find! There are some really intersting people out here, and also you never know who has been prepared by the Lord to hear the Restored Gospel. Some of the people that have been most prepared have been just by contacting and talking to everyone we can find.
Ive learned so much from being here! Doing missionary work is so much fun! (even if i dont totally understand the language). There are so many great people here. Ive also learned that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can answer any questoin taht you have!
Love ya all alot! and i hope you have a great week!
Elder Crafts
Monday, August 18, 2014
Elder Kyler Olsen
Haha I cannot tell you all how excited I am to be writing an email right now! I am going to apologize for my contractions, there is not an apostraphe to be found on peruvian keybords, so youll have to excuse that.
First off, I love you all a ton! I miss you a lot, every single one.
Second. Why the heck have I not gotten any letters, or dearelders or what not?? I was like the only one who didnt have something when we got to Chiclayo! So you better get on that! haha jk, but yes letters are sure appreciated, and I would love to experience that anytime soon. Also Im gonna apologize for not getting back to you all, cause I only have an hour, and I have 40 new emails in my inbox. I will work fast and furious to get to you all. I still love you!
Sooo for the good stuff.
We left The CCM at 2 in the morning on Tuesday and flew to Chiclayo, and the sun rose right as we got above the clouds. It was sooo glorious! Hour and a half flight left us at chiclayo, where I met President and Sister williams and they are soo amazing! They had american breakfast for us at the mission home, cinnamon rolls, trix, oj, fruit, the works, and it was sooo appreciated! The first place we went when we arrived was the Beach. Which was so pretty. The beach is my favorite. And we had this super cool lesson where we talked about how Conquistadores burned their boats so they would have motivation to fight and conquer here in suramerica. So we made paper boats and got to torch them!!! So ya all you guys, all my former life, they got torched. The only catch was, my lighter dropped in teh bucket where we were burning them. So I reach in to grab it, and hahaha, my whole arm got torched, all the hair got scorched off and I scared Sis. Williams pretty bad. I was so surprised that my suit didnt get burned caus it was a solid flame. But ya then I smelled awful and all that. But who else can say that they got blowtorched on their mission?? haha
Anyways, so i had like 2 hours of sleep for that day, so I took a nap, played ping pong, and we waited for the transfer meeting where we would meet our comps.
It came quickly, but the newbies were last, so we waited longer. My companion is Elder Lopez, and he is from Nicaragua, and he is a super cool kid, a great example to me. He is very obedient, very very obedient, haha and I have learned a lot from him. We dont have a ton in common, but by the time 12 weeks is over I know that we are gonna be great friends. And I am serving in Cajamarca, which is about 6 hours away from chiclayo by a double decker bus... that was an adventure. Cajamarca is a lot more like home, weather wise, so I was happy about that. We are opening an area, so it has been super hard. When we get back, man. I am soooo exhausted. But I have also felt the spirit sooo much in our few lessons ( in the past 4 days we have had 2 appts actually go through) and especially our practice lessons. I never thought I could study for hours at a time, but I love learning and thinking and pondering and my testimony has grown sooo much! We had a lesson with a man named Wilder, and he was soooo prepared for us that I was almost in tears. I have learned how to follow the spirit to know what to say and when to say it, cause I still get lost in the espanol, but when I do listen, I know that that is what God wants for his lost sheep.
THis week has been filled with super hard stuff, and super good stuff, and wow, there is sure a lot more to come!
Love you all, Have a wonderful day, dont pee on the side of the road like people here do, haha and be happy! Pass a smile and laugh around for me!
Love you, heres some pics
Elder Olsen
Oh yeah, food.
It is ok. haha Watch for bones and hairs, and anything else sketchy, but ya. Some stuff I really like, some stuff I can barely keep down. And I have had more hot drinks in teh past 4 days than in my life haha, but it is good. Fish, rice, chicken, soup, eggs...:( canchita, which is popcorn, and we had RAMEN! I was soo elated to eat some american fod! haha. And my pencionista is amazing! Hna Carina and her family is my adopted family now! they are so great, so loving, so helpful, she is my mom here in good ol Cajamarca Peru!
Oh yeah, food.
It is ok. haha Watch for bones and hairs, and anything else sketchy, but ya. Some stuff I really like, some stuff I can barely keep down. And I have had more hot drinks in teh past 4 days than in my life haha, but it is good. Fish, rice, chicken, soup, eggs...:( canchita, which is popcorn, and we had RAMEN! I was soo elated to eat some american fod! haha. And my pencionista is amazing! Hna Carina and her family is my adopted family now! they are so great, so loving, so helpful, she is my mom here in good ol Cajamarca Peru!
Elder Kyle Andrus
Hello everybody!!!! How is everything back on the home front?!? My new area is Harborne! Right in the middle of birmingham! It is pretty stellar. My trainer is Elder Battles from Arkansas! This guy is a legend. He is training me up real good! He has some crazy stories. He went on a date with the Jessa Duggar. From 19 kids and counting. I cant even believe. I was freaking out when he told me that. Pretty nuts. But he is super cool and we get along so well. (pics to follow.) But we are loving it here in Harborne.
My apartment is in a place called Kings Norton. It is at the very bottom of our area. We spend the rest of the day biking to, street contacting, teaching, biking backfrom a place called selly oak. right next to the Uni of Birmingham. Almost all of the people there are chinese. No joke. I have used so much of my chinese that i studied in school. The Lord truly was preparing me to come here because i have been able to communicate with the chinese kids and the chinese students. It was a little rusty at first. But It ended up coming back in full force. I am more fluent than when i finished my last tri of chinese. But there is a ton of ethnicity here at the university. So many different cultures. So many different languages. So many different foods. It is just so exciting to get out here in the real world and see whats going down.
First day out here we taught a kid named Li-Kun. He is 21 Years old and chinese. He is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. And on my very first lesson i popped the baptisimal question and he accepted. For next week. Everybody told me i would not get very many baptisms, but on my first day we got a commit for him to be baptized. He is so kind. He makes us potstickers every time we meet. He is going to teach us after the baptism how to make them. Which i am thrilled about. He is such a cool guy. And he seems really into the gospel. He drank tea and coffee but he said he will give them up. Easily. So i am so thrilled about that.
Another investigator we have on a date is Fionna. like from shrek. But she is super solid. She is 25ish african english woman. Elder Battles was teaching her before i got here just like li kun but she is so solid. She has been struggling in her life and she needed some guidance. Battles and his comp before me was contacting and ran into her and she said it was an answer to her prayers. she has a little girl named tay about 1 yo. She is so solid. We have been teaching her about the commandments and broke out the awkward one with her in my first lesson with her. Chastity. Dang straight. But she was super cool with it. She said that was exactly needed to hear at that time. During weekly planning we wondered if teaching her chastity would be a good thing or not. We both felt is was. So we taught her about it and she said it was exactly what she needed to hear. She is awesome. AAANd she has a date for my birthday. boom.
And the final investigator i want to tell you about is Christian. He is a romainian about 30ish. We were street contacting (henceforth for forever will be called GQing so dont for get that) and we found this guy. We stopped and asked him about what is going on and he said he was christian so we got chatting and he wanted to meet with us. We taught him, gave him a romainian book of mormon and he went to town. He came to church yesterday and that was great. He said he had a peaceful feeling which is amazing. I explained to him that was the holy ghost and he was so down for it.
The mission is hard, No doubt. Waking up at 6:30, biking alot, always being tired. But it is so rewarding watching people come unto christ and to start to believe about the message. Not going to lie. The first couple days i was like, what have i gotten myself into. But after meeting the people i have no doubt this is what i need to do. The mission is turning me into a man before my eyes. I already have double the work ethic i had before, double the willpower, and double the paitience. (and double the chest hair ;) ) but it is an amazing experience.
Well that is all for this week. I love all of you.
Elder Andrus
#chinainengland
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Elder Tyler Peterson
Hello everybody!
