Elder Sanders flight plans :)

Hello family!      I got your package full of goodies (Thanks Mom and Madison!) and all the letters so far, and I haven't gotten my VISA yet, but I'll explain that at the bottom of the letter.

 

This e-mail is just a recap of how Wednesday is going to go:   I wake up at 6 AM, and head to the airport, my flight leaves at around 8:50, and then I'll fly to Atlanta Georgia.  I should arrive there at about 4 to 5 O'clock, which I'm pretty sure is in Utah time, but it might be in Georgia time.  I'm pretty sure it's at around 5:00, but keep your phone handy. I'll call the house first, and if no one answers I'll go to cell phones.   After that I get on a plane to Lima Peru at 5:30pm and arrive at 11:00am.  That's it for Wednesday, and after my 6 weeks are over, on September 5th we fly back to Atlanta Georgia for our VISA's, and then we can fly down to Ecuador.  (THAT will be a long day... plenty of letter+sketch time though!)   

 

So, I can't wait for our phone call, today I'm doing laundry and tomorrow I'm packing, and it turns out Elder Tempest has a toothache so we get to leave campus in a shuttle for the dentist at 2:30,  we get to see the outside world! :)  

 

Other than that, I think I now have enough candy to last my until Christmas (it was very kind!)   And I appreciate all the letters I get, (which, by the way, did you guys get my letter home with the letter for the cousins, and Erik, did you get my hand-written one?  I wrote it before I sent last weeks e-mail and missed the mailtruck because our P-day time is later in the day!)    

 

So, I think now I'll check the e-mails you guys sent me (I only have 20 minutes left to read them, that's why DearElder is better because there are no time limits and I can read them whenever!)    and I can't wait to speak to ya!  Which, I can only do so for about 10 minutes, so have a question list ready beforehand, 

 

The book is blue,

The Church is True,

         &

LOVE YOU ALL! 

 

-Elder Sanders

Week #3

Hello to All!  

 

This week has been mighty!   It's a new feeling once you get used to being at the MTC, the days seem extremely long, but the weeks pass by really fast.  How does that work?  I dunno, it's great either way. 

 

NEXT: Thanks to all those who sent me letters!  They are as exciting as finding a brick of gold in a McDonald's playpark.   Chantel: That was a great letter, it really takes me back to when we were young, thanks!  Meikalya: That painting was awesome!  I tacked it up on the wall where I study in my room, send me more as you make em!  Madison: Great letters Madison, I love how you much you love to send me letters that say how much you love me.  And I'll take you new bet on... I get on the plane next week!  Mom & Dad: You're letters are definitely close to my heart, I"m saving them all up, so I'll have a treasury by the end of my mission!

 

So: At about 8:00 AM, August 3rd, I'm going to be on a plane to Atlanta Georgia, and then get on a plane to Lima, Peru a couple hours after I get there.  That's a lot of sketch time, so I'm excited.  It's so weird that I'm going to be leaving here in less than a week, it really feels like I've been living here a whole semester! 

 

My Spanish is coming along as usual, and we're getting more opportunities to practice teaching, role playing is proably the best way to learn how to really talk to people in the Mission field. 

 

(And yes: I got your package, Vinegar+Oil and Socks!  Woot! (I'll read the letters that came with it after I write this, because time is as precious as the Ring is to Gollum ;) )

 

And Ok, this is going to take up the majority of the letter because it was by far the most most memorable day so far:

 

K: Monday was like a roller coaster of emotion, I think I went from being really tired (and a little sick, we've had a bug spread from one person to another in our classroom, but I'm good now) from feeling exciting, to glum, to happy/spiritual, to homesick/dreary, to NIRVANA!  So, we've been teaching an investigator named Casey (Acted by our teacher Hermana Alvarez) we had done a horrible job on Saturday because we didn't really keep the spirit and lost the purpose of the lesson, and we reviewed it Monday.  We got a very blunt explanation that we would've 'lost the investigator' if it actually was in the field, and we were all glum  (but in the lesson the next day, we did a spectacular job at keeping the Holy Ghost and did very very well!)   so, we were down for a bit, and were later revived by the sweet power of prayer, and after that, I was in my happy/spiritual stage.  

 

But before our next class session, I got a bit homesick and was lost in thought, and our other teacher, Bro. Urquhart, gave us a unique activity to do. He told us to go outside, find a quiet seclusive place, and answer 2 questions to ourself:  What is my greatest desire, and how can I be worthy to acheive it.  He gave us a half and hour, and our trio found a nice spot on the other side of the building facing the valley.  Within about 5 minutes of thought, the overcast sky began to swirl together, wind whistled dramatically around the brickwall, and low rumbling of thunder and light rain filled the air with brilliance.  I absolutely adore stormy weather, and while I was thinking very deeply, I had the immense pleasure to be immersed in a fantastic one.  The air smelled sweetly of rain, large bells from BYU rang in the distance, and I was in complete harmony with the world. Simply put, it was very Cinematic, or to say...    Epic. I absolutely would've wished I could've been out there an hour, and the experience made me absolutely lively for the rest of the evening.      

