NOTE: 2 NEW PICTURES! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
This week we are teaching a family, and for some reason, they’re having a hard time with getting ready for baptism. They keep postponing it, they have a hard time coming to church, and it’s tough trying to get their 8-year-old to get an interview with the bishop of their ward. They’re not even certain if they want to be baptized into the deaf branch, or the hearing ward so that’s a nice hurdle we still need to jump over.
We finally got in contact with a family that has been so hard to contact. The family has pretty much become less active, and when we finally knocked on their door when they were home, they graciously let us in. The dad is the only deaf person in the family so they’ve mostly had hearing missionaries. We sat down and talked about how things are going, and the father expressed how he really isn’t converted and has doubts about the church, but his wife is as strong as a rock, she is just experiencing a large amount of stress and health problems that she’s just sick and tired of. She asked for a blessing, which Elder Burr anointed and I blessed. I think that was probably one of the best things we could have done to help the testimony of the father. In Preach my Gospel, it says that if someone is intellectually questioning what you are saying (or the gospel in general), testify, for it is hard to question something borne of pure testimony. I’ve found that to be the most helpful things out of the book so far.
I talked with my Mission President about the incoming iPads we are supposed to have. He said that the home ward of the missionary is supposed to be paying for it?!?! Did you know of this? I don't want to impose on the ward. Other people are more important.
Looking forward to Sunday and talking with you for Mother’s Day!
Elder Sands
Monday, April 27, 2015
NOTE: 2 NEW PICTURES! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
So this last week was pretty different. We got special approval from our mission president to go and visit and speak at all of the Phoenix Mission zone conferences. Why? Since our area covers all of the Scottsdale and Phoenix missions, we wanted all of the Phoenix missionaries to start searching for deaf and hard of hearing people and getting referrals for us in their perspective areas. We talked at all of the conferences and taught them how to recognize a deaf person (i.e. their using sign language) and how to see if someone lives in a building who's deaf (i.e. the I-Love-You hand signs, deaf doorbells, people who can't hear you...). Then we taught them how they can communicate with them (Pencil and Paper) and how to act/look (Happy) and how to send those referrals to us. We also taught them how to say hello, goodbye, and emphasized that deaf people don't need braille Books of Mormon, that's only for blind people (you'd be surprised how often we get that :).
After we finished with just 2 of the zone conferences, we had received several referrals for the valley, but most of them were in Flagstaff, Prescott, and Prescott Valley (all 2 hours north of Phoenix). So we decided with our mission president, that it would be a good idea to go up to Flagstaff and stay there for a couple of days just contacting all the deaf people that we had referrals for. By the end of our little trip, we had gotten almost 20 referrals for that part of Arizona. Quite a large amount for deaf people who live in pretty small towns. We met with a really active member who's hard of hearing and has a deaf, autistic son and she visited a couple of people with us (set up all the appointments herself) and was really helpful in the actual teaching of those lessons. I really wish we could make her a group/branch mission leader up there...she was awesome!
So we only had time to contact about 10 referrals, none of them lived even close to each other, and we got a couple more referrals from those along with a new investigator and a few other ones that we haven't quite figured out how to teach yet. VP's (a video phone) are an option but some of them don't have VP's, and we still need to contact more people. So we're planning on going up there maybe every 2 or 3 weeks to just get a branch or group set up there. It was real cool.
Also, the Phoenix mission has this really funny Preach (Fight) Song that they sing at every zone conference, I've sang that thing more often than half of the missionaries that serve there now :)
Love you all!
Elder Sands
So this last week was pretty different. We got special approval from our mission president to go and visit and speak at all of the Phoenix Mission zone conferences. Why? Since our area covers all of the Scottsdale and Phoenix missions, we wanted all of the Phoenix missionaries to start searching for deaf and hard of hearing people and getting referrals for us in their perspective areas. We talked at all of the conferences and taught them how to recognize a deaf person (i.e. their using sign language) and how to see if someone lives in a building who's deaf (i.e. the I-Love-You hand signs, deaf doorbells, people who can't hear you...). Then we taught them how they can communicate with them (Pencil and Paper) and how to act/look (Happy) and how to send those referrals to us. We also taught them how to say hello, goodbye, and emphasized that deaf people don't need braille Books of Mormon, that's only for blind people (you'd be surprised how often we get that :).
After we finished with just 2 of the zone conferences, we had received several referrals for the valley, but most of them were in Flagstaff, Prescott, and Prescott Valley (all 2 hours north of Phoenix). So we decided with our mission president, that it would be a good idea to go up to Flagstaff and stay there for a couple of days just contacting all the deaf people that we had referrals for. By the end of our little trip, we had gotten almost 20 referrals for that part of Arizona. Quite a large amount for deaf people who live in pretty small towns. We met with a really active member who's hard of hearing and has a deaf, autistic son and she visited a couple of people with us (set up all the appointments herself) and was really helpful in the actual teaching of those lessons. I really wish we could make her a group/branch mission leader up there...she was awesome!
So we only had time to contact about 10 referrals, none of them lived even close to each other, and we got a couple more referrals from those along with a new investigator and a few other ones that we haven't quite figured out how to teach yet. VP's (a video phone) are an option but some of them don't have VP's, and we still need to contact more people. So we're planning on going up there maybe every 2 or 3 weeks to just get a branch or group set up there. It was real cool.
Also, the Phoenix mission has this really funny Preach (Fight) Song that they sing at every zone conference, I've sang that thing more often than half of the missionaries that serve there now :)
Love you all!
Elder Sands
Monday, April 20, 2015
NOTE: 2 NEW PICTURES! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
Hello again everyone!
I've gotten a few inquiries about the driving thing so here is how it goes. It's the responsibility of the most senior companion to drive everywhere. Unfortunately, this last Thursday, Elder Burr was on Exchanges, and Elder Walker spent the entire being sick, so it was up to me to drive my Exchange companion a total of 128 miles that day. That was scary. Complete with Highway Value Package (which includes a little bit of good highway, with a whole lot of really crowded, 5 mph 1/4th of the time, the rest 0 mph, highway. It was fun. I almost ran into a pole, but all is well. The car is untouched and I am still alive. No ticket either! Wow, when I drove though, I realized how much of a better driver I am than my companions. Not bragging but I take it seriously. I'm paranoid about staying in my lane (thanks for those sleepless nights of “STAY IN YOUR LANE!!” nightmares dad :) ) and they always aren't. I don't brake like I’m about to hit a deer all the time and I actually follow the speed limit.
This last week our investigator came to Sacrament again! It was wonderful, unfortunately, she's one of the few deaf people I have a really hard time understanding. Always room for improvement! She's recently expressed some concerns about getting baptized so hopefully her attendance at a member's FHE tonight and our lesson with her tomorrow will alleviate some of those concerns.