What's up? I don't have a ton of time which REALLY is too bad, but that's the price you pay for balling hard on P-day! ;)
Anyways, this week was super! It was also probably my hardest as far as patience goes (both with myself and other people) but that might be why it was so awesome! We got a TRC investigator (which means that we've never met him and we don't know if he's a member or not) named Levi, and the first lesson was so fun, just talking in Spanish with somebody for 50 minutes getting to know them! :D Later in the week, we didn't prepare much for one of our lessons with him, and it was the worst lesson I've taught during mission without doubt. I felt terrible! However, we decided we'd do a much better job the next day, and it was like my favorite lesson experience ever! We showed him the Mormon Message "Until We Meet Again" (he loves Mormon Messages!!) about President Monson's friend who died in WWII, and Levi was so touched, and after I shared my testimony that we will see our loved ones again, he said something like, "it's so strange that you guys are so certain about these things, like it's more than belief, it's like knowledge" and that hit me hard. I'm so very grateful for my rock solid testimony of the Church and of the Plan and of the Atonement and everything!! :) I figure if I'll be able to contribute anything in Mexico, it'll be that!
Oh! We got an investigator to commit to baptism this week for the first time! That was incredible! I did a good job teaching, and the Spirit was SO strong, I loved it! :) Can't wait til it's for real!!
One awesome impression I got this week during a devotional was, "if Christ got you this far (which He did!), then He can make you the missionary He wants you to be!" That was SO encouraging, and it applies to everyone! Rely on the Savior, and He can make you great! (though you're all great! Just sayin!) You guys are the best! Thanks for your support! I'm praying for y'all everyday! ¡Les quiero!
¡Nos vemos!
Elder Tyler Peterson
P.S. Spanish word of the day: boladurar - to ball hard (that's a word our zone made up, but it seems legit ;)
P.P.S. Pictures! Elder Hoyt and I (he's in California now!!) and Elder Bowen, Elder Murphy, and I with our bathrobe class! We're quite the gents ;)
One awesome impression I got this week during a devotional was, "if Christ got you this far (which He did!), then He can make you the missionary He wants you to be!" That was SO encouraging, and it applies to everyone! Rely on the Savior, and He can make you great! (though you're all great! Just sayin!) You guys are the best! Thanks for your support! I'm praying for y'all everyday! ¡Les quiero!
¡Nos vemos!
Elder Tyler Peterson
P.S. Spanish word of the day: boladurar - to ball hard (that's a word our zone made up, but it seems legit ;)
P.P.S. Pictures! Elder Hoyt and I (he's in California now!!) and Elder Bowen, Elder Murphy, and I with our bathrobe class! We're quite the gents ;)
Elder Joshua Nieman
Joshua made it safely to the Mexico MTC! He emailed us a very short but sweet email last night-he's already very busy! I just wanted to write one of the many tender mercies we experienced yesterday at the airport. First of all, there were so many missionaries and their families this early morning at the airport going through the same thing we were. This helped calm both Joshua and us. As we stood in the line to check the bags, there was a missionary family behind us. I could tell that they were feeling the same nervousness and anxiety that we were. The young missionary especially looked very nervous and sad. The dad asked Joshua where his flight was headed and it turns out that his son and Josh were going to be on the same flight to the Mexico MTC. When Joshua heard this he responded immediately by extending a friendly handshake to his fellow Elder, smiled his legendary smile, and said hello in his cheerful voice. The scared look on this young man's face transformed, his eyes lit up and was visibly calmed. This is exactly why my son will be an amazing missionary. His special gift of being genuine, happy and positive will help make connections with people in Peru and touch the lives of those he teaches.
Here are his mailing and email addresses. We appreciate all of the support we feel from family and friends. It means so much to us and especially our Elder Joshi! I'm sure he'll be happy to get mail from you so let the letters flow freely :) (Packages are not accepted at the MTC but are allowed at the Mission Home in Peru)
Julie
Here are his mailing and email addresses. We appreciate all of the support we feel from family and friends. It means so much to us and especially our Elder Joshi! I'm sure he'll be happy to get mail from you so let the letters flow freely :) (Packages are not accepted at the MTC but are allowed at the Mission Home in Peru)
Julie
email: joshua.nieman@myldsmail.net
MTC: Elder Joshua Nieman
24/09/2014 13-D
Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828
Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero
07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal
Mexico
Mission Home (arriving on September 24):
Elder Joshua Nieman
Peru Lima East Mission
Calle Los Agrologos 368
Urbanizacion Las Acacias De Monterrico
La Molina, Lima 12
PERU
Friday, August 15, 2014
Elder Kayson Barwick, August 11, 2014
So don't feel obliged to read everything here :) If you want a quick summary, skip down to the In general section at bottom :)
The crazy adventure to El Salvador.
So basically we got on this mini shuttle bus with the 8 of us coming to El salvador. After we crossed the border the wheel broke and we spent two hours trying to fix it. The problem was we couldnt get it off the axel, it was pretty much like welded on there or something. In the time we tried fixing it we talked to this guy on the street and gave him a book of mormon, hopefully it will change his or someones life somehow. After working on the wheel for like an hour and 45 minutes we decided to pray and shortly after we were able to pry it off, halleluiah! We went to the mission home and learned and stuff. There was a really cool thunderstorm and we watched lightning for 5 or so minutes After we spent the day learning about rules and stuff in the mission home we went to this little house and all slept in a room full of matresses and just trying to adapt to suff. We went and got our campaions and I'm with a white one named elder loosle! :) We road on crowded public busses up to my area. Union III
The crazy adventure to El Salvador.
So basically we got on this mini shuttle bus with the 8 of us coming to El salvador. After we crossed the border the wheel broke and we spent two hours trying to fix it. The problem was we couldnt get it off the axel, it was pretty much like welded on there or something. In the time we tried fixing it we talked to this guy on the street and gave him a book of mormon, hopefully it will change his or someones life somehow. After working on the wheel for like an hour and 45 minutes we decided to pray and shortly after we were able to pry it off, halleluiah! We went to the mission home and learned and stuff. There was a really cool thunderstorm and we watched lightning for 5 or so minutes After we spent the day learning about rules and stuff in the mission home we went to this little house and all slept in a room full of matresses and just trying to adapt to suff. We went and got our campaions and I'm with a white one named elder loosle! :) We road on crowded public busses up to my area. Union III
What everyday life is kinda like so far.
Things in El Salvador are awesome! Its so fun (and hot) here. We have been doing a lot of walking and a lot of teaching. Its driving me crazy that I can't understand everyone because I just want to help them but I don´t know what they are saying! I am getting pretty good at speaking though. Everyone says its really good for being just out of the mtc so that gives me courage :) We have quite a few investigatores that are doing good, but its frustrating because they dont do things they promise to, like read. Sunday all of our appointments fell through and none of our investigators made it to church. that was dissapointing, but we mananged to get some new references! I live in a humble abode with my companion Elder Loosle. We don't have much besides a few tables a mini cooling unit (I'm not going to call it a fridge because it doesn't do much.) and we have a big sink thing called a pila next to a shower and a toilet with a curtin to cover them. Its fun :) I dont quite know what to think of the food down here yet. they have all sorts of yummy breads, but I have mostly just eaten cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for dinner. I love my white companion and we get along great! He lived in mexico and guatemala before coming here so hes fulent in spanish and english. There have been a couple big rainstorms and the lightning is huge and fantastic to watch! Lets just say ive already been soaked :) it was nice a cool. Its annoying that everytime the wind blows hard, stuff falls from our roof and gets our little house dirty. Its crazy down here. there are people just selling stuff on the street that you can buy. My area is this town with houses and houses. Basically theres just walls of gates that lead to little areas with houses in them so its kind of hard to get into houses, and difficult to find houses because people just describe where theirs is. Oh, you go this way and this way then its this house around here thats black. But they say it in spanish so only my companion understands.Basically everyting you buy with quaters and dollar coins (I thought it was cool they use those here, a lot more than dollar bills) and you buy bags of water and drinks and stuff that you bite a little hole in the corner and drink from them. Its fun :)basically i feel like the day should be over when its 2o clock, but its really not even close, but ive been having a good time so far :)
In general
On the way up our tire broke and we fixed it with the power of prayer. I spent the night in a room of matresses, we watched lightning storms and I got soaked a couple times. My house is small and stuff falls from the roof. Its super hot. We are trying to teach the gospel of happiness with everyone, but its frustrating when I dont know what they are saying and when they dont keep commitments. Im having fun! :)
a scriputre
a scripture weve used a couple times thats really good is helamen 12:5. We got to remember to center our lives on christ and we can overcome all our trials! I like this scriputre a lot and it gives hope.
Good luck to everyone! I love you all and I hope everything is going good! I'm happy to be down here serving the lord! esperanzo que yo no olvide ingles, perro, es posible con tiempo!
