So I think I'm going to change the structure of my emails a bit. I'll write a section that can be sent to everyone who wants it. More for you of course and then stuff at the end if I have time to answer other people's questions and such. So did you ever send anything off to anybody?
Well the MTC is great. Our half way mark was over the weekend I think. We had some great speakers at the devotionals one of which was Brother Heaton (I think that's who it was) He was the Mission President in Spokane in 94 he said I got to talk to him afterwards. Tuesday's devotional was amazing we were fortunate enough to have Elder Holland come and speak to us. What's more my zone, because we set up for all of the devotionals (I set up chairs surprise, surprise). Phil, the one that is in charge of us when we do that, told us that we had to do it perfectly and then he told us why and said we couldn't tell anyone. So our zone was really excited for the couple of hours before the devotional and all of our zone got like 5th row seats. I sang in the Choir which was awesome. We sang Redeemer of Israel, one of my favorites. His talk was so powerful and I took a ton of notes and I feel like I didn't take nearly enough. If we let it, it's one of those talks that can "change your mission" I'm trying to get a transcript of it but they don't do that often here at the MTC. It is so hard to get anything here from the devotionals.
Yesterday we got 3 inches of snow down here! Yeah my companion and most of my district loves it. Most of them have not been around much snow during their lives. I'm was not so thrilled after our snow events this year. I could live without any for a while if you know what I mean. One of the elders threw a snowball at me and missed of course to his surprise I was able to nail him several times after class on our way to our rooms. He must have forgotten that I've been around snowballs my whole life!
I'm sure that everyone has heard that my companion and I don't exactly get along. The only thing we have in common is Washington (he's from Moses Lake). We have really been having a lot of friction in our companionship. We had companionship inventory yesterday which is usually very, very tense. This time however, it was a little bit different. When we got to the part where you let each other know what you don't like about each other he was complaining about something I had gotten frustrated about. After each of those things, and we try not to interrupt each other, and then address it if we feel we need to, but after he complained about this instance, I told him the reason I was frustrated with it. It was really strange but after hearing the reason for me getting frustrated, I found myself bearing my testimony to him. Afterwards he just understood and there was this moment when the spirit was really strong and there was just understanding. Now we both just have to keep that up. With help from the Lord we can overcome any obstacles!
So I have no idea what Karyl was talking about with this "running service" I've never heard of it and I've been in that building once before and didn't see anything. I don't think it's here anymore. So I would prefer that Karyl got them because she knows what they look like and I know she'll get the right ones.
So do you have any questions for me at all? I mean seriously, I don't have a whole ton to talk about because you never send much. Come on, I have to have something to write about.
I have no idea how I'm going to get videos to you unless I send my card to Karyl or something and I don't know how that would work either. So what do you want me to do?
I don't know if I'm going to be able to call for Mother's Day, lo siento. Just because of the timing, I don't think that I can call from the MTC. So I guess maybe Christmas is the next time I'll be able to talk to all of you.
Make sure sister Jones gets a copy she writes me almost as much as you.
Love Elder Sands
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Hay Acea, thanks for the letter. It was pretty funny. Oh and if anyone asks if you a Republican or a Democrat, you always answer with "I'm a Conservative!" So the spring trip sounds like it was a lot of fun which is good. I told you it would be.
Thanks Karyl for the stuff! The dictionary was badly needed and I don't know exactly how I'm going to use the tape, but thanks. It'll be nice to have it around.
So I'm wondering who told mom and dad about my knee? Imagine this in a cough "Karyl". It's really not that bad. I went to some other trainers when I have gym in the evening and he said that it was likely the turns on that track are really sharp and I remembered that they didn't change direction those first two days when I ran all of those miles. They said that that and the kneeling probably contributed a lot to it.
Did you send anything out to anyone, especially Sister Jones? She sends me something like every week, but it takes over 10 days to get here for some reason. It was pretty funny when you sent the mail with the talk on it! It was like on the "Best 2 Years" when all of that mail was for Elder Vanpelt. It was really strange for me because I almost never get mail. Speaking of which why haven't I had any mail?
I guess I'll get the new shoes. They are the water proof hush puppies size 9 tie ones. They are really nice and I found myself wearing them almost exclusively.
So to companion problems. I know all of this stuff and every time I have an interview I express my frustrations and they always commend me saying, "Your doing the best you can and in fact you're the kind of missionary the MTC is made for or rather your perfect for the MTC. Your desires are in the right place, but the Lord put you with Elder Stout and there is a reason for that. Through the spirit you have to figure out that reason and learn from the experience." I know what I need to be doing and I'm doing the best I can to do it, my only frustration is with his lack of commitment to the "WORK". The fact that he is the district leader, and he is the one breaking the rules and leading others to break the rules too, is hard to deal with. It just looks like I'm going to have to drag him through the study portion of the MTC and just deal with it. I also know that there are quite a few things that I can learn from him. I'll just have to take those lessons, apply them, then move on and do my best to endure the frustrating times.