We went to the temple on Saturday with our branch and wow, the entire deaf temple experience is pretty cool. There's a lot of interpretation going on. Afterwards we went out to eat with a member at about 3:30 and our dinner appointment was at 5. At the end of the Dinner appointment, Elder Burr said that he was full and then our member said “finally, he's full. I've succeeded! That’s the first time!” None of us really wanted to tell her why :)
I know this church is true and that there is much that we can do to bless other people's lives and especially the importance of the temple in our lives.
Elder Sands
Hello again everyone!
I've gotten a few inquiries about the driving thing so here is how it goes. It's the responsibility of the most senior companion to drive everywhere. Unfortunately, this last Thursday, Elder Burr was on Exchanges, and Elder Walker spent the entire being sick, so it was up to me to drive my Exchange companion a total of 128 miles that day. That was scary. Complete with Highway Value Package (which includes a little bit of good highway, with a whole lot of really crowded, 5 mph 1/4th of the time, the rest 0 mph, highway. It was fun. I almost ran into a pole, but all is well. The car is untouched and I am still alive. No ticket either! Wow, when I drove though, I realized how much of a better driver I am than my companions. Not bragging but I take it seriously. I'm paranoid about staying in my lane (thanks for those sleepless nights of “STAY IN YOUR LANE!!” nightmares dad :) ) and they always aren't. I don't brake like I’m about to hit a deer all the time and I actually follow the speed limit.
This last week our investigator came to Sacrament again! It was wonderful, unfortunately, she's one of the few deaf people I have a really hard time understanding. Always room for improvement! She's recently expressed some concerns about getting baptized so hopefully her attendance at a member's FHE tonight and our lesson with her tomorrow will alleviate some of those concerns.
We went to the temple on Saturday with our branch and wow, the entire deaf temple experience is pretty cool. There's a lot of interpretation going on. Afterwards we went out to eat with a member at about 3:30 and our dinner appointment was at 5. At the end of the Dinner appointment, Elder Burr said that he was full and then our member said “finally, he's full. I've succeeded! That’s the first time!” None of us really wanted to tell her why :)
I know this church is true and that there is much that we can do to bless other people's lives and especially the importance of the temple in our lives.
Elder Sands
Monday, April 13, 2015
NOTE: 8 NEW PICTURES! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
This Last week, though it felt quite short, has had some really good opportunities to serve/teach. I actually felt like I was getting things done, which hasn’t really be happening that last couple of weeks. This last Saturday, our zone and another zone got together and volunteered at the March of Dimes walk (a walk to help support babies that are born pre-maturely and probably a few other things in that general area of research). We were there for a good 6 hours, but oh, was it worth it. I must have gotten 50 “Hey Elders!” as people recognized us, and a good 15 “It’s good to see you guys out here.” I feel like our presence was noticed and we were able to accomplish something that proselyting has a hard time doing. At the end, the Coordinators said that we were the largest, earliest to show up, last to leave, most organized, and hardest working group they’ve ever had volunteer. I would call that a great success!
We also had our first investigator show up for church yesterday. I must admit, I was quite skeptical whether she would show up or do her reading assignment from of the Book of Mormon, but when we called her to follow up on Friday, she said that she read the whole book of Enos and was planning on coming to church. I was really excited about the reading assignment part, but I had heard the whole “sure, I’ll go to church this Sunday...” before. Then she showed up to Relief Society and she really hit it off with one of the members. I don’t know if this applies to hearing wards or not, but when an investigator can get to church, they are instantly surrounded by branch members and they leave with many more friends, and they are 1,000% more likely to come the next week. I think she felt the spirit in the wonderful lessons that were taught, and she said she enjoyed the whole experience when we talked to her about it afterwards.
We also had a record attendance (since I’ve been here) at Church. 27! Wow. Now that number, may look pitiful, but what it was, was a miracle.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and remember, getting them to church, helps a TON in their willingness to continue the discussions, get baptized, and ultimately go to the House of the Lord, make sacred covenants, and endure.
Elder Sands
This Last week, though it felt quite short, has had some really good opportunities to serve/teach. I actually felt like I was getting things done, which hasn’t really be happening that last couple of weeks. This last Saturday, our zone and another zone got together and volunteered at the March of Dimes walk (a walk to help support babies that are born pre-maturely and probably a few other things in that general area of research). We were there for a good 6 hours, but oh, was it worth it. I must have gotten 50 “Hey Elders!” as people recognized us, and a good 15 “It’s good to see you guys out here.” I feel like our presence was noticed and we were able to accomplish something that proselyting has a hard time doing. At the end, the Coordinators said that we were the largest, earliest to show up, last to leave, most organized, and hardest working group they’ve ever had volunteer. I would call that a great success!
We also had our first investigator show up for church yesterday. I must admit, I was quite skeptical whether she would show up or do her reading assignment from of the Book of Mormon, but when we called her to follow up on Friday, she said that she read the whole book of Enos and was planning on coming to church. I was really excited about the reading assignment part, but I had heard the whole “sure, I’ll go to church this Sunday...” before. Then she showed up to Relief Society and she really hit it off with one of the members. I don’t know if this applies to hearing wards or not, but when an investigator can get to church, they are instantly surrounded by branch members and they leave with many more friends, and they are 1,000% more likely to come the next week. I think she felt the spirit in the wonderful lessons that were taught, and she said she enjoyed the whole experience when we talked to her about it afterwards.
We also had a record attendance (since I’ve been here) at Church. 27! Wow. Now that number, may look pitiful, but what it was, was a miracle.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and remember, getting them to church, helps a TON in their willingness to continue the discussions, get baptized, and ultimately go to the House of the Lord, make sacred covenants, and endure.
Elder Sands
Monday, March 30, 2015
This week, we climbed a mountain called Camelback, It was one of the hardest hikes I have ever done. It was really nice to spend some time with the zone and see a wonderful view of all the valley.
This week the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant started up and wow, is it amazing. It is a portrayal of Jesus Christ's life here in an actual play and does so very well. If I can go again, I'll bring the camera and maybe get some good pictures.
We've been focusing on less actives and contacting all of our referrals lately and wow is it tough to catch people certain people at certain times of the day. That or, themselves being deaf, knocking on their door doesn't do a whole lot as you can probably imagine. This week though, we taught a part member family in an interesting situation. There are 2 grandparents, both deaf, their daughter, who is an interpreter, and her 2 children, one 11, and the other 7 (almost 8) and the children really want to be baptized. Their entire family is less active except for the grandmother whose semi-LA so when we go there to teach the only investigator is really the 11-year-old girl. But we really spend that time teaching the entire family. The Spirit has touched their hearts many times, I can tell. Our goal is to reach the mother, and the grandfather and hopefully help him become worthy to baptize his granddaughters. Wouldn't that be something?