 

All in all, i learned ALOT that day, from spanish to how to teach people properly to being close to God. 

 

 

As for other thoughts, in Tuesday's fireside we had a member of the 70 talk to us about accpting the holy ghost, and on Sunday a guy from missionary management (?) showed us a bunch of 'Mormon Messages' (those awesome church commercials) and gave us plenty of cool quotes.  Here's some you guys will like:

 

"If you put yourself down, you offend God"

 

"Whatever you do, do your best"

 

"It's not who you aren't, it's who you are. And being yourself is great."

 

"Selfishness destroys service"

 

-Firesides are always the best, and I'm finally getting into shape!  an hour of fútbol y correr cinco dios de la semana really helps you feel great about feeling good.

 

 

 

So, in essence, I'm doing great, I'll see if I can do some more hand letters, and Dad, I'll print out and read your e-mails too (I only have a few minutes left!) 

 

CIao!

 

-Elder Sanders

Elders SANDERS first LETTER !!!! Week #2 !

Hola amigos y familia! 

 

First off, I'd like to thank everyone (especially Mom & Dad) for the letters sent this week, they were great!  And an extra thank-you to Tony & Paul Coffaro, Silvia, Eli, and all other cousins and famila who have me in thier thoughts, I'm praying for you guys also.  And I did get the package, and I shall say: ¡bastante gracias!  The peachie-o's were great!

 

Ok, I'm going to hurry, because we only have 30 min to write e-mails, and I only have 27:30 min left!

 

Before experiences, here are answers to your questions: 1- I'm very good (tired half the time)   2-Elder Tempest is from Draper, UT, and Elder Blackwelder is from Orange County California 3- I do have a locker so my personal stuff is safe 4- I usually pray at 10:30 every night (right as I go to sleep) 5- at this point I'm not worried about traveling to Peru/Ecuador, now I'm super worried about learning the language in time!  Cause as soon as I get off the plane, 100% español.  6-Yes, I get the DearElder letters every day, so keep 'em coming!  (My Preperation days are on Thursdays, so that's the only time I can write to you guys) 7- I haven't seen any general authorites yet, but we've had 2 firesides so far: Sunday and Tuesday, and they magnificently great!  8- To Mom, yes, sister Ghent remembered you, and she is President Ghent's wife's sister.  9- Spiritual experiences?  Yes.  All this time I've been learning that the most important thing to do while teaching discussions to others is the sheer power of the Holy Ghost.  It is by far more important to have the spirit than to have a lesson ready, and it is the REAL teacher when spreading the gospel.  While doing discussions in Spanish in our class, there have been about 2 times when someone will be teaching in Spanish, and I have some difficulty in understanding what they are saying, but when they testify, and the spirit overwhelms the room, everyone could feel it, and it was strong.  Although it was in a foreign language, I could still strongly feel the spirit.  10- Yes, I do need something.  Just some more while ankle socks, I only brought 2 pairs but turns out I need one every day for GYM.  So.. I'd say about 4-5 extra pairs would be enough, they usually don't get dirty enough to wear once then wash. 

 

 

Essentially, the MTC is just stupendous.  I've finally overcame apadtion to my classes and schedule.  Personal study is always a great time to think, and classes with our District are great for learning to teach as a group. During language study, everyone pitches in by helping each other out with the language and flash cards, and our teachers know the right things to say to us.  

 

-And cool story: on Saturday, all of our District went to choir practice (very optional, about 200-300 out the 2600 missionaries here attended it,  I think)  and Elder Tempest and I were the only ones left.  So, we were eating dinner in a less than busy lunchroom because most of everyone was still at choir practice, and an old couple came and joined our empty table with cookies and milk.  Who were they?  The MTC president and his wife!  They are both extremly kind and caring, and while everyone else was busy singing, the 2 of us had a very neat experience having dinner with the leader of the Training Center.  (I guess they do that kind of thing alot,  the other day the Devotional Pianist and her husband joined our table)

 

And I will say.. Sunday was the longest day of the week,  not in a bad way, but just literally.  The day consisted of meetings, study time, and interviews, but for some reason, it just stretching time to a screetching halt, after lunch was over, I seriously thought it was time for bed, and in my mind it truly felt like 7pm, but it was only 1!  Crazy EH!  And the fireside in the evening was a sight to behold, about a thousand missionaries singing their soul out to the Song, "Called To Serve"