Our Branch President got released and that was interesting. The Mission President came to sacrament. I was able to sing in the choir that sang the song that His wife wrote. It's in the primary song book. You can look it up I think everyone knows it. The name is Ryskamp. It was pretty neat to hear the story associated with the song from her after which we sang it.
I'm still really pretty bad at Spanish, like really bad. You know how my companion never studies, well one of the reasons is that I can't push him and it has caused me to fall far behind him in Spanish. Sebring you can probably understand most of the Spanish right now, I know by the end of my Spanish class I could. Now everything has to be translated just for me, grrr, annoying. I'm studying more than just about everyone. There is one elder who, because his skill, talks in only Spanish all of the time. In fact we have this game that we "play" called nativo which means native and I'm it today. I am not allowed to speak in English, which is really hard for me because I'm so bad at Spanish. You know the sad part is that I'm really progressing too. Everyone else will like go through a day of nativo and learn a ton. I don't really remember much just because I don't know much anyway. So that's my Spanish, really frustrating, but getting a lot better. I also can't seem to memorize anything in Spanish. Nothing sticks no matter how much time I spend. The first vision, for example, took me an hour and now I can't remember a single word of it and that was yesterday. I have to work ten times harder to get half the stuff of everyone else.
On a more spiritual note. We got to listen to Brother, I can't remember his name, but he was the Mission President in Spokane in 1994 and knew President Borders. I got to talk to him about that. He talked about charity and how we need to love our investigators and so I noticed when we teach in Spanish we lose all of that love. It seems we just worry about the language. So we must not divert our attention from what is important, just like the light on the plane! Out of time.
Love Elder Sands
Thanks Karyl for the stuff! The dictionary was badly needed and I don't know exactly how I'm going to use the tape, but thanks. It'll be nice to have it around.
So I'm wondering who told mom and dad about my knee? Imagine this in a cough "Karyl". It's really not that bad. I went to some other trainers when I have gym in the evening and he said that it was likely the turns on that track are really sharp and I remembered that they didn't change direction those first two days when I ran all of those miles. They said that that and the kneeling probably contributed a lot to it.
Did you send anything out to anyone, especially Sister Jones? She sends me something like every week, but it takes over 10 days to get here for some reason. It was pretty funny when you sent the mail with the talk on it! It was like on the "Best 2 Years" when all of that mail was for Elder Vanpelt. It was really strange for me because I almost never get mail. Speaking of which why haven't I had any mail?
I guess I'll get the new shoes. They are the water proof hush puppies size 9 tie ones. They are really nice and I found myself wearing them almost exclusively.
So to companion problems. I know all of this stuff and every time I have an interview I express my frustrations and they always commend me saying, "Your doing the best you can and in fact you're the kind of missionary the MTC is made for or rather your perfect for the MTC. Your desires are in the right place, but the Lord put you with Elder Stout and there is a reason for that. Through the spirit you have to figure out that reason and learn from the experience." I know what I need to be doing and I'm doing the best I can to do it, my only frustration is with his lack of commitment to the "WORK". The fact that he is the district leader, and he is the one breaking the rules and leading others to break the rules too, is hard to deal with. It just looks like I'm going to have to drag him through the study portion of the MTC and just deal with it. I also know that there are quite a few things that I can learn from him. I'll just have to take those lessons, apply them, then move on and do my best to endure the frustrating times.
Our Branch President got released and that was interesting. The Mission President came to sacrament. I was able to sing in the choir that sang the song that His wife wrote. It's in the primary song book. You can look it up I think everyone knows it. The name is Ryskamp. It was pretty neat to hear the story associated with the song from her after which we sang it.
I'm still really pretty bad at Spanish, like really bad. You know how my companion never studies, well one of the reasons is that I can't push him and it has caused me to fall far behind him in Spanish. Sebring you can probably understand most of the Spanish right now, I know by the end of my Spanish class I could. Now everything has to be translated just for me, grrr, annoying. I'm studying more than just about everyone. There is one elder who, because his skill, talks in only Spanish all of the time. In fact we have this game that we "play" called nativo which means native and I'm it today. I am not allowed to speak in English, which is really hard for me because I'm so bad at Spanish. You know the sad part is that I'm really progressing too. Everyone else will like go through a day of nativo and learn a ton. I don't really remember much just because I don't know much anyway. So that's my Spanish, really frustrating, but getting a lot better. I also can't seem to memorize anything in Spanish. Nothing sticks no matter how much time I spend. The first vision, for example, took me an hour and now I can't remember a single word of it and that was yesterday. I have to work ten times harder to get half the stuff of everyone else.
On a more spiritual note. We got to listen to Brother, I can't remember his name, but he was the Mission President in Spokane in 1994 and knew President Borders. I got to talk to him about that. He talked about charity and how we need to love our investigators and so I noticed when we teach in Spanish we lose all of that love. It seems we just worry about the language. So we must not divert our attention from what is important, just like the light on the plane! Out of time.