My companion, Elder Burr, was called to be a district leader for the next week because our previous DL went home, so we're thinking that It'll just be Elder Walker and myself next transfer as Elder Burr will probably be transferred English Speaking.
I love you all and want to wish you a wonderful week!
Elder Sands
This week the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant started up and wow, is it amazing. It is a portrayal of Jesus Christ's life here in an actual play and does so very well. If I can go again, I'll bring the camera and maybe get some good pictures.
We've been focusing on less actives and contacting all of our referrals lately and wow is it tough to catch people certain people at certain times of the day. That or, themselves being deaf, knocking on their door doesn't do a whole lot as you can probably imagine. This week though, we taught a part member family in an interesting situation. There are 2 grandparents, both deaf, their daughter, who is an interpreter, and her 2 children, one 11, and the other 7 (almost 8) and the children really want to be baptized. Their entire family is less active except for the grandmother whose semi-LA so when we go there to teach the only investigator is really the 11-year-old girl. But we really spend that time teaching the entire family. The Spirit has touched their hearts many times, I can tell. Our goal is to reach the mother, and the grandfather and hopefully help him become worthy to baptize his granddaughters. Wouldn't that be something?
My companion, Elder Burr, was called to be a district leader for the next week because our previous DL went home, so we're thinking that It'll just be Elder Walker and myself next transfer as Elder Burr will probably be transferred English Speaking.
I love you all and want to wish you a wonderful week!
Elder Sands
Monday, March 23, 2015
It's times like these where missionaries normally say a greeting in their language so show that they are learning the language and have not just left home doing who-knows-what.
Unfortunately, ASL does not provide such a luxury so you will simply have to rely on my word and my spiritual experiences/thoughts to know that I have not just left home doing who-knows-what.
The language is coming along great. I remember in the MTC about 2 weeks before I left, my teacher, Br. Featherstone, told me that my signing is very good and quite beautiful to see (can't say that much about other languages ;) but my receptive skills (understanding what others are signing to me) was dreadful (or awful, terrible, not-good-at-all...such can the sign that he used be translated). I remember my first week at church, I understood about 10% (optimistically). That is the time you truly learn how to smile and nod. One sister signed to me that first week and I caught signs where it looked like she said "last week...tree...shocked...sawing wood...sad...house...you do before?" By this time, I’m thinking she said, "last week, a tree got struck by lightning so they had to cut it down outside their house and it was a lot of work. Have you done that before?" so naturally, I respond "no". Now that I know a lot more and can remember (mostly) what she signed, she actually said, "3 weeks ago a tree fell down on my parent's house that scared them half to death (you would use 'shocked' as the sign for that). They were really sad because now they have to move to a different house while it gets rebuilt. Have you ever moved before?" COMPLETELY different story. Thankfully the Lord has been blessing my learning skills and I am now able to translate in Sacrament meeting, Priesthood, and take a larger part in our discussions.
FYI: our mission has been approved for Facebook when the iPads come in, but our companionship has been given approval to start now. So I’ll be using my Facebook quite a bit now.
We got our first new investigator for this month this last week. His name is Gordon Flash (I thought he was pulling our leg with that one) but he's a great guy who was very interesting in the gospel. Surprisingly, he's actually a Jehovah's Witness. The majority of the JWs seem hostile towards Mormons, that’s unfortunate, but he was very open, set a return appointment after we taught him the first discussion and I felt he was really touched by the spirit that was there. That just adds to the many evidences of the power of the spirit and the truthfulness of the gospel. I am so honored to have been chosen to serve a mission and to assist His children in any way that He sees fit. Have a great week everyone!
Elder Sands
Unfortunately, ASL does not provide such a luxury so you will simply have to rely on my word and my spiritual experiences/thoughts to know that I have not just left home doing who-knows-what.
The language is coming along great. I remember in the MTC about 2 weeks before I left, my teacher, Br. Featherstone, told me that my signing is very good and quite beautiful to see (can't say that much about other languages ;) but my receptive skills (understanding what others are signing to me) was dreadful (or awful, terrible, not-good-at-all...such can the sign that he used be translated). I remember my first week at church, I understood about 10% (optimistically). That is the time you truly learn how to smile and nod. One sister signed to me that first week and I caught signs where it looked like she said "last week...tree...shocked...sawing wood...sad...house...you do before?" By this time, I’m thinking she said, "last week, a tree got struck by lightning so they had to cut it down outside their house and it was a lot of work. Have you done that before?" so naturally, I respond "no". Now that I know a lot more and can remember (mostly) what she signed, she actually said, "3 weeks ago a tree fell down on my parent's house that scared them half to death (you would use 'shocked' as the sign for that). They were really sad because now they have to move to a different house while it gets rebuilt. Have you ever moved before?" COMPLETELY different story. Thankfully the Lord has been blessing my learning skills and I am now able to translate in Sacrament meeting, Priesthood, and take a larger part in our discussions.
FYI: our mission has been approved for Facebook when the iPads come in, but our companionship has been given approval to start now. So I’ll be using my Facebook quite a bit now.
We got our first new investigator for this month this last week. His name is Gordon Flash (I thought he was pulling our leg with that one) but he's a great guy who was very interesting in the gospel. Surprisingly, he's actually a Jehovah's Witness. The majority of the JWs seem hostile towards Mormons, that’s unfortunate, but he was very open, set a return appointment after we taught him the first discussion and I felt he was really touched by the spirit that was there. That just adds to the many evidences of the power of the spirit and the truthfulness of the gospel. I am so honored to have been chosen to serve a mission and to assist His children in any way that He sees fit. Have a great week everyone!
Elder Sands
Monday, March 16, 2015
We went to the Mesa Temple last Tuesday, and wow, that
temple is amazing. It is, by far, the most different temple I've been to. But
that's probably because it was the 7th temple dedicated in the world so...it's
a bit older.
Our zone had a meeting last week and we discussed our zone
goal and what it should be. After an hour of discussion, we decided that we
should focus on teaching members how to be missionaries (or at least do their
home teaching). That decision we reached how? We kept running into the problem
of having massive ward and branch records, but church attendance not matching. The
number of investigators is fairly low right now across the mission, but the
less active numbers are high. Therefore, that is our focus.
Our mission president is so supportive of the deaf work
here. It's wonderful. He's given attention to our special needs, is very
supportive of our leaders and is willing to change things and make them work.