-Elder Barwick
Things in El Salvador are awesome! Its so fun (and hot) here. We have been doing a lot of walking and a lot of teaching. Its driving me crazy that I can't understand everyone because I just want to help them but I don´t know what they are saying! I am getting pretty good at speaking though. Everyone says its really good for being just out of the mtc so that gives me courage :) We have quite a few investigatores that are doing good, but its frustrating because they dont do things they promise to, like read. Sunday all of our appointments fell through and none of our investigators made it to church. that was dissapointing, but we mananged to get some new references! I live in a humble abode with my companion Elder Loosle. We don't have much besides a few tables a mini cooling unit (I'm not going to call it a fridge because it doesn't do much.) and we have a big sink thing called a pila next to a shower and a toilet with a curtin to cover them. Its fun :) I dont quite know what to think of the food down here yet. they have all sorts of yummy breads, but I have mostly just eaten cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for dinner. I love my white companion and we get along great! He lived in mexico and guatemala before coming here so hes fulent in spanish and english. There have been a couple big rainstorms and the lightning is huge and fantastic to watch! Lets just say ive already been soaked :) it was nice a cool. Its annoying that everytime the wind blows hard, stuff falls from our roof and gets our little house dirty. Its crazy down here. there are people just selling stuff on the street that you can buy. My area is this town with houses and houses. Basically theres just walls of gates that lead to little areas with houses in them so its kind of hard to get into houses, and difficult to find houses because people just describe where theirs is. Oh, you go this way and this way then its this house around here thats black. But they say it in spanish so only my companion understands.Basically everyting you buy with quaters and dollar coins (I thought it was cool they use those here, a lot more than dollar bills) and you buy bags of water and drinks and stuff that you bite a little hole in the corner and drink from them. Its fun :)basically i feel like the day should be over when its 2o clock, but its really not even close, but ive been having a good time so far :)
In general
On the way up our tire broke and we fixed it with the power of prayer. I spent the night in a room of matresses, we watched lightning storms and I got soaked a couple times. My house is small and stuff falls from the roof. Its super hot. We are trying to teach the gospel of happiness with everyone, but its frustrating when I dont know what they are saying and when they dont keep commitments. Im having fun! :)
a scriputre
a scripture weve used a couple times thats really good is helamen 12:5. We got to remember to center our lives on christ and we can overcome all our trials! I like this scriputre a lot and it gives hope.
Good luck to everyone! I love you all and I hope everything is going good! I'm happy to be down here serving the lord! esperanzo que yo no olvide ingles, perro, es posible con tiempo!
-Elder Barwick
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Elder Tyler Peterson
Hey you guys! Is the real world awesome?! Probably, but the MTC is pretty sweet too! A couple of people this week compared the MTC to EFY on steroids, which I've decided is a pretty good description, except I'm learning Spanish too! :)
Holy cow, this has been a super week! I'm so grateful for my branch presidency here! I had an awesome interview with my branch president that was so positive and at the same time showed me what I needed to fix, it was incredible! I'm really starting to use personal study time effectively (at last!) and it makes such a big difference when you study with prayer, a question, and a purpose! Though I'm no master (like at all) I'm learning how to better teach with scripture effectively and teach by the Spirit, which is awesome!
Devotionals were pretty good this week! We watched Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration on Sunday, and it was so awesome to thing that I was going to be doing the work Joseph Smith helped get started, it was super legit, and way humbling at the same time! :) Dang, I saw Elders Hansen and Hoyt this week (which was awesome!), and I'm really hoping to catch Elders Funk and Naegle sometime, that's like the one bad thing about not being on main campus, but oh well :)
I learned how important it is to give your very best effort this week. Wednesday was like the first normal day of my mission, and I hated it. I was just going through the motions, giving a half effort and being way too comfortable, then that night I realized how little I'd accomplished, and I decided to change. Thursday was incredible! I worked my butt off, and so many good things happened! Our lesson went well, I felt like I learned more, and Elder Butler and I had a spiritual Companionship study finally! I'm so glad to have learned that lesson!
Friday was good, except for I decided to get a haircut for some reason, and they did a good job, except for one thing... All I'm sayin is, you give them a centimeter, and they'll take three! Which is a big difference for guys! Or it should be... you'll see the difference, but that was like the most violated I've felt in my entire time here! Then I realized how lame and self centered I was being, and I went back to work.
Dang, I'm running out of time, but I want to say that the message of the Atonement is such a HAPPY message! Share it with everybody! Thanks so much for all of your friendship and support, I love you all, and keep being incredible!
Nos vemos!
Elder Tyler Peterson
P.S. Pictures: My reaction to my haircut, and my studly district :)
P.P.S. Spanish phrase of the week (bonus!): Yo se (pretend there's an accent on the e) que la Iglesia es verdadera! - I know that the Church is true! :)
Dang, I'm running out of time, but I want to say that the message of the Atonement is such a HAPPY message! Share it with everybody! Thanks so much for all of your friendship and support, I love you all, and keep being incredible!
Nos vemos!
Elder Tyler Peterson
P.S. Pictures: My reaction to my haircut, and my studly district :)
P.P.S. Spanish phrase of the week (bonus!): Yo se (pretend there's an accent on the e) que la Iglesia es verdadera! - I know that the Church is true! :)
Elder William Hansen
"Hello Everyone,
I heard about the tragedy of Ryker Dattage this week, and it's definitely hit me hard. I wasn't close friends with Ryker, but without a doubt, whenever I was around him, he could be counted on to make someone smile, trying to have a good time. It makes me happy that I know that God has a plan for us, and even if terrible things happen, I know God will take care of his children, and that he has given us the Plan of Salvation to do so. I can't say much to help anything or fix any hurt but God can, and that's all we need.
I leave soon!! Monday night at 9:50, my plane leaves Salt Lake airport to San Francisco then to Taiwan, (Mrs. Done, I have forgotten all my Chinese, so if we get stuck there, I'm afraid my three years will not help much :/ ) Then finally Jakarta Indonesia! I am so excited to go and do the Lord's work and have an amazing adventure! It will be so fantastic to get there, and even if it's so hot and humid and the people talk so I can't understand them, I am so excited. If I fall down, without a doubt, if I rely on the Lord, He will pick me up. Ahh I am so excited. One of my teachers is getting a degree in piano playing and she put on a mini concert for us which was super fantastic. Makes me want to play, which I did practice for a little bit but Elder Thompson wanted to go study so we didn't stay long.
We had to teach a lesson in English this week so the supervisor could come and watch us and our teacher could give us feedback, so the supervisor could give suggestions and help her. Even though it was supposed to be about her, it ended up being them both grilling us, and I was like, hey I haven't taught an English lesson in 2 months and I had 4 minutes to prepare for this one so it wasn't too bad I dare say.
Temple was great, I am going to miss it so so much. It's been a blessing in my life, and in two years when I can go again, I will be grateful for its blessing.
I had a dream about P-Day and I looked up and I had three minutes of email time, and still 50 emails to send, sorta like now!! Ahhhh got a haircut and it actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be, then they used a vacuum tube to suck on the cut hair from my head. That was exciting.
Elder Eyre yells in his sleep…example being last night. Probably from excitement to go to Indonesia.
Saw Bronson Naegle, and Ryan Funk and I was so happy to see those guys. Some of my greatest friends. They will serve the Lord so well.
Hosting is alright, definitely weird to see me taking missionaries away from their crying families! Sorta weird I guess.
Well next email will be from Indonesia!
You guys are all wonderful people
Sampai nanti
Elder Hansen
"Hello Everyone,
I heard about the tragedy of Ryker Dattage this week, and it's definitely hit me hard. I wasn't close friends with Ryker, but without a doubt, whenever I was around him, he could be counted on to make someone smile, trying to have a good time. It makes me happy that I know that God has a plan for us, and even if terrible things happen, I know God will take care of his children, and that he has given us the Plan of Salvation to do so. I can't say much to help anything or fix any hurt but God can, and that's all we need.
I leave soon!! Monday night at 9:50, my plane leaves Salt Lake airport to San Francisco then to Taiwan, (Mrs. Done, I have forgotten all my Chinese, so if we get stuck there, I'm afraid my three years will not help much :/ ) Then finally Jakarta Indonesia! I am so excited to go and do the Lord's work and have an amazing adventure! It will be so fantastic to get there, and even if it's so hot and humid and the people talk so I can't understand them, I am so excited. If I fall down, without a doubt, if I rely on the Lord, He will pick me up. Ahh I am so excited. One of my teachers is getting a degree in piano playing and she put on a mini concert for us which was super fantastic. Makes me want to play, which I did practice for a little bit but Elder Thompson wanted to go study so we didn't stay long.