Love Elder Sands
Thursday, April 9, 2009
So this week has been interesting just like always. Where to start?
Oh well due to lack of diligence in our district our teachers instituted a game where in we have three out of eight of us that are not allowed to speak English all day and actually this is my second day of it and let me tell you it isn't fun. Due to the fact that I don't know very much Spanish I'm pretty much mute the entire day although I am getting better. It's frustrating not being able to express yourself at all because one does not have the vocabulary or the ability to say much. I know it's helping my Spanish though.
So how are things back home? It finally stopped snowing here so now it's raining. There was one good day and that was about it. I think it was Sunday. I can't really remember. All the days are all the same to me now.
I'll make the CD today and send it to Karyl. Sorry it took so long but I really never have much time to do anything around here. There is always too much to do especially since I'm trying to catch up to everyone else in Spanish and because my companion keeps wasting our study time. I know I'm going to grow a ton from all of this. But I guess change is never easy.
You know your letters are pretty sad thus far. I don't hear anything about anyone! I'm not in the twilight zone. You can tell me a few things a home you know; heaven knows I need a smile every so often. Acea needs to tell me about the spring trip and what classes is Sebring taking this quarter.
So I had an interview with Hermano Crane yesterday and pretty much his theme is don't be so hard on yourself Elder Sands. I'm always trying to rush my companion because he doesn't really move very fast. So it's driving me crazy. He never takes anything seriously. He sleeps in devotionals, never studies during personal study, is always trying to cut corners with rules, he even spent a half hour last night playing basketball in our room because he got one of those little basketball door things. So that's what I'm dealing with. Granted I do need to lighten up, but he is never serious always cracking jokes and stuff. Karyl you got your wish I guess hahaha.
Vaughn J. Featherstone came and spoke. He told a lot of stories. He's good at it. What I got from it was mostly about being bold. His stories were about acting on promptings from the spirit and how we shouldn't be afraid to act on them at all. Actually the next day we taught in the TEC (by the way we teach at least 5 times a week in there) and that was one of the compliments we received in teaching, is that we were very bold. So it's having an effect on me. The spirit was really strong there too. The teacher commented on that as well, which is good, because "if ye receive not the spirit ye shall not teach" D&C 42:14. So in teaching (at least in English) we are on fire.
One more thing I didn't tell you. Right before he left I ran into Elder Tanner and I see Elder Barnett quite often which is interesting. We really didn't know each other before.
Love Elder Sands
Please write back something a little bit longer and more detailed next time.
Oh well due to lack of diligence in our district our teachers instituted a game where in we have three out of eight of us that are not allowed to speak English all day and actually this is my second day of it and let me tell you it isn't fun. Due to the fact that I don't know very much Spanish I'm pretty much mute the entire day although I am getting better. It's frustrating not being able to express yourself at all because one does not have the vocabulary or the ability to say much. I know it's helping my Spanish though.
So how are things back home? It finally stopped snowing here so now it's raining. There was one good day and that was about it. I think it was Sunday. I can't really remember. All the days are all the same to me now.
I'll make the CD today and send it to Karyl. Sorry it took so long but I really never have much time to do anything around here. There is always too much to do especially since I'm trying to catch up to everyone else in Spanish and because my companion keeps wasting our study time. I know I'm going to grow a ton from all of this. But I guess change is never easy.
You know your letters are pretty sad thus far. I don't hear anything about anyone! I'm not in the twilight zone. You can tell me a few things a home you know; heaven knows I need a smile every so often. Acea needs to tell me about the spring trip and what classes is Sebring taking this quarter.
So I had an interview with Hermano Crane yesterday and pretty much his theme is don't be so hard on yourself Elder Sands. I'm always trying to rush my companion because he doesn't really move very fast. So it's driving me crazy. He never takes anything seriously. He sleeps in devotionals, never studies during personal study, is always trying to cut corners with rules, he even spent a half hour last night playing basketball in our room because he got one of those little basketball door things. So that's what I'm dealing with. Granted I do need to lighten up, but he is never serious always cracking jokes and stuff. Karyl you got your wish I guess hahaha.
Vaughn J. Featherstone came and spoke. He told a lot of stories. He's good at it. What I got from it was mostly about being bold. His stories were about acting on promptings from the spirit and how we shouldn't be afraid to act on them at all. Actually the next day we taught in the TEC (by the way we teach at least 5 times a week in there) and that was one of the compliments we received in teaching, is that we were very bold. So it's having an effect on me. The spirit was really strong there too. The teacher commented on that as well, which is good, because "if ye receive not the spirit ye shall not teach" D&C 42:14. So in teaching (at least in English) we are on fire.
One more thing I didn't tell you. Right before he left I ran into Elder Tanner and I see Elder Barnett quite often which is interesting. We really didn't know each other before.