He really is wonderful. As for my MTC companion's mission president, I see now
why my dad felt that he should write this in my last letter, "One more
thought that just came to me and I’m not sure how this applies to you at the
moment but I know if one feels impressed by the spirit to say or do something,
you should always do it, so here it goes: some may find fault with the gospel,
the church, its leaders, their actions and complain and even rebel against-this
leaves them on unstable ground and often they are left unto themselves, to kick
against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God (D&C
121)-be steadfast in sustaining the gospel in every way!"
His mission president just recently got rid of one of the
ASL areas in his mission. So now for the whole of Seattle and beyond, his area
was more than doubled, without any increase to mileage, there's less than half
of the ASL missionaries now (the rest were sent to do English work), their pool
of investigators/less-active doubled, and they have no way to teach all of
those people.
I know that the mission president is called of God, and that
he really does receive revelation for the missionaries. I am so grateful that
President Sweeney is so supportive and meeting with our branch president and
branch mission leader monthly to discuss how he can better help the
missionaries and the branch grow according to their vision as well as his. I
really am going to miss him.
I guess that brings me to the next point I have not told any
of you about. A few years ago there was only one deaf branch for the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Mesa
area until it got big enough for Mesa to be its own branch (some of the members
were traveling for an hour and a half one way, just to go to church every
week). Our building was centered to accommodate the center of the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Mesa
area, it will soon be moved to be the center of the phoenix/Scottsdale area.
Such a location will be outside of our mission boundaries and since we are tied
to the branch, we will, in the next coming months, be moved to the Phoenix
mission. So, I will be in a different mission, with different missionaries, and
a different mission president, but it will be the exact same area. It will be
quite interesting.
On Sunday, we had a couple high councilors speak (yes, 2 at
one time) and one of them spoke about the temple in such a beautiful way. It
really made them, and the spirit they possess really come to life. He reminded
me of my dad in many ways. First, he was just a couple years older than my dad when
he converted to the gospel. He was married soon after and his story really
mirrors what my dad went through. I really saw that in him when he spoke and
could feel the power of his testimony as he bore it to his family who he had
invited to that Sunday service.
I know this church is true and that the Lord has put us down
here to learn powerful, valuable lessons that will be for our benefit and good.
Elder Sands
Monday, March 9, 2015
This week we had a wonderful experience. This last Saturday was the Deafnation Expo. It’s an Expo where it’s only for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), SODA (Spouse of Deaf Adult, or Sibling of Deaf Adult), or know sign language.
Our branch set up a booth for the event and for 9 hours, we walked around and talked with everyone. We met several members, less active members, and a lot of nonmembers. We’ll see how fruitful it was when we start contacting all of our referrals we got. We set up a TV that repeated the last chapter in “The Testaments” over and over, Made a couple posters, had a couple banners and had a counter top full of the missionary pamphlets, ASL and English Books of Mormon, and “My Family” pamphlets. Overall, I think it effected many people who came to stop by.
My receptive skills are improving rapidly, I can now understand a good 60% of what everyone in the deaf branch says. It used to be 20-ish. President Carpenter, the branch president who is the VP for Sorinson in Arizona (you can look it up), asked me to speak in Sacrament, 5 minutes before it started. They also needed someone to play the organ (don’t ask me why they need one when everyone’s deaf) so I got to do both. I actually really enjoyed it. I gave my talk, another two people spoke after me, and then the branch president spoke, and then we ended sacrament meeting 20 minutes early because he didn’t have anything more to say (that’s how effective sign language can be sometimes).
I am enjoying the missionary work in ASL, immensely. I’m really glad I get to spend 2 years in this sacred work.
Elder Sands
Our branch set up a booth for the event and for 9 hours, we walked around and talked with everyone. We met several members, less active members, and a lot of nonmembers. We’ll see how fruitful it was when we start contacting all of our referrals we got. We set up a TV that repeated the last chapter in “The Testaments” over and over, Made a couple posters, had a couple banners and had a counter top full of the missionary pamphlets, ASL and English Books of Mormon, and “My Family” pamphlets. Overall, I think it effected many people who came to stop by.
My receptive skills are improving rapidly, I can now understand a good 60% of what everyone in the deaf branch says. It used to be 20-ish. President Carpenter, the branch president who is the VP for Sorinson in Arizona (you can look it up), asked me to speak in Sacrament, 5 minutes before it started. They also needed someone to play the organ (don’t ask me why they need one when everyone’s deaf) so I got to do both. I actually really enjoyed it. I gave my talk, another two people spoke after me, and then the branch president spoke, and then we ended sacrament meeting 20 minutes early because he didn’t have anything more to say (that’s how effective sign language can be sometimes).
I am enjoying the missionary work in ASL, immensely. I’m really glad I get to spend 2 years in this sacred work.
Elder Sands
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
NOTE: 1 NEW PICTURE! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
So I’m at the library and I have about 1 minute to write you and I haven’t even read your letters yet. So I love you all and hopefully I’ll get more than 15 minutes next week. I will write on Monday.
Love you bye
Elder Sands
=================
So if you saw my last letter, that was a perfect example of me panicking because I had just about a minute to write (frankly I’m quite impressed I got that much down). The moment I pressed the send button, I was saying aloud, "Oh please send, send, send!" and as I’m seeing Google sending it, I see my time have about 2 seconds left. The INSTANT Google finally said, "Your message has been sent" my clock hit 0 and shut down, wow, that timing was incredibly close.
But anyways, on to the important stuff.
I can't believe I’m going to say this, but... I think... I...like Arizona.
Wow that hurt
Anyways, this place is actually quite cool (kind of cool, but mostly awesome). I do dread the arrival of summer though. I still hear it from many that it is a time to not be happy. We will see.
So I am currently at the library and wow, the library here is nice. The library card is really cool too, far better than the ones in Washington. But they work in 20 minute sessions for the computer and they said I would only get one session, but the computer's letting me do as many as I wish, so let's not complain about that. (This letter may come in a couple, or three so keep your eyes open)
So my area is all of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, some of Mesa, and several other areas around phoenix that I don't know the names of yet. So my area is really large, and most of my time (99%) is spent in Phoenix. I'll send pictures of my apartment, it's actually quite nice.
My companions when I first arrived were Elders Brose and Burr, but now it is Elders, Burr and Walker. Transfers were just yesterday, which is why I’m writing you on Wednesday, so don't worry, I’ll write you on Monday too (*cheers from crowd*).