We had to teach a lesson in English this week so the supervisor could come and watch us and our teacher could give us feedback, so the supervisor could give suggestions and help her. Even though it was supposed to be about her, it ended up being them both grilling us, and I was like, hey I haven't taught an English lesson in 2 months and I had 4 minutes to prepare for this one so it wasn't too bad I dare say.
Temple was great, I am going to miss it so so much. It's been a blessing in my life, and in two years when I can go again, I will be grateful for its blessing.
I had a dream about P-Day and I looked up and I had three minutes of email time, and still 50 emails to send, sorta like now!! Ahhhh got a haircut and it actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be, then they used a vacuum tube to suck on the cut hair from my head. That was exciting.
Elder Eyre yells in his sleep…example being last night. Probably from excitement to go to Indonesia.
Saw Bronson Naegle, and Ryan Funk and I was so happy to see those guys. Some of my greatest friends. They will serve the Lord so well.
Hosting is alright, definitely weird to see me taking missionaries away from their crying families! Sorta weird I guess.
Well next email will be from Indonesia!
You guys are all wonderful people
Sampai nanti
Elder Hansen
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Elder Ryker Lance Dattage
Though Ryker didn't get to serve in the exact mission that he had anticipated, he is certainly a missionary. South Dakota sure would have been lucky to have had him there in his physical body, but since that wasn't the Lord's plan for him, we know he will be helping out missionaries there as a spiritual being.
Elder Dattage is now serving as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the After-Life mission where those who weren't blessed with the knowledge of the gospel on Earth can finally be given the light and truth of Jesus Christ.
Elder Dattage is also serving as a missionary here. I attended his funeral this afternoon, and my goodness. I had always thought so highly of him, but hearing stories from so many of his loved ones sure helped me realize that what I knew of him was only the icing on the cake. What I knew of Elder Dattage was that he loved people. In a seminary class I had with him during our senior year, we had another student in our class who was a somewhat difficult student. This student had a wonderful heart, but had a disability that led him to have many outbursts. He didn't usually have a filter, and it was often difficult to keep the spirit near in our classroom. Elder Dattage took this as an opportunity to love this student. Without fail, Elder Dattage always sat next to this student and helped engage him in an appropriate way. If Ryker was there, we knew class would run much smoother and we would be able to feel the spirit more because he would be able to influence this student to help feel the spirit and only speak uplifting things. He just loved people and that's what was made very clear at his funeral.
I'm one of many who can probably say that I wish I had spent more time with Elder Dattage before his departure. This has just made me realize how incredible every human being is. If we take the time to get to know each person, we can come to understand how wonderful they are. But if we only allow ourselves to see what's on the surface… well then… we sure do miss out on some unforgettable and touching experiences.
So, as his mother said today, let's all live "the Ryker way". Let's love people and not concern ourselves with rushing to get to our many errands or putting checkmarks on our to-do lists. Let's live in a way that makes others feel comfortable around us, where we influence people to have fun and love rather than to stress about the many tasks around us. I sure hope I can remember the special spirit I have felt today and the inspirational lessons I've learned. I have changes that need to be made in my life, and I hope I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Ryker will live forever in our hearts and minds. I hope he will watch over me and remind me and you, when we need to be reminded, to live "the Ryker way".
See ya later Elder Dattage! No luck needed out there because you know your stuff and you're ready to be a missionary! That must be why you headed out a little early. You just couldn't wait to share with others! Thanks for the light you leave here for us to follow.
Though Ryker didn't get to serve in the exact mission that he had anticipated, he is certainly a missionary. South Dakota sure would have been lucky to have had him there in his physical body, but since that wasn't the Lord's plan for him, we know he will be helping out missionaries there as a spiritual being.
Elder Dattage is now serving as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the After-Life mission where those who weren't blessed with the knowledge of the gospel on Earth can finally be given the light and truth of Jesus Christ.
Elder Dattage is also serving as a missionary here. I attended his funeral this afternoon, and my goodness. I had always thought so highly of him, but hearing stories from so many of his loved ones sure helped me realize that what I knew of him was only the icing on the cake. What I knew of Elder Dattage was that he loved people. In a seminary class I had with him during our senior year, we had another student in our class who was a somewhat difficult student. This student had a wonderful heart, but had a disability that led him to have many outbursts. He didn't usually have a filter, and it was often difficult to keep the spirit near in our classroom. Elder Dattage took this as an opportunity to love this student. Without fail, Elder Dattage always sat next to this student and helped engage him in an appropriate way. If Ryker was there, we knew class would run much smoother and we would be able to feel the spirit more because he would be able to influence this student to help feel the spirit and only speak uplifting things. He just loved people and that's what was made very clear at his funeral.
I'm one of many who can probably say that I wish I had spent more time with Elder Dattage before his departure. This has just made me realize how incredible every human being is. If we take the time to get to know each person, we can come to understand how wonderful they are. But if we only allow ourselves to see what's on the surface… well then… we sure do miss out on some unforgettable and touching experiences.
So, as his mother said today, let's all live "the Ryker way". Let's love people and not concern ourselves with rushing to get to our many errands or putting checkmarks on our to-do lists. Let's live in a way that makes others feel comfortable around us, where we influence people to have fun and love rather than to stress about the many tasks around us. I sure hope I can remember the special spirit I have felt today and the inspirational lessons I've learned. I have changes that need to be made in my life, and I hope I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Ryker will live forever in our hearts and minds. I hope he will watch over me and remind me and you, when we need to be reminded, to live "the Ryker way".
See ya later Elder Dattage! No luck needed out there because you know your stuff and you're ready to be a missionary! That must be why you headed out a little early. You just couldn't wait to share with others! Thanks for the light you leave here for us to follow.
Elder McKlayne Marshall
Well, goodness gravy, I have an incredibly much amout of things to tell ya!!! so,
The day I wrote last week, afterwards, I gave a blessing to one of the elders in my district. Elder Hinman, he has been struggling with the spanish and was really down, anyways, it was an incredible expierence for me and for the group, the spirit was so strong, and its amazing what happens when you be still and listen to the spirit. hes doing a lot better. I definantly learned alot from that expierence.
The next day we went to Caral, the oldest city in south america, it was a ton of fun and way cool!!! i think the peruvians there took more pictures with the huge group of LDS Gringo missionaries then the ruins at caral....so funny!!!
So last week was great, lots of learning, lots of teaching. I dont know if ive explained the teaching very much. WE have as a district two investegadors that we teach everyday, once in the morning and once in the evening. Its sooo awesome watching as we are all progressing in the español as well as the basic teaching of the Evangelio de Jesucristo!! im learning so much, and there is a lot i can improve on. The teachers we have are Hermano Carpio in the manana and Hermano Huaita in the noche. they are the best. There really understanding and help everyone out.
The language is coming. Lots of practice and paciencia is the key!! Over the last couple of days the group as set a goal to speak only spanish all day long, and man oh man it definantly helps. that is for sure. I have so far memorized The purpose of a missioanry, The first Vision, Moroni 10:4 and 5, and am almost done with D&C 20:37.
I was realized as district leader this past sunday and the new district leader is elder farnsy...he is the really smart kid. love him to death. The district is doing well, WE definanlty have the best district in the CCM and everybody knows it...kidding (kinda)
my room got a great suprise at 3 in the morning because half of our district is in a different room they decided to set off the loudest alarm at 3 in the morning in our room!!! so funny but ya i was a littler tired the next day!! That kind of puts into perspective how much fun we have together, i have so many stories but not much time!!! we sure do have a lot of fun and were all trying so hard. ######Elder Grant is doing a little better. i talked to him on satruday night and gosh he sometimes just doesnt make sense. he said to me I Know this church is true, has a wonderful testimony, said hes willing to serve a full time mission, but once he gets home he is done with the Church!! That night I bore one of the most amazing testimonies i think ive ever said. I was so many different emotions at that point. he is really hard to explain hes working things out, but if he says that once hes done with his mission he´ll be done with the church im not letting him leave to Trujillo! This part is for family only...
Best thing ive eaten here is probably the churros...best thing ever...its like a dougnut with carmel on the inside. soo yummyy!!
for Physical activity this past week we started up some flippen awesome volleyball...that has been a blast!!!