Love Elder Sands
Please write back something a little bit longer and more detailed next time.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
So in response to Sebring's email, we don't use Tú form in Argentina we use vos instead for informal applications. However, we as missionaries don't use it anyways because we use usted all of the time.
My favorite talk from General Conference was Elder Holland's talk. It was fantastic and especially at the end when he asked us to never let our Savior walk alone. I was teaching three hermanas from the new district in our Zone/Branch and we were teaching them as missionaries and adapting the lesson to fit their circumstance as missionaries. While I was teaching about the atonement (it was the second lesson) I was testifying of it and I was really starting to get choked up. You know I never do that, but the spirit was so strong and I was letting them know how the atonement will help them on their mission and I realized just how much the atonement meant to me and how much it was already helping me on my mission and how much I rely on the atonement as I do my best to be an instrument in the Lord's hand, that the spirit through me can "pierce their very hearts." That's what I'm out here to do and I look forward to doing so.
If you could send out like a mass email or post that at church or something. Just a few things. I want sister Jones especially to get something every so often. She writes me once a week. She also writes her questions for me in Spanish which is really hard for me to understand still! But for her questions I think she asked how the food was, I think it is fantastic and I think she said something about gaining weight which actually I'm losing weight, yeah and I didn't think there was much to lose. Gym keeps me in shape, although I can't really run. I haven't been able to for a couple of weeks. I don't know what is wrong but my knee has been bothering me so I'm going to get it checked out.
Sebring, Nice Job with the Grades. You did way better than me in Math. I think I got a 2.7 in that class! However in English I got a 3.7. I think you're English needs improving hahaha.
About letters, I actually did get distracted after my first non family letter. I was going into personal study after I had read it and after a few minutes, I realized that I was thinking about home. So I promised myself that I wouldn't ever think about home except when I'm reading letters. It has worked and I just hum a hymn, pray and forget home and get to the work, so don't worry about me getting distracted. In fact I almost forgot to email you today, my companion had to remind me.
About pictures I'll send you some by the end of the week (if I remember). I'll just send you a CD I think. How much would that cost (in stamps)? I made some videos a couple of days ago and I don't know if they have sound, though if they don't they will be useless. But if they do, I tried to make them fairly funny for you. My camera is really cheap and it looks like it has a mic but no speakers at all. So I don't know if there is any sound.
Conference is interesting in the MTC. I'll try to take some pictures of where we have it and our devotionals tonight (our zone sets up the chairs and stand for it). It is in the gym but we transform it twice a week. Conference in general (hahaha get it) was fantastic although my companion fell asleep for a lot of it which once again is frustrating. Oh well, we're doing a lot better probably because I expressed my frustrations in an interview with my teachers. In fact in that interview something kind of hit me. I was talking to Hermano Herrison and I said that the MTC is like drinking deeply from the well before going out into the desert. The spirit is always so strong here and we need to take advantage of it before we are in the field where we are the only source of the spirit. It's really funny because I was using that phrase before about girls hahaha. Anyways I have to go love you all.
Love Elder Sands
PS: Sorry for all of the mistakes but you'll have to deal with them. I have a time limit so I don't have time to go over it. But if you could compile a few stories and statements about the MTC that I've put in letters and give them out to people that would be great. Thank You (oh and proof read them first please)
My favorite talk from General Conference was Elder Holland's talk. It was fantastic and especially at the end when he asked us to never let our Savior walk alone. I was teaching three hermanas from the new district in our Zone/Branch and we were teaching them as missionaries and adapting the lesson to fit their circumstance as missionaries. While I was teaching about the atonement (it was the second lesson) I was testifying of it and I was really starting to get choked up. You know I never do that, but the spirit was so strong and I was letting them know how the atonement will help them on their mission and I realized just how much the atonement meant to me and how much it was already helping me on my mission and how much I rely on the atonement as I do my best to be an instrument in the Lord's hand, that the spirit through me can "pierce their very hearts." That's what I'm out here to do and I look forward to doing so.
If you could send out like a mass email or post that at church or something. Just a few things. I want sister Jones especially to get something every so often. She writes me once a week. She also writes her questions for me in Spanish which is really hard for me to understand still! But for her questions I think she asked how the food was, I think it is fantastic and I think she said something about gaining weight which actually I'm losing weight, yeah and I didn't think there was much to lose. Gym keeps me in shape, although I can't really run. I haven't been able to for a couple of weeks. I don't know what is wrong but my knee has been bothering me so I'm going to get it checked out.
Sebring, Nice Job with the Grades. You did way better than me in Math. I think I got a 2.7 in that class! However in English I got a 3.7. I think you're English needs improving hahaha.
About letters, I actually did get distracted after my first non family letter. I was going into personal study after I had read it and after a few minutes, I realized that I was thinking about home. So I promised myself that I wouldn't ever think about home except when I'm reading letters. It has worked and I just hum a hymn, pray and forget home and get to the work, so don't worry about me getting distracted. In fact I almost forgot to email you today, my companion had to remind me.