The trippiest thing about this place is all the cactus. Wow this place has a ton of cactus. But the Temples here are BEAUTIFUL. Mesa with it's grounds make the temple really something to look at. The Fauna of Arizona is actually quite nice. The Phoenix Arizona Temple, which was dedicated in October, is the newest temple in the world and wow, is it the godliest thing I have ever seen. It is, by far, the best temple in the world (and has the coolest name, I mean, how cool is "Phoenix"? that is just an awesome sounding, and looking word).
So I just realized that Google has such a thing as drafts so...no multiple emails!! (*cheers from crowd*)
The way that the Friendship Park Branch works is very similar to how the deaf branch works. We meet in an old building, easily 60-70 years old and the branch has a combined youth program with the hearing ward right before it. I don't really know how that works, but it does somehow. There were about 20-30 people there on Sunday, and apparently, that was a decent number. I met several people there, and made a few friends. Some things about the deaf culture are that 1. They are too the point, and 2. Until they get to know you they might not completely trust you. They don't often take to strangers.
Probably the scariest thing that has happened so far is driving with Elder Brose. Wow, it's scary. So deaf people, for the most part, can't speak. If someone is signing, then they need to look. And if they're talking, they let go of the steering wheel. So if Elder Brose wants to talk, he lets go of the steering wheel and makes micro adjustments about every second, but even then, that's kind of concerning. When people respond back-that’s when it is really kind of...terrifying. They look away from the road while they're "listening" to someone. Granted, they're all really good drivers, and they never look away from the road longer than a second or two, but still...not fun.
Thanks for the sheet music. Actually, a few fun facts that I didn’t even know. I now have the record for the most special musical numbers played by a missionary in the history of the MTC. I preformed 9 times for the MTC in a variety of devotionals and firesides and for a few general authorities. I auditioned 27 times and played in sacrament meeting 4 times as well as being the branch pianist. Because of all of that, someone must have told my Mission President because the moment I landed, he had some music for me to play for our musical fireside and gave me 5 days to learn it. I thought I would be able to keep this a secret.
I did so much at the MTC that now I have more mail from the MTC than I do from everybody else. They just keet sending me so many letters for the different things I did. It was kind of crazy. The thank you letter from the Branch Presidency was very nice though :) I'm gonna miss them.
Ok, now I’ve really got to go, thanks for everything everyone and I will send pictures when I can!
Elder Sands
So I’m at the library and I have about 1 minute to write you and I haven’t even read your letters yet. So I love you all and hopefully I’ll get more than 15 minutes next week. I will write on Monday.
Love you bye
Elder Sands
=================
So if you saw my last letter, that was a perfect example of me panicking because I had just about a minute to write (frankly I’m quite impressed I got that much down). The moment I pressed the send button, I was saying aloud, "Oh please send, send, send!" and as I’m seeing Google sending it, I see my time have about 2 seconds left. The INSTANT Google finally said, "Your message has been sent" my clock hit 0 and shut down, wow, that timing was incredibly close.
But anyways, on to the important stuff.
I can't believe I’m going to say this, but... I think... I...like Arizona.
Wow that hurt
Anyways, this place is actually quite cool (kind of cool, but mostly awesome). I do dread the arrival of summer though. I still hear it from many that it is a time to not be happy. We will see.
So I am currently at the library and wow, the library here is nice. The library card is really cool too, far better than the ones in Washington. But they work in 20 minute sessions for the computer and they said I would only get one session, but the computer's letting me do as many as I wish, so let's not complain about that. (This letter may come in a couple, or three so keep your eyes open)
So my area is all of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, some of Mesa, and several other areas around phoenix that I don't know the names of yet. So my area is really large, and most of my time (99%) is spent in Phoenix. I'll send pictures of my apartment, it's actually quite nice.
My companions when I first arrived were Elders Brose and Burr, but now it is Elders, Burr and Walker. Transfers were just yesterday, which is why I’m writing you on Wednesday, so don't worry, I’ll write you on Monday too (*cheers from crowd*).
The trippiest thing about this place is all the cactus. Wow this place has a ton of cactus. But the Temples here are BEAUTIFUL. Mesa with it's grounds make the temple really something to look at. The Fauna of Arizona is actually quite nice. The Phoenix Arizona Temple, which was dedicated in October, is the newest temple in the world and wow, is it the godliest thing I have ever seen. It is, by far, the best temple in the world (and has the coolest name, I mean, how cool is "Phoenix"? that is just an awesome sounding, and looking word).
So I just realized that Google has such a thing as drafts so...no multiple emails!! (*cheers from crowd*)
The way that the Friendship Park Branch works is very similar to how the deaf branch works. We meet in an old building, easily 60-70 years old and the branch has a combined youth program with the hearing ward right before it. I don't really know how that works, but it does somehow. There were about 20-30 people there on Sunday, and apparently, that was a decent number. I met several people there, and made a few friends. Some things about the deaf culture are that 1. They are too the point, and 2. Until they get to know you they might not completely trust you. They don't often take to strangers.
Probably the scariest thing that has happened so far is driving with Elder Brose. Wow, it's scary. So deaf people, for the most part, can't speak. If someone is signing, then they need to look. And if they're talking, they let go of the steering wheel. So if Elder Brose wants to talk, he lets go of the steering wheel and makes micro adjustments about every second, but even then, that's kind of concerning. When people respond back-that’s when it is really kind of...terrifying. They look away from the road while they're "listening" to someone. Granted, they're all really good drivers, and they never look away from the road longer than a second or two, but still...not fun.
Thanks for the sheet music. Actually, a few fun facts that I didn’t even know. I now have the record for the most special musical numbers played by a missionary in the history of the MTC. I preformed 9 times for the MTC in a variety of devotionals and firesides and for a few general authorities. I auditioned 27 times and played in sacrament meeting 4 times as well as being the branch pianist. Because of all of that, someone must have told my Mission President because the moment I landed, he had some music for me to play for our musical fireside and gave me 5 days to learn it. I thought I would be able to keep this a secret.
I did so much at the MTC that now I have more mail from the MTC than I do from everybody else. They just keet sending me so many letters for the different things I did. It was kind of crazy. The thank you letter from the Branch Presidency was very nice though :) I'm gonna miss them.
Ok, now I’ve really got to go, thanks for everything everyone and I will send pictures when I can!
Elder Sands
Monday, February 23, 2015
Hello to everyone for Arizona!
Just a quick update:
My new companions (yes, plural) are Elders Brose and Burr. Elder Brose is hard of hearing but knows sign language really well and is a really happy and upbeat Elder. Elder Burr is kind of like me except he's been out for a while so he knows more. Next week, Elder Brose will be transferred to another area to start proselyting in English so Elder Walker will be his replacement. I have only just met him, but he's a nice guy.
My mission president is nothing like I expected and really neither is his wife, but they're really nice people.