At the MTC, we do it very differently.  The song is altered to be longer with an extra chorus, but we start the first verse extremely quiet, almost under our breath, growing louder with each verse as if we were "an army slowly marching from behind a hill onward" and at the start of the last verse, every stands up and exerts all their self to sing as powerfully as possible.  (Quick note to Erik, the most goose-bumps ever, you're gonna love it!)  And I guess it's pretty rare, because they only do that about every 2 months, and my I wish you could've been there.   And not only that, but the talks themselves were pure inspiration, I was stunned!  (and eventually drew pictures of all the speakers later :)    

 

So, it looks as if I'm almost outta time, but I'll send an additional letter with photos in it for everyone (I can't do it through the computer, so far as I know yet, and they gave us a set of Spanish scriptures, a Spanish 'preach my gospel', and a water purification water-bottle!) 

 

¡Adios!       (which if you break it down,  A-Dios,  'A' means to, and 'Dios' means God.  So Adios sorta means, 'With God' , neat huh?)

 

-Elder Sanders

Elder Sanders Week 1 written letter

Elders SANDERS first LETTER !!!! Week #1 !

Hola Otros!

 

These past few days have been quite busy.  Actually, very very busy.  (!Trabajar bastante!)   But thanks for everyone who sent a letter, they were like getting presents on Christmas Eve.  (and I got a notice that someone sent a package, but every time I try to go down to pick it up the mail-room is closed! So I'll have to get it Monday. )

An average day for me so far is awaking at 6:00 am, and until 9:30 I'm either in personal study time, group study time, language classes, eating, at gym or in a district meeting. And then we go to bed at 10:30.  In my spanish class, I have 2 teachers: Bro. Urquhart and Hermana Alvarez, they are both very great teachers, and the Spanish is as difficult as ever.  For our District (which consists of about 12 people) they are trying a different way of teaching by using about 90% Spanish while they are talking.  I'm sure I'll get it eventually, but for now, it's quite overwhelming, but we're learning tons every hour! 

 

I also have 2 mission companions (which is very rare):  Elder Blackwelder, and Elder Tempest.  Both great, and we're having a great time throughout the day.  They both are going to the Peru MTC in 3 weeks along with 2 other sisters and one other elder in our district.  One funny thing about the campus is that all the buildings are nearly identical, and nearly all the walkways outside are covered with a big metal canopy.  So, it feels as we are inside 24/7, and can only see the sky/mountains if we head out into the pavilons or in the GYM playing field. 

 

And while I have time to type (which is only 30 minutes) let me answer all the question everyone asked before I continue talking about the day:

-The food is good, and I heard that the chocolate milk contains laxative (and after 4 days, I believe it 100%)

-I'm speaking spanish TONS

-Yes I'll have an extra ticket to Harry Potter

 

Whew, ok, probably best way to learn about how to proselyte is by practicing with actor investigators.  (In class our teachers act as individual characters, and on day 1 they had these 'pro' guys ask questions to the audience)  In our spanish class, each one of our teachers act an investigator, only with Hermana Alvarez we teach her in English, and with Bro. Urquhart we have to teach him in Spanish (those discussions have alot of pauses).  But it really pricks your brain and really tries to get you to think about how to teach each person individually with thier problems and beliefs.  It's very engaging and even quite difficult, but for me it's the best way to learn and teach.  And I've found that preparing short lessons is rather like building with LEGOS.  First, you pick out some really important pieces to use, such as bits of doctrine or scriptures that pertain to the lesson we need to give to the investigator that day.  Then, we organize the big pieces, and using lots of small filler pieces build a spiritual creation.  And it seems alot of the time you need to say what feels right rather than say what you have planned previously.

 

So, overall, the MTC is completely abounding with the spirit.  From the way people act to how the facility is run, a spiritual presence is always present, and although it's not constantly a super strong beam filling the building, you can tell there is something different here. 

 

(Before I sign out, if anyone wishes to write to me, use either DearElder.com or hand-written letters, writing to me on here restricts my time and is a pain to print out, plus I can only read them on P-day, which is going to be Thursday, but the DearElder letters can be grabbed anyday and they are pre-printed, so... thanks!)

 

I've written this once, but one of the most important things they taught us here is:

 

-Obedience brings blessings, but Exact obedience brings miracles. 

I've written this once, but one of the most important things they taught us here is:

 

-Obedience brings blessings, but Exact obedience brings miracles. 

 

 

Thanks to all to have written, I hope you write to me more, and I'll strive to do likewise.    

So to all family, friends, and anyone who visits the blog:  I truly do care for you.  Every single one of you, even if I didn't know you.

 

Ciao y adios!

 

-Elder Sanders