About pictures I'll send you some by the end of the week (if I remember). I'll just send you a CD I think. How much would that cost (in stamps)? I made some videos a couple of days ago and I don't know if they have sound, though if they don't they will be useless. But if they do, I tried to make them fairly funny for you. My camera is really cheap and it looks like it has a mic but no speakers at all. So I don't know if there is any sound.
Conference is interesting in the MTC. I'll try to take some pictures of where we have it and our devotionals tonight (our zone sets up the chairs and stand for it). It is in the gym but we transform it twice a week. Conference in general (hahaha get it) was fantastic although my companion fell asleep for a lot of it which once again is frustrating. Oh well, we're doing a lot better probably because I expressed my frustrations in an interview with my teachers. In fact in that interview something kind of hit me. I was talking to Hermano Herrison and I said that the MTC is like drinking deeply from the well before going out into the desert. The spirit is always so strong here and we need to take advantage of it before we are in the field where we are the only source of the spirit. It's really funny because I was using that phrase before about girls hahaha. Anyways I have to go love you all.
Love Elder Sands
PS: Sorry for all of the mistakes but you'll have to deal with them. I have a time limit so I don't have time to go over it. But if you could compile a few stories and statements about the MTC that I've put in letters and give them out to people that would be great. Thank You (oh and proof read them first please)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Elder Stout and I got here the same day as did all in my district. That's how it works. The whole district comes in at the same time. All of us are going to Bahia Blanca except two which are going to Resistencia, which is the northern most part of Argentina. It's nice to have us all going to Argentina and Hermono Crane served in Buenos Aires so he has been teaching us a whole bunch of uniquely Argentine stuff like they don't say the y's or the ll's the same they say it shas or zhas depending on what part, so that's nice. We'll have the accent somewhat down. Spanish is hard, I won't lie and it doesn't help that I know the least but I'm working harder then everyone except maybe Elder Rasband but then again he doesn't have a companion like I do.
So why haven't I heard from many up there? I've had stuff from Ben, Devey, Julie Nash (wasn't expecting that one), and Sister Jones. That's it. I feel so unloved! j/k
Anything exciting happening up there? We keep on getting snowed on and then it melts as the day goes on, really annoying. I'm pretty much completely sick of snow after the winter we had. Oh and just to let you know, which I'm kind of surprised at, I'm not really home sick at all. I do miss the fact that I didn't have Elder stout around all of the time but other than that it's really great down here.
The devotionals are amazing! Some of them are really funny, but all of them are so uplifting! Unfortunately Elder Stout sleeps through all of them so he gets nothing out of them which is really frustrating and then he blames me for it because I don't let him take naps. Grrr.
O well our teachers are amazing! Hermano Crane and Hermano Herrison are both at their limit teaching here and they are really good. In fact they both give other teachers advice and stuff so we're really blessed to have them. However most in the District doesn't treat them with the respect they deserve and it really bugs me. They (our teachers) were planning yesterday and they decided to give us a lecture about being better and I was really hoping they would guilt trip us. They did something like this before but it didn't have a lasting effect on all of us, only really Elder Rasband (he's great). So I'm hoping this will help out because as soon as we get back to the residency, they all start doing stuff that takes the spirit away. It is really frustrating and then what makes it worse is that they call me a kill joy and such just because I don't want to do things that take the spirit away. O well, I guess the Lord doesn't want to make anything too easy for me here.
So where are the emails from Sebring and Acea! I want to hear about the spring trip and about Sebring's grades and how his new quarter is going! And you don't have to worry about distracting me by writing too many letters; I have plenty of time walking between classes where there is very awkward silence. So if I'm reading I don't have to deal with that, so please send stuff and ask questions too. This is nice because it forces me to think about all I've done over the past couple of weeks and I see the progress I've made with the help of the Lord which is encouraging.
Spiritual though, and this is especially for Sebring and Acea, Don't waste your time here. This is a spiritual mountain filled with everything you need to be a successful missionary. Don't mess around and let everyone know that you are here to learn as much as you can and that you won't settle for those that will take away the spirit. Also learn what you can from you're teachers. They are amazing and only the best of missionaries come back to teach here. Use them and most of all rely on the spirit. It is what you need the most!
Love you all
Elder Sands
So why haven't I heard from many up there? I've had stuff from Ben, Devey, Julie Nash (wasn't expecting that one), and Sister Jones. That's it. I feel so unloved! j/k
Anything exciting happening up there? We keep on getting snowed on and then it melts as the day goes on, really annoying. I'm pretty much completely sick of snow after the winter we had. Oh and just to let you know, which I'm kind of surprised at, I'm not really home sick at all. I do miss the fact that I didn't have Elder stout around all of the time but other than that it's really great down here.
The devotionals are amazing! Some of them are really funny, but all of them are so uplifting! Unfortunately Elder Stout sleeps through all of them so he gets nothing out of them which is really frustrating and then he blames me for it because I don't let him take naps. Grrr.