Surprisingly enough, my first day in Scottsdale is a cloudy one with a decent amount of rain. I've seen several different Cacti that I've never seen before in my life and it is so strange down here with all of the sandstone colored buildings everywhere.
Less than an hour in the state and they had me take a driving test to see if I would be worthy enough to drive one of their cars. I have yet to meet any deaf investigators or to meeting any members in the branch, but I am so looking forward to it.
I'm going to be in a car for my entire mission (from what my Mission President told me) so I won't need to buy a bike, but I will be staying in Arizona, mostly hopping back and forth between Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Elder Sands
Just a quick update:
My new companions (yes, plural) are Elders Brose and Burr. Elder Brose is hard of hearing but knows sign language really well and is a really happy and upbeat Elder. Elder Burr is kind of like me except he's been out for a while so he knows more. Next week, Elder Brose will be transferred to another area to start proselyting in English so Elder Walker will be his replacement. I have only just met him, but he's a nice guy.
My mission president is nothing like I expected and really neither is his wife, but they're really nice people.
Surprisingly enough, my first day in Scottsdale is a cloudy one with a decent amount of rain. I've seen several different Cacti that I've never seen before in my life and it is so strange down here with all of the sandstone colored buildings everywhere.
Less than an hour in the state and they had me take a driving test to see if I would be worthy enough to drive one of their cars. I have yet to meet any deaf investigators or to meeting any members in the branch, but I am so looking forward to it.
I'm going to be in a car for my entire mission (from what my Mission President told me) so I won't need to buy a bike, but I will be staying in Arizona, mostly hopping back and forth between Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Elder Sands
Monday, February 23, 2015
I just want to let you know Elder Sands has safely arrived. What a great missionary! We are so excited to have him. President and Sister Sweeney picked him up at the airport. He has already met his ASL companions, interviewed with President Sweeney, taken his driving test with our Vehicle Coordinator and received his MSF card from the Finance Secretary. He is glad to be getting into the swing of things! We have a large group of new missionaries arriving next Monday. At that time, pictures will be taken and I will send you copies. Monday is generally preparation day, but it will be Wednesday next week due to the transfer cycle. I don’t know if he will get to email today. If you don’t hear from him today, you will next Wednesday March 4th.
Thank you for raising such a fine young man to serve the Lord. We promise to keep him busy! And take good care of him.
From the Arizona Scottsdale Mission
Thank you for raising such a fine young man to serve the Lord. We promise to keep him busy! And take good care of him.
From the Arizona Scottsdale Mission
Friday, February 13, 2015
So I got a letter from Levi/Julie last week and let me just
share something I noticed:
Levi wrote 4 lines in 2 paragraphs and this was his reason
why: “I have to go do taxes”
May I recall to your memory “Dating 911” by John Bytheway
where he share the story about the top 10 things women do to avoid going on a
date.
“Hey, Susie. Would you like to go out with me?”
“Umm....sorry, I would love to but I have to...um...wash my
hair”
“Oh, well, how about next week?”
“Well you see, I can’t do it then either because...I think I’m
going shopping.”
“Shucks, how about 2 weeks from now?”
“Sorry, but I think I have to do taxes then...”
Catch my drift?
But then I read Julie’s Letter, it is nice and long and
detailed. Several paragraphs long and shares her testimony. Let me just say Levi:
You are EXTREMELY lucky :)
Thank you Julie!!!
Oh yeah: HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE!!!
Sebring and Steph:
Thanks for writing me so consistently and nicely and sharing
things about your life (*cough* Levi *cough*). I wish you both the best of luck
as you bring a little terror...Soul, I mean, into the world. Just kidding, I hope
you have fun though.
Sorry guys, I labored so hard to get the few pictures I did;
by the sweat of my brow did I take those pictures, and there are not very many of
them and they’re not the best, but I have a hard time getting good shots. You
should see the pictures I have of my companion. They’re so much better than the
ones he takes of me. I wish I could take a picture of myself, oh wait, that’s a
selfie. I’ll keep trying, and I might want to wait till I get to Arizona and
see if there’s any good opportunities for good pictures there.
Wow I have run out of time about 45 minutes ago, I just have
so much I need to do.
Now all of you would be so surprised how much talent is here
at the MTC. The Spirit of the lord is definitely part of it. There’s always
just enough singers and piano players and all of them are very talented. I was
able to find someone, practice with them for a half an hour and then audition
the next, and perform the next after that and we sounded great. This singer,
Sister Bell, was so good, she could hit the A-flat 2 octaves above middle C.
For those musically inclined are probably going “oh wow” right now.
Wow, Dad thanks for sharing that spiritual experience-that
was just really so cool that that happened-your right, Heavenly Father is always
waiting to help us in His work.
Also for all of you: here are 3 songs you really need to
look up, they are amazing:
- The Battle of Jericho - by MOTAB
- Morning has Broken - by MOTAB
- Homeward Bound - by MOTAB
They are so amazing and spiritual (well, the Jericho one a
little less, but it’s still amazing)
Now for all of you:
Here at the MTC. Every meeting that involves more than 1
zone has to have a special musical number. Now why do you think that is? A
little strange right? But let me tell you something. Music, something that I’ve
just recently learned, brings something into a meeting that nothing else does.
And to add to its wonder, the Lord is always with those to play and bring the
spirit. We often have less than a week to prepare and song for the entire MTC
and it always turns out great. After every SMN there’s a sweet feeling no
speaker could bring. Please keep this in mind the next time you sing in a
church meeting or listen to another’s performance, you will notice a difference
when you start to pay attention to it.
As for my past week, everything is going great. The language
is a little tough but I’m getting used to it fast. I recently found out that
while our teachers are signing, they mouth the words, and some of them even
whisper while they do so. I’ve found that instead of getting better at signing,
I’ve been getting really good at reading mouths. So when we got another teacher
this past week, and she started signing without mouthing I was thinking “That
is not the language they have been teaching me these past few weeks.”
Thankfully I’m still in the MTC and can fix that...hopefully. I’ve been talking
with the teachers to see if we can find a more deaf-like way of teaching.
Thank you all for all your prayers and support. Until next
week
-Elder Sands-
Friday, February 6, 2015
NOTE: 4 NEW PICTURES! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
May I first begin by giving a nice warm, friendly, nice, long, good, kindhearted, cheerful, wishful, well-wishing, comforting, funny, annoyingly-long, detailed, warm-hearted, happy, loving HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Uncle David, and Amber! I miss you guys and wish you a...well, you get the idea.
May I first begin by giving a nice warm, friendly, nice, long, good, kindhearted, cheerful, wishful, well-wishing, comforting, funny, annoyingly-long, detailed, warm-hearted, happy, loving HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Uncle David, and Amber! I miss you guys and wish you a...well, you get the idea.