This past Tuesday we had a devotional with a first Qurom of the 70, his name is really hard, hes way tall, and he speaks english...anyways he gave an incredible talk but my district and I had the special musical number, so We sang Más Cerca Dios a Ti, which is Nearer my god To thee. And I played the piano, and did the little solo i have for that song. it went really well and it was a great way to invite the spirit into the meeting!!!
I havent been to the Lima temple again yet and wont go today because its closed for cleaning which is really sad, but i will be going next week!!
Scrip for this week is 3 Nephi 11-26 Jesucristo es el mejor maestro. One day i hope i can teach like as 1/3 as good as he taught!!!
Yo se Que La iglesia de Jesucristo es verdadera. Yo se que el libro de mormón es la palabras de dios y mediente el libro nosotros encontramos felizidad!!!!
Te amo much!!!
Well, goodness gravy, I have an incredibly much amout of things to tell ya!!! so,
The day I wrote last week, afterwards, I gave a blessing to one of the elders in my district. Elder Hinman, he has been struggling with the spanish and was really down, anyways, it was an incredible expierence for me and for the group, the spirit was so strong, and its amazing what happens when you be still and listen to the spirit. hes doing a lot better. I definantly learned alot from that expierence.
The next day we went to Caral, the oldest city in south america, it was a ton of fun and way cool!!! i think the peruvians there took more pictures with the huge group of LDS Gringo missionaries then the ruins at caral....so funny!!!
So last week was great, lots of learning, lots of teaching. I dont know if ive explained the teaching very much. WE have as a district two investegadors that we teach everyday, once in the morning and once in the evening. Its sooo awesome watching as we are all progressing in the español as well as the basic teaching of the Evangelio de Jesucristo!! im learning so much, and there is a lot i can improve on. The teachers we have are Hermano Carpio in the manana and Hermano Huaita in the noche. they are the best. There really understanding and help everyone out.
The language is coming. Lots of practice and paciencia is the key!! Over the last couple of days the group as set a goal to speak only spanish all day long, and man oh man it definantly helps. that is for sure. I have so far memorized The purpose of a missioanry, The first Vision, Moroni 10:4 and 5, and am almost done with D&C 20:37.
I was realized as district leader this past sunday and the new district leader is elder farnsy...he is the really smart kid. love him to death. The district is doing well, WE definanlty have the best district in the CCM and everybody knows it...kidding (kinda)
my room got a great suprise at 3 in the morning because half of our district is in a different room they decided to set off the loudest alarm at 3 in the morning in our room!!! so funny but ya i was a littler tired the next day!! That kind of puts into perspective how much fun we have together, i have so many stories but not much time!!! we sure do have a lot of fun and were all trying so hard. ######Elder Grant is doing a little better. i talked to him on satruday night and gosh he sometimes just doesnt make sense. he said to me I Know this church is true, has a wonderful testimony, said hes willing to serve a full time mission, but once he gets home he is done with the Church!! That night I bore one of the most amazing testimonies i think ive ever said. I was so many different emotions at that point. he is really hard to explain hes working things out, but if he says that once hes done with his mission he´ll be done with the church im not letting him leave to Trujillo! This part is for family only...
Best thing ive eaten here is probably the churros...best thing ever...its like a dougnut with carmel on the inside. soo yummyy!!
for Physical activity this past week we started up some flippen awesome volleyball...that has been a blast!!!
This past Tuesday we had a devotional with a first Qurom of the 70, his name is really hard, hes way tall, and he speaks english...anyways he gave an incredible talk but my district and I had the special musical number, so We sang Más Cerca Dios a Ti, which is Nearer my god To thee. And I played the piano, and did the little solo i have for that song. it went really well and it was a great way to invite the spirit into the meeting!!!
I havent been to the Lima temple again yet and wont go today because its closed for cleaning which is really sad, but i will be going next week!!
Scrip for this week is 3 Nephi 11-26 Jesucristo es el mejor maestro. One day i hope i can teach like as 1/3 as good as he taught!!!
Yo se Que La iglesia de Jesucristo es verdadera. Yo se que el libro de mormón es la palabras de dios y mediente el libro nosotros encontramos felizidad!!!!
Te amo much!!!
Elder Marshall
Por favor WRite me and tell me about all your crazy stories and how life is back home!!!!
Velocidad a Dios
Por favor WRite me and tell me about all your crazy stories and how life is back home!!!!
Velocidad a Dios
Elder Kyle Jensen
To start, I'll tell ya a little about Korean. it's pretty crazy fun. I love it. The language does have an alphabet so that's really nice. It gives the opportunity to read everything but not understand it all a haha. When speaking and writing, Korean typically has three forms: high, middle, and low form. Each form correlates with amount of respect, who you are talking to (older or younger, friend, parents, elderly, etc.). High form like you might guess is the one we are taught here at the MTC because it's most respectful. The difference between all the words when you speak them is not drastically different, but it does sound a tad bit different in each form, and the high form usually takes longer to say because of the conjugation and respectful terms used. It'll be interesting to adjust to each of these forms and that will be a story by itself when I get to Korea haha.
We don't get to learn a lot about the customs, but we do have a native teacher who is the nicest Korean I've met haha. She tells us a little bit about what we have coming. One thing that I'll have to get used to is apparently it's not the most respectful to shake your leg. I guess it shows impatience, stuff like that, so I'm going to have to work really hard to stop that because I do it ALL the time. Anyway, I'm super excited to dive into this culture. I know that it will help me grow so much and shape my life for the future.
After hearing form the BYU President on Sunday, I and a chance to watch the Joseph Smith film again. I'm fairly sure it gets better each time, haha, I love it! One thing that really hit me is a line Joseph says after he gets tarred and feathered (not sure if it's actually words he spoke or just scripted). Anyway, it's, "Perhaps I am meant to swim in deep water." I know I have a boatload of trials and challenges ahead of me in my mission and my life. These are going to be the hardest moments in my life. But I can confidently say I'll be ready for them. I know that God expects a lot from me, and I'll overthrow Satan's hoards of temptations and shake the foundations where he resides. My faith has grown so much, and with my faith in God and Jesus Christ, I can perform miracles like they did. nothing can stop me or this work from moving forward! I do have my down times, but they are so incomparable tot he joy I feel from seeing God's hand in my life. Some awesome news yesterday. I had the opportunity to escort the incoming missionaries, and guess who I got to show around?! Elder Ryan Funk and Elder Tyler Larsen! Haha, it was so great, it made me so happy to see so many familiar faces coming in from Cache Valley. i did get little irritated though when I realized they were both leaving the MTC before me haha. Oh well, I'll get to Korea eventually.
One more thought I'd like to share with you guys. I had an amazing experience that happened to me this week. i won't get into details, but I can testify to you that the Lord is waiting to bless us with his tender mercies ACCORDING to their faith. It reminded me of this scripture in Nephi. It's no coincidence that Nephi ends the first chapter of his writings with this verse. God is real. And the moments we see and feel His presence in our lives are pure joy.
20. And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
I love you all. Thanks so much for the emails! They really helped me today, I really needed them!
To start, I'll tell ya a little about Korean. it's pretty crazy fun. I love it. The language does have an alphabet so that's really nice. It gives the opportunity to read everything but not understand it all a haha. When speaking and writing, Korean typically has three forms: high, middle, and low form. Each form correlates with amount of respect, who you are talking to (older or younger, friend, parents, elderly, etc.). High form like you might guess is the one we are taught here at the MTC because it's most respectful. The difference between all the words when you speak them is not drastically different, but it does sound a tad bit different in each form, and the high form usually takes longer to say because of the conjugation and respectful terms used. It'll be interesting to adjust to each of these forms and that will be a story by itself when I get to Korea haha.
We don't get to learn a lot about the customs, but we do have a native teacher who is the nicest Korean I've met haha. She tells us a little bit about what we have coming. One thing that I'll have to get used to is apparently it's not the most respectful to shake your leg. I guess it shows impatience, stuff like that, so I'm going to have to work really hard to stop that because I do it ALL the time. Anyway, I'm super excited to dive into this culture. I know that it will help me grow so much and shape my life for the future.