O well our teachers are amazing! Hermano Crane and Hermano Herrison are both at their limit teaching here and they are really good. In fact they both give other teachers advice and stuff so we're really blessed to have them. However most in the District doesn't treat them with the respect they deserve and it really bugs me. They (our teachers) were planning yesterday and they decided to give us a lecture about being better and I was really hoping they would guilt trip us. They did something like this before but it didn't have a lasting effect on all of us, only really Elder Rasband (he's great). So I'm hoping this will help out because as soon as we get back to the residency, they all start doing stuff that takes the spirit away. It is really frustrating and then what makes it worse is that they call me a kill joy and such just because I don't want to do things that take the spirit away. O well, I guess the Lord doesn't want to make anything too easy for me here.
So where are the emails from Sebring and Acea! I want to hear about the spring trip and about Sebring's grades and how his new quarter is going! And you don't have to worry about distracting me by writing too many letters; I have plenty of time walking between classes where there is very awkward silence. So if I'm reading I don't have to deal with that, so please send stuff and ask questions too. This is nice because it forces me to think about all I've done over the past couple of weeks and I see the progress I've made with the help of the Lord which is encouraging.
Spiritual though, and this is especially for Sebring and Acea, Don't waste your time here. This is a spiritual mountain filled with everything you need to be a successful missionary. Don't mess around and let everyone know that you are here to learn as much as you can and that you won't settle for those that will take away the spirit. Also learn what you can from you're teachers. They are amazing and only the best of missionaries come back to teach here. Use them and most of all rely on the spirit. It is what you need the most!
Love you all
Elder Sands
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Ok first for questions. Yes I'm in the choir and it's amazing, but no we're not going to General Conference as far as I know.
I'm not really sure about the shoes. I kind of want another pair. They are really nice but at the same time my old ones aren't bad, they just are a tad to big so I don't know if I will get a second pair of them. I'll get back to you on that.
Yes I received all of the letters I just haven't really remembered what is in all of them and you can use dearelder.com. It's kind of nice to have something to hold when I'm writing to you because the program they use for email here is really limited.
Don't worry about me not working enough. I'm the hardest working missionary in my district even though I'm the worst at Spanish. The only thing I remember from class at Eastern is the numbers for some reason. I can't really speak or understand what anyone says but it's starting to come along a little.
The teaching however is great! Although Elder Stout and I don't get along like at all (we only have Washington in common) we teach really well together. I'll send you a picture of him and probably everyone in my district soon, so you can look forward to that.
A little about my companion. Karyl sent a separate dearelder.com asking a little about him, so I tell you a little bit about him. He is from Moses Lake. I think I told you that. He was in the army for a year after doing 2 years of running start and getting his AA out in Moses Lake. He is actually like Mexican but doesn't know much Spanish. As for "is he driving me crazy" yet let me tell you, absolutely. Like I said, we don't get along at all. He is all about "chill" and let's take a nap and all of that kind of stuff. That is really frustrating. So we had interviews with our teachers and Hermono (Brother) Crane (who is very by the book like me and everything). I had an interview with him so I let him know about my frustration and the next day they focused on Diligence in a whole bunch of class time over the past week and so he is starting to catch the idea. He still falls asleep all the time in personal study and during the firesides which is the best part. Oh well, I do love him though, which is really weird like I don't like him at all, but I love him and we teach really great together and always have the spirit when we teach too, so it works out.
Ok, so there was this one lesson that was kind of interesting (oh Karyl, I go the TEC like 3-5 times a week and our standard of excellence for just before we leave, is 15 times a week so I'll be in there a lot). This guy was acting like a real investigator he had had. The situation is that he was taking a break from school and had got a video from the missionaries a couple of months earlier and he called them back to teach him. Well as Elder Stout and I started teaching him it just didn't seem right, so after a while I just started teaching him repentance, yeah repentance, and like he got more interested and really started paying attention and the spirit was really strong. It was really kind of weird and after a little of that Elder stout calls a time out and is like "what are you doing". So then the teacher we were teaching like very tactfully said that (and I mean very tactfully) what I was teaching made sense and that is what the investigator needed to hear. So anyways the moral of the story is, sometimes the investigator needs to hear something else and the spirit knows and you just have to go with it even though your companion may not agree.
So anyways I have to go get ready for the temple. We missed it last week because the consol from Argentina came and talked to us and answered questions, which was interesting to say the least.
Anyways I love you all and have a great week!
Elder Sands
PS: I get to email Thursday so write me please!
I'm not really sure about the shoes. I kind of want another pair. They are really nice but at the same time my old ones aren't bad, they just are a tad to big so I don't know if I will get a second pair of them. I'll get back to you on that.
Yes I received all of the letters I just haven't really remembered what is in all of them and you can use dearelder.com. It's kind of nice to have something to hold when I'm writing to you because the program they use for email here is really limited.