Happy Birthday!
Also, to all who read this letter, please read ALL the
things I write, regardless of who it's addressed to. Things meant to apply to
other people can still apply to others in unforeseen ways. I also like to think
I make some pretty good jokes every now and then (or at least make you look
down and shake your head thinking "my goodness").
Sebring and Steph:
OH WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously though, last week I really wanted to ask you guys...
Oh, "Jesu, joy of man's desiring". Nice.
Sorry, I’m listening to the MOTAB music stream. It's one of
the few approved music sources at the MTC.
Anyways...I was about to ask you "is Stephanie pregnant
yet?" but then I remembered Sebring getting super blushy and angry the
last time I asked him that so I decided not to :) (Love you Sebring *thumbs
up*)
I'm super excited for both of you. One of my teachers got
married about the exact same time you guys did and they're going through
similar things so don't sweat it too much.
But is vomiting out of a moving car considered littering...?
Levi + Julie (mostly Levi):
You remember when you said that a mission would be good for
me why? It would help me become tactful, but let me tell you, it's doing almost
the exact opposite. The deaf community is not one known for tact. I'm becoming
more and more blunt, and the greatest part is that it makes learning and
speaking the language so much easier, and it makes it easier for other people
to understand you. (Oh wow, I just noticed my ASL grammar is seeping through to
my writing [see the first line of this paragraph])
I remember just yesterday my companion and I were watching
Br. Featherstone (our only deaf teacher [and the best]) teach one of us on a
one on one basis. He was talking about attending church and how important it is
and he was SO DIRECT it was kind of scary, but that's the way the language
works and it turned out really well. I guess with the spirit, even the blunt
can be sharpened into a sword to piercing even the hardest hearts.
Since I’m the only accompanist, I get special privileges of
being able to request music from my personal archive (AKA: you dad) whenever
I’m out of class.
I will send some pictures in some emails, to give you an
idea of what my zone looks like. Ugh, English is difficult. I keep messing up
my grammar. ASL is so different. It's also really bad when you're writing
something and when you get to something like "first vision" or
"for example", this is what my thought process is:
I don't want to write all of that! I’ll just sign it and
write the rest of it"
"Wait, how to you write the sign for 'for
example'?"
"Ugh, I guess you can't write sign language. That’s
annoying"
"Okay, I guess I’ll have to write it all out..."
Even as I write I’ll hesitate on big words or phrases and
will want to sign it, because it's like, 100x faster to sign than write it.
I bought a shoulder bag here, it has been recommended that I
have it, and a CamelBak for my mission so I just bought it here at the MTC. I
also purchased a card reader. Let’s see if it works.
As for all the music I’m doing, the Lord is totally incredible.
He helps me learn all these things fast enough to play them perfectly in front
of 1000 missionaries and General Authorities every Sunday with only an hour of
practice. It's pretty awesome.
I apologize for the short letter last week, as I was short
on time but I just wanted to share something with you all that I learned this
week that I thought was really nifty, useful, powerful, and something I have
seen work firsthand.
Close your eyes (well, I guess you have to read this, don't
you...) and imagine yourselves in a lesson with an investigator. Just you, your
companion, and the investigator. I want to discuss the 4th person there with
you. As you all know, the spirit is a constant presence but you don't feel his
presence constantly at one level, it fluctuates as your speed in a car in the
city, it always going up and down.
When teaching a lesson, the spirit will touch their hearts,
but there is always one point in a lesson (if the spirit is with you) where the
spirit will be the strongest. This is called the Peak. The goal should be to
quickly get the spirit into the room, teach the lesson, bear your testimony,
and then get them to commit to something such as baptism or prayer or church.
The spirit will fluctuate a bit, but when you bear your testimony, it will
skyrocket, this is the time when the investigator will think and ponder, and
most importantly, feel the spirit the strongest. Just a few seconds after this
point is reached and a few seconds of silence have been observed, that is when
you invite them to come closer to Christ (via commitments).
This happened in a lesson we had a few days ago. The spirit
was there, and we felt the spirit, and we reached what we felt was a peak near
the end of the lesson, but we decided not to act on it. We continued to teach
for a bit, and then, when all 6 of us bore our testimonies, we reached the true
pinnacle of the influence of the spirit far overpowering the feeling we had
before. Using this power and feeling, we invited the investigator to be
baptized, and he accepted.
The spirit then, was possibly the strongest I have ever felt
in my life, in that moment erased any possibility of doubt that this work is
the work of god. His work. This truly is his work.
I wish you all well in the week to come and you will hear
from me next week.
Until then, God be with you.
-Elder Sands-
Friday, Janauary 30, 2015
I had a whole lot happen this week, but unfortunately I don't
have a lot of time to do it in. Being a zone leader requires I write the branch
president 2 letters, and help all the new missionaries on how to write the
mission president and their families, and with only an hour, I’m already down
to 10 minutes left, and have already used up 4 of them.
To Levi and Sebring, and Stephanie and Julie: How are things
going with you two (4)...no wait, 5 :)
I really can't quite remember how things were when we left,
but I would like to know what's going on. WARNING: I will read your letters,
but I may not respond to you in a super timely manner, or in depth, that may
have to wait for the mission field.
Oh yeah...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SEBRING!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
It’s okay Levi, *digital hug* I haven't forgotten about
you...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LEVI!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
And of course, can't forget Ira...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR IRA!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Whew, I’m tired now, so look forward to hearing from you!
To Mom and Dad: This is going to hurt...
I... miss... you... guys
OUCH! Wow that hurt.
Well, I don't miss you too much dad, ("DO THIS"
"DO THAT" "WE NEED TO CLEAN YOUR ROOM" "YOU NEED TO
PACK") yeah...didn't miss that. But you mom *Virtual hug* *Virtual hug* *Virtual
hug*
But kind of what I said earlier to my branch president, I
really am not homesick. Right now, I feel like I’m gonna miss the MTC more than
I miss home right now. Pictures are incoming as soon as I can figure out a way
to turn on the computer without 7 clerks and 3 branch presidents making sure I
did it correctly.
Also, don't worry about dividing this letter and sending it
to all the people I wrote specific pieces to. I would like all of them to read
each other's pieces, I don't know why, but that's just the way I feel. (That
means you too Emmitt [I hope I spelt his name right])
I'm out of time now, so I have to go...
Oh wait!
Last Words: The mission's going great, love the MTC. Love
and miss all of you guys, remember, the Lord's always there for you when he
asks. I do enjoy packages (kidding). I'm always thinking and praying for all of
you.