After hearing form the BYU President on Sunday, I and a chance to watch the Joseph Smith film again. I'm fairly sure it gets better each time, haha, I love it! One thing that really hit me is a line Joseph says after he gets tarred and feathered (not sure if it's actually words he spoke or just scripted). Anyway, it's, "Perhaps I am meant to swim in deep water." I know I have a boatload of trials and challenges ahead of me in my mission and my life. These are going to be the hardest moments in my life. But I can confidently say I'll be ready for them. I know that God expects a lot from me, and I'll overthrow Satan's hoards of temptations and shake the foundations where he resides. My faith has grown so much, and with my faith in God and Jesus Christ, I can perform miracles like they did. nothing can stop me or this work from moving forward! I do have my down times, but they are so incomparable tot he joy I feel from seeing God's hand in my life. Some awesome news yesterday. I had the opportunity to escort the incoming missionaries, and guess who I got to show around?! Elder Ryan Funk and Elder Tyler Larsen! Haha, it was so great, it made me so happy to see so many familiar faces coming in from Cache Valley. i did get little irritated though when I realized they were both leaving the MTC before me haha. Oh well, I'll get to Korea eventually.
One more thought I'd like to share with you guys. I had an amazing experience that happened to me this week. i won't get into details, but I can testify to you that the Lord is waiting to bless us with his tender mercies ACCORDING to their faith. It reminded me of this scripture in Nephi. It's no coincidence that Nephi ends the first chapter of his writings with this verse. God is real. And the moments we see and feel His presence in our lives are pure joy.
20. And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
I love you all. Thanks so much for the emails! They really helped me today, I really needed them!
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Elder Kyle Andrus
Wow. Mission. I'm here. It is so crazy. I have totally already felt the spirit so much. I don't think I have prayed so much in my entire life. We pray for EVERYTHING. It really helps because I realize how much the Lord blesses our lives in so many ways. The spirit has been soooo unbelievable strong. I feel it almost every moment of every day.
My companion. Elder Horgmo. What a guy. He is so dang cool. He is from Norway, and is so funny. His British accent is so hilarious when he tries. And he tries a lot. But really he is so cool. I was worried that my comp would be someone I wouldn't get along with, but he is already one of my closest friends. English is his second language and you can't even tell. My district is very cool. We have Elder Lindquist, from Sweden, our district leader. Elder Allred, from Kaysville, Utah. Threw with him at track meets. Elder Kmeztch who flew with me to England and he is also the man. Elder Michelson who is from Utah, who is one of the most spiritual guys I have ever met. He has so much insight and is truly amazing. Elder Yip from Hong Kong. He is a native Cantonese speaker, so I can't talk with him in Manderin because I don't remember it… :D and Elder Depriest. A musical genius. That rounds out our district. Our teachers, Brother Walsh and Sister Matapo, are both amazing teachers. They really know their stuff. They teach us all so much.
Everyday, we teach two "investigators" played by different members of the MTC teaching staff. We have what we know from the area books pretty much to teach them by, so we get to plan a lesson according to their needs just on that little snippet from the area book. We have to try and feel what the spirit tells us to say to them. And you have to throw it out the window if the spirit tells you to do something. Learned that the hard way. We tried to stick way too much to the lesson plan and didn't teach to her needs. Her name was Izzy. There is way too much to write I would be here for ages trying to write everything. So we teach a lot more so there is that. I have taught probably 7 lessons in 4 days. Very good practice.
The food. Oh my. Lovely. We eat ver very good here. The chef is Italian so that makes a huge difference. We eat pizza to chicken curry to hot dogs to anything. Breakfast is usually french toast or pancakes or cereal or yogurt or something to that extent. Don't worry. Being fed really well.
The UK is weird. Strange words, strange accents, strange everything. They use Celsius, kilometers, kiga jules and other weird things. I played some basketball one day, but yesterday I played me some football and was the star if I say so myself. HAHA no. I was terrible. ALl the Europeans showed all of us Utahans up. Especially Elder Horgmo. He is amazing. I did score 2 goals! So that is good! Overall it is very helpful. I am anxious to get out there and to teach the actual people. Only 6 more days here and I am gone!!
Oh really quick. I had one of the most special fasts I have ever had. I was struggling to try and feel the spirit during the lessons and to act on it. So that was my fast this last Fast Sunday, and I can't believe how much the Lord blessed me I was studying the scriptures in Alma 17:9-12 during my fast. And those verses were exactly what I was going through. It was crazy how much closer I felt to the BOM because of that. And that night, we watched a devotional from Elder Bednar and the title was "Is It the Spirit, Or Is It Me?" And THAT was the answer to my fasting and my prayers. I was so filled with the spirit while watching that. It brought peace and comfort to my soul. I encourage you guys to watch that and you may have a similar feeling to what I went through. It was incredible.
But anyway, I would send all the pictures I have been taking, but the computers are in high demand. So I won't try to figure out how to send them to you. I will keep all of you guys updated. Oh and if you couldn't tell, P-day was on Wednesday at the MTC. I don't know what it is out in the field, but I will let you know. It may be Monday, so you may not get to hear from me for a week and a half, but I promise I am okay. I love all you guys soooooooo much, and I thank you for your prayers and everything you guys have done for me. THANK YOU!
And if you have anyone's emails, I would love to write them. Please send them to me!!!
LOVE ALL OF YOU!!!
Elder Andrus
#godsavethequeen
Wow. Mission. I'm here. It is so crazy. I have totally already felt the spirit so much. I don't think I have prayed so much in my entire life. We pray for EVERYTHING. It really helps because I realize how much the Lord blesses our lives in so many ways. The spirit has been soooo unbelievable strong. I feel it almost every moment of every day.
My companion. Elder Horgmo. What a guy. He is so dang cool. He is from Norway, and is so funny. His British accent is so hilarious when he tries. And he tries a lot. But really he is so cool. I was worried that my comp would be someone I wouldn't get along with, but he is already one of my closest friends. English is his second language and you can't even tell. My district is very cool. We have Elder Lindquist, from Sweden, our district leader. Elder Allred, from Kaysville, Utah. Threw with him at track meets. Elder Kmeztch who flew with me to England and he is also the man. Elder Michelson who is from Utah, who is one of the most spiritual guys I have ever met. He has so much insight and is truly amazing. Elder Yip from Hong Kong. He is a native Cantonese speaker, so I can't talk with him in Manderin because I don't remember it… :D and Elder Depriest. A musical genius. That rounds out our district. Our teachers, Brother Walsh and Sister Matapo, are both amazing teachers. They really know their stuff. They teach us all so much.
Everyday, we teach two "investigators" played by different members of the MTC teaching staff. We have what we know from the area books pretty much to teach them by, so we get to plan a lesson according to their needs just on that little snippet from the area book. We have to try and feel what the spirit tells us to say to them. And you have to throw it out the window if the spirit tells you to do something. Learned that the hard way. We tried to stick way too much to the lesson plan and didn't teach to her needs. Her name was Izzy. There is way too much to write I would be here for ages trying to write everything. So we teach a lot more so there is that. I have taught probably 7 lessons in 4 days. Very good practice.
The food. Oh my. Lovely. We eat ver very good here. The chef is Italian so that makes a huge difference. We eat pizza to chicken curry to hot dogs to anything. Breakfast is usually french toast or pancakes or cereal or yogurt or something to that extent. Don't worry. Being fed really well.
The UK is weird. Strange words, strange accents, strange everything. They use Celsius, kilometers, kiga jules and other weird things. I played some basketball one day, but yesterday I played me some football and was the star if I say so myself. HAHA no. I was terrible. ALl the Europeans showed all of us Utahans up. Especially Elder Horgmo. He is amazing. I did score 2 goals! So that is good! Overall it is very helpful. I am anxious to get out there and to teach the actual people. Only 6 more days here and I am gone!!
Oh really quick. I had one of the most special fasts I have ever had. I was struggling to try and feel the spirit during the lessons and to act on it. So that was my fast this last Fast Sunday, and I can't believe how much the Lord blessed me I was studying the scriptures in Alma 17:9-12 during my fast. And those verses were exactly what I was going through. It was crazy how much closer I felt to the BOM because of that. And that night, we watched a devotional from Elder Bednar and the title was "Is It the Spirit, Or Is It Me?" And THAT was the answer to my fasting and my prayers. I was so filled with the spirit while watching that. It brought peace and comfort to my soul. I encourage you guys to watch that and you may have a similar feeling to what I went through. It was incredible.
