BULA VINAKA EVERYONE ONE MONTH

Bula!

Well tomorrow it will officially have been a month in the MTC. What the ONE MONTH are you kidding?! Time has flown by so fast and I'm just trying to take advantage of it as much as possible. There are about 10ish days till we head out to Fiji from what we have heard (We get our travel plans today so we will know for sure) and although the MTC has been great,  I cannot wait to get out of here and bring this message to the people of Fiji who need to hear it. I know there are people just waiting for me to knock on their door (or hut, not sure which yet haha) and receive this gospel. Thanks again for all the love, support and prayers that you guys have given me. They help motivate me to work hard everyday so please keep them coming.

So Sunday and Tuesday we had a devotional about recognizing the spirit and prayer that were just so great. As a missionary you find yourself using prayer more then you have ever done before. Doing this work makes me recognize all the things I don't know and are not good enough, so I find myself asking my Heavenly father multiple times a day to help me in what I'm doing. I can tell you guys that without a doubt that prayer works. And if you will pray to your Heavenly Father in faith you will receive an answer to your prayers. These answers have come to me through my language abilities. I'm really starting to be able to form my own sentences and say the things I want to say when I teach. I know this is because of answers to my prayers. The language is seriously so fun to speak and I just want to be fluent now. haha.

These past two days have been tough because my companion has been sick the whole time meaning I've had to stay in our residence all day with him. It's been unbelievably boring. But I figured I might as well use the time to get to work. So I've worked hard and learned so many new Fijian words as well as have gotten so far in the Book of Mormon which is great.

Sorry for the short email everyone, this week has been a good week just not too much to talk about. Next week will be better with us packing for Fiji and all that. I truly do love you all and thanks so much for the support. I miss you all but I know what I'm doing here is right. Love you all Moce!

 

 

Bula Vinaka Week 4

Bula everyone!

 

The fact that I am starting my fourth week in the MTC is honestly mind blowing. I feel like everyday I feel more and more blessings and am really becoming a better missionary everyday. Thank you so much for all the love and support. It just feels like I have an army behind me while I'm out here doing this work and I love it. Thanks also to everyone who has wrote me this week. I love hearing from you guys and just know if I can't get back to you guys personally that I love you all so much. The Temple is closed again this week for stupid Pioneer day(stupid Utah) so we don't get to go. But that means I'll probably be on email alot so if you email me today I can probably get back to you!

So this week was another great week in the MTC. We will start with last Saturday. The day after P-day always seems to go sooooo slow and I'm not really sure why. I guess it's kind of like the missionary version of a Monday. So ya while I'm in the MTC my Monday is your guy's Saturday... weird right? Haha so for a part of our day we were literally so bored, and we just needed something to do. SO we created a new missionary game called "thirty second draw off." Basically you and whoever you're facing get a topic and get thirty seconds to draw it and the class votes for a winner. We did this blindfolded and non-blindfolded. We got so competitive with it and even made brackets. haha We're such dweebs, but we have fun.

 

The most intense 30 second draw offs

The MTC is literally six weeks of finding your personal flaws, so sometimes it's kind of hard.  But to try to make myself better I've set so many goals while I've been here. My biggest one is to become more spiritually knowledgeable. I'm really trying to finish the Book of Mormon before I leave so I can have a better grasp on the stories and scriptures in it. Wow this has blessed me so much and I can truly feel my mind open to the scriptures that I am reading, I know that if you read everyday whether it be a verse or a chapter, you will be so blessed.

 

Sunday was another good day not too much happened.  We did try to duck tape a kid to the wall in our dorm but it didn't work so that's a real bummer. haha. Oh and he was willing. We weren't bullying. hahaha

 

Duck taping a kid to the wall

Monday we had the opportunity in class to share a scripture that has helped our testimony grow here in the MTC. Mine was 2 Nephi 28:30. I came across this scripture when I was overwhelmed at how much I didn't know, but it showed me that the Lord gives us things, "line upon line, precept upon precept." He doesn't expect us all to learn everything all at once, just as long as we are striving to be better everyday.  That's the important thing.

Tuesday we had a devotional and they told us that there are 1997 missionaries here in the Provo MTC right now. (just 3 short of the 2000 stripling warriors) But it's so cool being here with a force of this many missionaries. The spirit here is just unreal, because we are truly headed out to change the world. Wednesday and Thursday were both good days.  Nothing too special to share from them though. I just love the work I'm doing and know that what I'm doing is right.