Don't worry about me not working enough. I'm the hardest working missionary in my district even though I'm the worst at Spanish. The only thing I remember from class at Eastern is the numbers for some reason. I can't really speak or understand what anyone says but it's starting to come along a little.
The teaching however is great! Although Elder Stout and I don't get along like at all (we only have Washington in common) we teach really well together. I'll send you a picture of him and probably everyone in my district soon, so you can look forward to that.
A little about my companion. Karyl sent a separate dearelder.com asking a little about him, so I tell you a little bit about him. He is from Moses Lake. I think I told you that. He was in the army for a year after doing 2 years of running start and getting his AA out in Moses Lake. He is actually like Mexican but doesn't know much Spanish. As for "is he driving me crazy" yet let me tell you, absolutely. Like I said, we don't get along at all. He is all about "chill" and let's take a nap and all of that kind of stuff. That is really frustrating. So we had interviews with our teachers and Hermono (Brother) Crane (who is very by the book like me and everything). I had an interview with him so I let him know about my frustration and the next day they focused on Diligence in a whole bunch of class time over the past week and so he is starting to catch the idea. He still falls asleep all the time in personal study and during the firesides which is the best part. Oh well, I do love him though, which is really weird like I don't like him at all, but I love him and we teach really great together and always have the spirit when we teach too, so it works out.
Ok, so there was this one lesson that was kind of interesting (oh Karyl, I go the TEC like 3-5 times a week and our standard of excellence for just before we leave, is 15 times a week so I'll be in there a lot). This guy was acting like a real investigator he had had. The situation is that he was taking a break from school and had got a video from the missionaries a couple of months earlier and he called them back to teach him. Well as Elder Stout and I started teaching him it just didn't seem right, so after a while I just started teaching him repentance, yeah repentance, and like he got more interested and really started paying attention and the spirit was really strong. It was really kind of weird and after a little of that Elder stout calls a time out and is like "what are you doing". So then the teacher we were teaching like very tactfully said that (and I mean very tactfully) what I was teaching made sense and that is what the investigator needed to hear. So anyways the moral of the story is, sometimes the investigator needs to hear something else and the spirit knows and you just have to go with it even though your companion may not agree.
So anyways I have to go get ready for the temple. We missed it last week because the consol from Argentina came and talked to us and answered questions, which was interesting to say the least.
Anyways I love you all and have a great week!
Elder Sands
PS: I get to email Thursday so write me please!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
You're probably wondering why I'm emailing and I'll be able to give you a bit more detailed letter because on Tuesday I was really pressed for time.
Well we do have email access here at the MTC through this email address which I'm sure you've figured out by now. Now before you think I'm breaking any rules by emailing today, I can assure you, I'm not! Tuesday is my P-day, but because of an MTC fireside that our zone sets up for, and because of Choir, we lose like 2-3 hours of preparation time. So they give it to us on Thursday morning. So we get the unique opportunity to email twice a week while I'm in the MTC (which by the way, I'll be here till I go to my mission which is nine weeks, May 18th I think).
So now to your questions; the Temple down here was really, well I don't really know how to describe it, amazing in terms of the building so beautiful and of course a little different from Spokane but none the less amazing and Salt Lake was very cool too from the top of the Church office building. It was a really amazing view, let me tell you. You could see a ton from up there and we got pictures as I'm sure Karyl told you.
The shot, well yeah, the shot wasn't so amazing (hahaha from temple to shots what a transition) actually I did kind of have a reaction then again I think everyone might have it. My arm was killing me for a couple of days I wasn't really able to use it and it's a good thing I had them stick my left arm. Yes Mom (said with exasperation and rolled eyes) I took my vitamins. OK to dad I think that you are probably trying to do all you can to prevent me from getting mail from everyone but you know you should start handing out my address and tell everyone about dearelder.com I'm feeling kind of lonely down here. So far I've only gotten stuff from you, Mom and Karyl. So please, you can let people know I'm still alive.
My companion is a bit of a pain. He is always good in class but as soon as we leave, he's all about "chilling". So annoying. I basically wasted my P-day. We had like 3 hours that I could have studied, but I wasn't able to do that because none of the missionaries in the district wanted to study, and the example of our District leader (my companion) isn't helping. But he did get a talking too yesterday by Hermono Crane. Oops sorry, Brother Crane, who is very by-the-book. So that's good. Hopefully there will be a change so I can start to understand this language.
Sorry I didn't write you a spiritual experience I ran out of time. So here you go. Obedience is the thing that is really being stressed here. So you know, no staying up past 10:30 to study, that kind of stuff. Be to meetings on time so on. Well the first day I was in bed a little bit late and I literally felt the presence of the spirit leave a little bit. So I can tell you that staying obedient to every rule, and even though I might not get the extra study time, I'll have the spirit in force which is what I would rather have.