But anyway, I would send all the pictures I have been taking, but the computers are in high demand. So I won't try to figure out how to send them to you. I will keep all of you guys updated. Oh and if you couldn't tell, P-day was on Wednesday at the MTC. I don't know what it is out in the field, but I will let you know. It may be Monday, so you may not get to hear from me for a week and a half, but I promise I am okay. I love all you guys soooooooo much, and I thank you for your prayers and everything you guys have done for me. THANK YOU!
And if you have anyone's emails, I would love to write them. Please send them to me!!!
LOVE ALL OF YOU!!!
Elder Andrus
#godsavethequeen
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Elder Kyler Olsen
"Wow guys. This has been such a crazy awesome week. Don't get me wrong, I had a really hard time leaving behind my life, cause all of you all made it so stinking awesome! (Sorry, I'm getting used to these keyboards and they are awful.) (also this is the only email I'll get to send from the CCM cause I am flying to Chiclayo next Tuesday.) Anyway, yeah it was so stinking hard. As I walked away from my parents in the airport, I was crying like crazy. Till I realized that I was scared to death and had no clue where to go at all in the airport, then that got me a little distracted haha.
But. Super cool experience: As I was sitting on the plane for my first time ever, I was like dang. This is gonna be soooo long. And then the plane took off. And I was filled with such joy, adrenaline, happiness. Like a new chapter in my life was gonna begin. Ahhh it was so amazing! So yeah that was all good. Plane ride was long. But I got here (2:00 am) and was with all the North American missionaries for a while, got the tours and all that. My comp is Elder Wirthlin, he's pretty cool, but he's been sick for most of the time and he's not quite as motivated as me which is hard.
I freaking love these Natives! They are so hilarious and happy. Not necessarily obedient, but if you set an example for them, they look up to you a lot. Kinda like I look up to their eternal happiness and love for everyone. It is amazing and I have found soooo many friends here.
Food is ok. I will be happy to come home and eat red spaghetti. Theirs is green. Haha. And some of the drinks are kind sketchy. Every day is meat, rice, bread for lunch and dinner. Yogurt and eggs or something else for breakfast. The corn is huge and way good. Today I had some cocoa puffs things which are pretty good. Idk it is ok, but I am always hungry and my granola bar stash is running low already. There's 130 people here now and so sports is so crowded. OI've played volleyball most of the days.
And the Spanish. Wow. So when we finally got with the natives on Wednesday, they asked me to say the opening prayer. Which Elder Marshall had, not even 5 minutes before, told me how to say. The Lord watches out for you! :) Anyway, ya I was way lost. I could understand quite a bit, but they talked solo fast and it was super hard. It still is hard. And speaking is a lot harder. But through prayer and practice and patience, I've gotten much better in these short days.
I don't know what else to say, if you have questions, ask me!
Oh yeah. Haha so you all know me and how I am famous for losing dumb stuff all the time. Ya. Second day here, I'm playing volleyball and somehow my keys to my closet got lost in the sand. Whoooey so I wore the same clothes for a couple days cause all my stuff was locked in my closet. I tried everything that i could asking people, but the secretary and maintenance guys were gone So, haha we just took the hinges off, opened it from the back, took all my stuff out and boom. I have clean clothes! Haha ya.
Mission is great, I cannot wait to get to Chiclayo, my mp is super chill. Lots more email time. I think 2 hours. It is gonna be soooooo amazing!!! But I haven't forgotten you guys, I love you all solo much, thank you tons and tons for all your amazing letters. One day I was having a really hard day. Fast Sunday. Wow I was so depressed cause I wasn't speaking well at all. I pulled out a few letters and read them and it got me so humbled and focused and ever since, things have been amazing. I love it.
I have so many great stories I wish I could tell. Elder Marshall and I, who the heck knew that we'd be partying it up in PERU! Haha
Love you all soooo much!
Elder Olsen
"Wow guys. This has been such a crazy awesome week. Don't get me wrong, I had a really hard time leaving behind my life, cause all of you all made it so stinking awesome! (Sorry, I'm getting used to these keyboards and they are awful.) (also this is the only email I'll get to send from the CCM cause I am flying to Chiclayo next Tuesday.) Anyway, yeah it was so stinking hard. As I walked away from my parents in the airport, I was crying like crazy. Till I realized that I was scared to death and had no clue where to go at all in the airport, then that got me a little distracted haha.
But. Super cool experience: As I was sitting on the plane for my first time ever, I was like dang. This is gonna be soooo long. And then the plane took off. And I was filled with such joy, adrenaline, happiness. Like a new chapter in my life was gonna begin. Ahhh it was so amazing! So yeah that was all good. Plane ride was long. But I got here (2:00 am) and was with all the North American missionaries for a while, got the tours and all that. My comp is Elder Wirthlin, he's pretty cool, but he's been sick for most of the time and he's not quite as motivated as me which is hard.
I freaking love these Natives! They are so hilarious and happy. Not necessarily obedient, but if you set an example for them, they look up to you a lot. Kinda like I look up to their eternal happiness and love for everyone. It is amazing and I have found soooo many friends here.
Food is ok. I will be happy to come home and eat red spaghetti. Theirs is green. Haha. And some of the drinks are kind sketchy. Every day is meat, rice, bread for lunch and dinner. Yogurt and eggs or something else for breakfast. The corn is huge and way good. Today I had some cocoa puffs things which are pretty good. Idk it is ok, but I am always hungry and my granola bar stash is running low already. There's 130 people here now and so sports is so crowded. OI've played volleyball most of the days.
And the Spanish. Wow. So when we finally got with the natives on Wednesday, they asked me to say the opening prayer. Which Elder Marshall had, not even 5 minutes before, told me how to say. The Lord watches out for you! :) Anyway, ya I was way lost. I could understand quite a bit, but they talked solo fast and it was super hard. It still is hard. And speaking is a lot harder. But through prayer and practice and patience, I've gotten much better in these short days.
I don't know what else to say, if you have questions, ask me!
Oh yeah. Haha so you all know me and how I am famous for losing dumb stuff all the time. Ya. Second day here, I'm playing volleyball and somehow my keys to my closet got lost in the sand. Whoooey so I wore the same clothes for a couple days cause all my stuff was locked in my closet. I tried everything that i could asking people, but the secretary and maintenance guys were gone So, haha we just took the hinges off, opened it from the back, took all my stuff out and boom. I have clean clothes! Haha ya.
Mission is great, I cannot wait to get to Chiclayo, my mp is super chill. Lots more email time. I think 2 hours. It is gonna be soooooo amazing!!! But I haven't forgotten you guys, I love you all solo much, thank you tons and tons for all your amazing letters. One day I was having a really hard day. Fast Sunday. Wow I was so depressed cause I wasn't speaking well at all. I pulled out a few letters and read them and it got me so humbled and focused and ever since, things have been amazing. I love it.
I have so many great stories I wish I could tell. Elder Marshall and I, who the heck knew that we'd be partying it up in PERU! Haha
Love you all soooo much!
Elder Olsen
Monday, August 4, 2014
Elder Kasey Crafts
"I leave the CCM at 2:30 in the morning! Wo. Haha I really hope I can wake up! And for that matter, I hope I can sleep because I am so excited right now! I can't even wait to get out there and teach a real investigator I fly straight to Dallas Texas and then to Albuquerque (aka the promised land).
I've met several people this week from New Mexico and one of them told me it's possible that I will have to learn how to speak Navajo. So maybe when I get back I'll be trilingual!!
I've ben practicing a lot on my Spanish and we've been talking a lot to the natives here.
We had a mission orientation which is a series of classes about how to work with members in the mission field and how to get oriented to the mission. They gave us all pass along cards and showed us how to do an approach. I really hope that the person I sit next to on the plane doesn't have headphones. I was trying so hard on the way here to give a Book of Mormon but both of the people I sat by listened to their headphones the whole time or read a book. Either way though I'm gonna give it to someone! They need to know!
Today I was reading the Bible Dictionary under "gospel". The correct translation of gospel is "good news" so the sentence "I will share the gospel of Jesus Christ" actually means "I will share the good news Jesus Christ." The gospel is the best news in the entire world and everyone needs to know about it! It can really bless everyone's lives and needs to be broadcast in all that we do.
Yo se que el evangelio de Jesucristo es verdad. El evangelio necesita ser compartir. Todas personas puede tener bendiciones para medio la evangelio de Jesucrist y la expansión. Yo se que Jose Smith fue una profeta y la profeta de le restauración. Dios amoroso todos personas en el mundo y querré todas personas a recibir su evangelio y guarda la mandamientos.