Elder Sands
Friday, January 23, 2015
So a few interesting things happened this last week, and I
don't get much time to type a whole lot so I’m typing as fast as I can so I can
get most of it (if not all of it) down on paper. Since I have to write two separate
letters to my branch president, my time is cut quite short to write to all of
you back at home (or in Utah).
So as you who have been on missions may have already
figured out by the double letter thing to my president is that I have been called
to be Zone Leader. It's quite exciting but really crowds my schedule. I get to
welcome the new missionaries that come every Wednesday, teach them how to do a
lot of things, and if they have problems or questions, they can come talk to me
and discuss them. I also hold weekly meetings with my District Leaders (DL's)
and also with the branch presidency.
Since the MTC wants special musical numbers at almost every
meeting that has more than one zone attending, they are in desperate need of
accompanists so when I was playing with a small group of Elders from my
district, I heard them saying that if they didn't get an accompanist soon, they
wouldn't have enough to play for all of the meetings. So, I volunteered, and the
moment I did, they had me play a song to audition (I played
Remembrance from the album), play the song with my district, and then they had me accompany a
singing duet who were right after that. Then they told me that I was their most
talented accompanist, and then told me to find a solo church song or arrangement and
audition it for next week (I can hear you groaning and thinking...dad..."I hope he
knows what he's getting himself into"). The first song (with my
district) did well enough to be assigned to play at the departure devotional
Sunday afternoon and the Duet one got assigned to play at the Sunday Evening
Devotional. I'm pretty excited to play 'cause those are both pretty big
meetings where the majority, if not all of the MTC occupants attend.
Getting pictures to all of you while I’m at the MTC is
probably going to be impossible as the computers here are very restricted, I’m
surprised they let you move the mouse around.
My p-days are Friday at the MTC but if anyone wants to write
me a letter,
Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please
Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please
Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please
Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please
Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please (he had 1228 more pleases)
write me between that Same Friday and the next Monday. The
MTC gives me your letters in printed format no matter what and I don't have
time to read your letters and respond to them in the small window of time I
have to respond to them. So PLEASE write them between Friday and Monday
(Tuesday's okay, but any later starts becoming difficult).
If any of you have any questions for me, please ask them, I’m
happy to respond.
So let’s see...what's something all of you would like to
know?
I Know! How about my average day at the MTC? First we wake
up, then we eat breakfast, then we go to class for several hours. After class,
we get to eat lunch. After lunch, we go back to class. After several more hours
there, we get to have Dinner. After dinner, we go back to class until 9:30 when
we get to go back to our residences, do whatever until 10:30, then go to bed.
It's all pretty simple.
On P-days, it is so unstructured, that we almost always have
nothing to do. We do laundry and get to write letters while that's going on, go
to the temple in the afternoon, and then after dinner, we go to class for 3
more hours and then go back to our residences.
Sunday is the day where we have meetings, followed by
meetings, followed by meetings, followed by meetings, followed by meetings,
followed by lunch, followed by meetings, followed by meetings, followed by
meetings, followed by Dinner, followed by meetings, followed by meetings,
followed by meetings, followed by bed time.
And then the week starts over again, and well...not much
different happens.
I just want to thank you all for your support and wish you
all the very best, and remember: if you have questions, ask and ye shall
receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and MTC security will remove you from
the campus (so I wouldn't recommend doing that)
I love you all!
Elder Sands
Friday, January 16, 2015
Wow, let me just start off by saying that...
Wow...
Wow!
The MTC is AMAZING!
Here's a brief list on what exactly is amazing about it.
1: The food is amazing
2: The language is wonderful
3: My companion is perfect. We get along so well
4: My teachers are effective and understanding
5: The weather is quite refreshing
6: The Elders I'm living with are now my wonderful friends
7: My district is really close and my zone is very friendly.
Our branch also has some of the best presidents
8: Am I making you jealous yet?
My schedule mostly consists of going to class a lot and
doing quite a bit of studying but it's quite enjoyable.
Here are the people in my district divided by
companionships:
Elder Sands
Elder Taylor (my companion. He's serving in Seattle,
Washington)
Elder Montieth (he's serving in Mesa, Arizona!)
Elder VanderWurken (He's serving in Tucson, Arizona!)
Elder Brown (He has yet to arrive from Tonga because a
volcano eruption delayed his flight by a few days. He is also Deaf)
Sis. Rice
Sis. Reynolds (She is the other deaf missionary)
Sis. Peutau (peu- [like what you sit on in church] tow [as
in the first part of TOWEL])
Sis. Tullier
I am actually the least experienced person in my district and
I know the least amount of sign but my companion is really helping out in that
regard.
I'm running out of time so let's get some of the important
stuff out of the way.
I am still alive :) (You can exhale dad, and you can stop
crying from worry mom)
I will be leaving the MTC Feb. 23rd and due to a few weird
things happening, I may not be able to write every week, and I may not be able
to read your letters to me every week. So don't think I was brutally murdered
in a dark alley somewhere if I miss a week or two.
I do have an address here at the MTC, but I don't have it
with me, I’ll have to get that to you next week.
My teachers are hearing (though I've never heard them say a
word, total immersion and all of that) and I would give you their names, but I
only know them by their name signs and it's a little difficult to put those
names into a written language.
Again, I thank you all so much for supporting me on my
mission and will miss all of you so much. I know this church is the true church
of God, and that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.
And let me sign that for you:
...
Hope you all understood that.
Elder Sands
Thursday, January 15, 2015
NOTE: 2 NEW PICTURES! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
Elder Sands spending some time with the Carmen's and at the MTC.
Elder Sands spending some time with the Carmen's and at the MTC.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
NOTE: 2 NEW PICTURES! CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE PICTURE ALBUM.
Acea being set-apart and leaving for MTC.
Acea being set-apart and leaving for MTC.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Well, I opened my mission call yesterday. I have been called to labor (love that word) in the Arizona Scottsdale Mission. Further, I will preach the gospel in American Sign Language. I report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.
Acea
Acea
Thursday, October 23, 2014
I got home from work last night and found something waiting for me I have been waiting for all my life, MY MISSION CALL!!!
I'm going to do something a little different, with the bishop's permission. I'm going to wait until Sunday and open my mission call and share that moment with the ward. It is a way of expressing gratitude for all they have done in helping me get to this point and a way to inspire the young men and even the young women to serve as well.
I'll let you know where and when my call is in a few days.
Acea
I'm going to do something a little different, with the bishop's permission. I'm going to wait until Sunday and open my mission call and share that moment with the ward. It is a way of expressing gratitude for all they have done in helping me get to this point and a way to inspire the young men and even the young women to serve as well.
I'll let you know where and when my call is in a few days.
Acea
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