Love Elder Sands
Well we do have email access here at the MTC through this email address which I'm sure you've figured out by now. Now before you think I'm breaking any rules by emailing today, I can assure you, I'm not! Tuesday is my P-day, but because of an MTC fireside that our zone sets up for, and because of Choir, we lose like 2-3 hours of preparation time. So they give it to us on Thursday morning. So we get the unique opportunity to email twice a week while I'm in the MTC (which by the way, I'll be here till I go to my mission which is nine weeks, May 18th I think).
So now to your questions; the Temple down here was really, well I don't really know how to describe it, amazing in terms of the building so beautiful and of course a little different from Spokane but none the less amazing and Salt Lake was very cool too from the top of the Church office building. It was a really amazing view, let me tell you. You could see a ton from up there and we got pictures as I'm sure Karyl told you.
The shot, well yeah, the shot wasn't so amazing (hahaha from temple to shots what a transition) actually I did kind of have a reaction then again I think everyone might have it. My arm was killing me for a couple of days I wasn't really able to use it and it's a good thing I had them stick my left arm. Yes Mom (said with exasperation and rolled eyes) I took my vitamins. OK to dad I think that you are probably trying to do all you can to prevent me from getting mail from everyone but you know you should start handing out my address and tell everyone about dearelder.com I'm feeling kind of lonely down here. So far I've only gotten stuff from you, Mom and Karyl. So please, you can let people know I'm still alive.
My companion is a bit of a pain. He is always good in class but as soon as we leave, he's all about "chilling". So annoying. I basically wasted my P-day. We had like 3 hours that I could have studied, but I wasn't able to do that because none of the missionaries in the district wanted to study, and the example of our District leader (my companion) isn't helping. But he did get a talking too yesterday by Hermono Crane. Oops sorry, Brother Crane, who is very by-the-book. So that's good. Hopefully there will be a change so I can start to understand this language.
Sorry I didn't write you a spiritual experience I ran out of time. So here you go. Obedience is the thing that is really being stressed here. So you know, no staying up past 10:30 to study, that kind of stuff. Be to meetings on time so on. Well the first day I was in bed a little bit late and I literally felt the presence of the spirit leave a little bit. So I can tell you that staying obedient to every rule, and even though I might not get the extra study time, I'll have the spirit in force which is what I would rather have.
Love Elder Sands
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Hello Everyone:
Well I'm here in the MTC alright and it has been so busy these last several days. As you now probably know I can email in the MTC and I get to do it on P-days which is today.
So anyways my companion's name is Elder Stout and he is actually from Moses Lake hahaha, what are the odds. That is pretty much all we have in common though. He's a great Elder although a little lax.
So Spanish; I'm sure you're wanting to know about it. Well it's not going very good. I definitely know the least of anyone, that's for sure. Well it's helping with my humility that's for sure.
The MTC is great and the food is good too, although I realized that I don't really like any foods more than any others too much anymore, (except of course the chicken dish Mom) it's all just food to me. Gym is a life saver! With all of the sitting around we do in class every day the ability to get up and (I run) is so great. Although I did push myself to hard the first couple of days. You know it's been a long time since I've really done any exercising so I went and ran 4 1/2 miles on Friday and 3 3/4 miles on Saturday and my knee was hurting a little after that and I'm sill sore but don't worry Dad I won't injure myself while I'm here or anything. I just kept on going because I was bored.
Please tell everyone about my address or about DEARELDER.COM (It's free). Getting letters is nice and I have a few minutes when going from building to building that I can read them.
So how are things at home and how did Acea's spring trip go and Sebring needs to tell me his grades when he gets them on Wednesday. Well I'm running out of time.
Love Elder Sands
Well I'm here in the MTC alright and it has been so busy these last several days. As you now probably know I can email in the MTC and I get to do it on P-days which is today.
So anyways my companion's name is Elder Stout and he is actually from Moses Lake hahaha, what are the odds. That is pretty much all we have in common though. He's a great Elder although a little lax.
So Spanish; I'm sure you're wanting to know about it. Well it's not going very good. I definitely know the least of anyone, that's for sure. Well it's helping with my humility that's for sure.
The MTC is great and the food is good too, although I realized that I don't really like any foods more than any others too much anymore, (except of course the chicken dish Mom) it's all just food to me. Gym is a life saver! With all of the sitting around we do in class every day the ability to get up and (I run) is so great. Although I did push myself to hard the first couple of days. You know it's been a long time since I've really done any exercising so I went and ran 4 1/2 miles on Friday and 3 3/4 miles on Saturday and my knee was hurting a little after that and I'm sill sore but don't worry Dad I won't injure myself while I'm here or anything. I just kept on going because I was bored.
Please tell everyone about my address or about DEARELDER.COM (It's free). Getting letters is nice and I have a few minutes when going from building to building that I can read them.
So how are things at home and how did Acea's spring trip go and Sebring needs to tell me his grades when he gets them on Wednesday. Well I'm running out of time.
Love Elder Sands
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