Te amo! Buenos suerte en todas cosas!"
"I leave the CCM at 2:30 in the morning! Wo. Haha I really hope I can wake up! And for that matter, I hope I can sleep because I am so excited right now! I can't even wait to get out there and teach a real investigator I fly straight to Dallas Texas and then to Albuquerque (aka the promised land).
I've met several people this week from New Mexico and one of them told me it's possible that I will have to learn how to speak Navajo. So maybe when I get back I'll be trilingual!!
I've ben practicing a lot on my Spanish and we've been talking a lot to the natives here.
We had a mission orientation which is a series of classes about how to work with members in the mission field and how to get oriented to the mission. They gave us all pass along cards and showed us how to do an approach. I really hope that the person I sit next to on the plane doesn't have headphones. I was trying so hard on the way here to give a Book of Mormon but both of the people I sat by listened to their headphones the whole time or read a book. Either way though I'm gonna give it to someone! They need to know!
Today I was reading the Bible Dictionary under "gospel". The correct translation of gospel is "good news" so the sentence "I will share the gospel of Jesus Christ" actually means "I will share the good news Jesus Christ." The gospel is the best news in the entire world and everyone needs to know about it! It can really bless everyone's lives and needs to be broadcast in all that we do.
Yo se que el evangelio de Jesucristo es verdad. El evangelio necesita ser compartir. Todas personas puede tener bendiciones para medio la evangelio de Jesucrist y la expansión. Yo se que Jose Smith fue una profeta y la profeta de le restauración. Dios amoroso todos personas en el mundo y querré todas personas a recibir su evangelio y guarda la mandamientos.
Te amo! Buenos suerte en todas cosas!"
Elder Tyler Peterson
If you would like to send something to Elder Peterson on DearElder, be sure to put Tyler Welch Peterson because there are two Tyler Petersons!!
"My first whole week here at the MTC was pretty good! Awesome devotionals! On Sunday, we watched a super inspiring MTC devotional talk given by Elder Bednar called Character of Christ, it was incredible!! I've never felt more inspired to become selfless and Christlike in my life! Then Brother Groberg (of Other Side of Heaven!!) spoke to us on Tuesday about bearing testimony and having the Spirit, and that was super! When we sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" to close, the Spirit was SO strong, everybody was crying during the closing prayer (everybody may or may not have included me… ;)) So cool!
THEN, Elder Kyle Jensen had seen me singing in the MTC Choir, and he came and talked to me afterward!!! What a stud!! I was SO happy to see him, it honestly felt like the joy Ammon experienced when he met Alma after his mission to the Lamanites! Luckily, I didn't faint or anything like that!
Elder Butler didn't know any Spanish before getting here, so he's been trying hard to learn! Meanwhile, I've been giving pretty much all of the lessons, all in Spanish, which is crazy, but super cool that I can understand and say enough that the Spirit can guide and help! Gift of Tongues is so real!!
Word of the week: El Salvador: the Savior."
Send any email addresses that need to be added to his email list!!
If you would like to send something to Elder Peterson on DearElder, be sure to put Tyler Welch Peterson because there are two Tyler Petersons!!
"My first whole week here at the MTC was pretty good! Awesome devotionals! On Sunday, we watched a super inspiring MTC devotional talk given by Elder Bednar called Character of Christ, it was incredible!! I've never felt more inspired to become selfless and Christlike in my life! Then Brother Groberg (of Other Side of Heaven!!) spoke to us on Tuesday about bearing testimony and having the Spirit, and that was super! When we sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" to close, the Spirit was SO strong, everybody was crying during the closing prayer (everybody may or may not have included me… ;)) So cool!
THEN, Elder Kyle Jensen had seen me singing in the MTC Choir, and he came and talked to me afterward!!! What a stud!! I was SO happy to see him, it honestly felt like the joy Ammon experienced when he met Alma after his mission to the Lamanites! Luckily, I didn't faint or anything like that!
Elder Butler didn't know any Spanish before getting here, so he's been trying hard to learn! Meanwhile, I've been giving pretty much all of the lessons, all in Spanish, which is crazy, but super cool that I can understand and say enough that the Spirit can guide and help! Gift of Tongues is so real!!
Word of the week: El Salvador: the Savior."
Send any email addresses that need to be added to his email list!!
Friday, August 1, 2014
Elder Kasey Crafts
"I'm on the final countdown right before I leave to Albuquerque! I have about 5 days left! I am way beyond excited!!
Another SV Elder arrived! Elder Dallin Perkes!
We had a devotional from Elder Holland (it was broadcast from January 2013). He said, 'the Second Coming is already in progress. we are in the middle of it right now.' I thought that was really cool because we as members always imagine the Second Coming as when the Savior with appear again. Although that is true, it's the very last portion of the Second Coming. Another quote was, 'we are the chosen people to bring about the gospel in this day.' All of us are commanded to share the gospel to every single person. We were all chosen to be on this earth in this day because the Lord knew that all of us would be capable enough to share the gospel. The Lord has great faith in all of us and knows that we are all capable. Also, one of the other cool things was when he dedicated some buildings at the Provo MTC. In that prayer, he said the Lord would never allow guns or anyone inside the walls of the MTC that had intentions to cause harm or to frighten. I'm positive that that same request is asked at each and every MTC in the world. The CCM or MTC is probably the safest place in the entire world.
One scripture I've been studying this week has been Alma 48:17. It talks about how if men were like Moroni, the very powers of Hell would shake forever. I've been thinking about it and how huge of a compliment that is to Moroni. If every person in the world could be like Moroni, then Satan could have no power whatsoever anywhere. He is also compared with likeness to Ammon and the four songs of Mosiah and also Helamen."
Elder McKlayne Marshall
"So Sabado.. we all had the opportunidad to go prozylating in Lima. I was assigned a intermedio companion who didn't know what rice meant in espanol... so it was crazy because I mainly taught the lesson in a foreign language that is still way hard and new. So we start at a church in Central Peru, and we are with an 18 year old member who is goingt o serve his mission in Colombia, but he only knew espanol. And then we went with a maestro at the CCM and he only knew Spanish as well. Soo we walked and went on a search for the inactive members and we had the section that was on the hill of Central Lima Peru which is the poor part of the city, so we walked about tons of stairs, up the mountain past houses that were stacked on other houses. Find a picture on Peru of it, sooo amazing. We found our first person.... that answered the door. It was a 21 year old girl who hadn't been to church for 2 anos. The member explains that we have prepared a message and he looks at my senior comp, and then looks at me and says go for it! Sooo I did. I shared Ether 12:6 with her and explained that in life, hard things test our faith and that it's important for us to do the small things to help strengthen our faith. They speak sooo fast and so I didn't understand a thing, it was way hard, but I went with it and the member helped and the spirit was strong.
For a minute though, please thank Heavenly Father for what you have today! I was amazed at the blessings that we take for granted every day! These people have little to nothing, and this is the center of Peru! This experiences touched my heart and opened it in so many ways! Be thankful for what you have, be happy, and go out and serve others!!
"So Sabado.. we all had the opportunidad to go prozylating in Lima. I was assigned a intermedio companion who didn't know what rice meant in espanol... so it was crazy because I mainly taught the lesson in a foreign language that is still way hard and new. So we start at a church in Central Peru, and we are with an 18 year old member who is goingt o serve his mission in Colombia, but he only knew espanol. And then we went with a maestro at the CCM and he only knew Spanish as well. Soo we walked and went on a search for the inactive members and we had the section that was on the hill of Central Lima Peru which is the poor part of the city, so we walked about tons of stairs, up the mountain past houses that were stacked on other houses. Find a picture on Peru of it, sooo amazing. We found our first person.... that answered the door. It was a 21 year old girl who hadn't been to church for 2 anos. The member explains that we have prepared a message and he looks at my senior comp, and then looks at me and says go for it! Sooo I did. I shared Ether 12:6 with her and explained that in life, hard things test our faith and that it's important for us to do the small things to help strengthen our faith. They speak sooo fast and so I didn't understand a thing, it was way hard, but I went with it and the member helped and the spirit was strong.
For a minute though, please thank Heavenly Father for what you have today! I was amazed at the blessings that we take for granted every day! These people have little to nothing, and this is the center of Peru! This experiences touched my heart and opened it in so many ways! Be thankful for what you have, be happy, and go out and serve others!!
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