 

This is my district from top left: Sister K- Papa New Guinea, Elder M-Missouri, Elder W-Utah, Elder W-Utah, Elder B- Utah, President Willes (Our Branch President that is President Hinckley's nephew) Elder B (My companion), Elder F- Utah, Elder M- Papa New guinea, Elder G-Idaho,
Bottom Right- Elder T- NewZealand, Elder A- New Zealand, Elder F- Australia, Sister B-Papa New Guinea, Sister T- Tahiti

Such a diverse and cool group, I have so much fun working with these people everyday.

Well That's it for this week, Have a good week everyone I love you all and thanks for all the support, Moce!

 

temple walk

 

God Truly Does Love Us

Bula Vinaka everyone! Wow this week absolutely flew by. It blows my mind that another week has passed and its already P-day again. This work is so hard and physically and mentally draining, but at the same time one of the most rewarding things I've ever done in my life. Thank you so much to everyone that emailed me or sent me Dear Elders this week, I can feel all your guys love and support for me and it truly does keep me going. I love you all and know that you will be blessed at home. If you want to read about those blessings go to D&C 100:1-9 and it will tell you all about them! Seriously so cool!

So last Friday we had Elder Packard's funeral that the missionaries all got to watch the broadcast of and man it was a great experience. That guy was such a great apostle and was so awesome. You could feel the other apostles love for him during their talks. I also decided that my goal for this week was to start setting and achieving goals every single day. Wow just after a week I can feel the huge difference in myself. My goals right now are to learn 15 new words a day (which has been so fun) and bear my testimony 2-3 times a day. I can truly feel my language and my spiritual abilities growing so much in just a week, what a blessing.

Saturday and Sunday I took my mission presidents advice that the harder I worked, the more I would feel Heavenly Father's love for me and man it totally worked. I obeyed every single rule here to a tee and worked as hard as I could because I truly wanted to feel God's love. When we went to Sunday night devotional I was absolutely exhausted from working as hard as I possibly could, and I was praying so hard that I would be able to feel Heavenly Father's love for me. Then it happened. In the opening song of the night I just felt like I was blindsided by a feeling of pure love by my Heavenly Father, nearly bringing me to tears. I can testify that God answers our prayers and truly does love each and every one of us.  Man it was such a great experience.

Monday we taught our first investigator lesson in Fijian without notes. Ya that's right we had to give a full lesson in a language that we have never heard before the MTC with just a week and a half of learning it haahah so fun. I was praying so hard to just remember my lines and amazingly I totally did. I mean our investigator didn't really understand what I was trying to say haha but still I remembered my lines, so that was awesome! That night I was just sitting at my desk writing in my journal and my companion flew into the room and was like "Do you know what we don't know in Fijian?" and I got all excited thinking it was something that would help us in our lessons. Then he was like "Well nothing but that's against the point." haha I laughed so hard and thanked him for that positive and uplifting comment. He's such a funny kid.

Tuesday was such an amazing day. Tuesday morning we had our service assignments again (if you remembered last time I cleaned erasers in a closet?) haha This time I actually did real work which was mopping floors (Yes mom I kinda know how to mop.) haha But the girl that was overseeing us working was probably 21 and went to BYU and told us a story that made me never want to complain again. So she went on her mission to Tahiti and while crossing a street one day got hit head on by a drunk driver. She actually died on the road that day but was brought back to life through CPR. After she came back to life she was in a coma for three weeks with over 15 broken bones. When she came to she had over a year of physical therapy and miraculously healed completely except she lost her sense of taste and smell and her memory of everything before the accident. After she told us all this she said how it was awesome because she has got to change so many people's lives through talks she has given. I was just blown away, here at the MTC there are plenty of things to complain about and sometimes me and the guys do complain but our problems are so small compared to her's and she doesn't even think to complain. In fact she uses her trials as a way to uplift others. Man that was cool. That night we had our second non-notes lesson and that went so good. I was able to talk to the investigator off script meaning I was just making my own Fijian sentences on the fly. It was awesome and I know that wasn't because of me but instead my heavenly Father who loves me.

Thursday and Friday there wasn't too much to write about but I do have one more funny story. Elder Trail, who is this huge gentle giant from New Zealand, is known to fall asleep anywhere. And I mean everywhere, whether it's in class or during lunch. It's hilarious. One day he fell asleep in class and my teacher started like cuddling him and he just kept sleeping haha. He finally woke up and got so scared but we were all just dying, I'll attach a picture of that and another one of me and my buddy Jake, who's here at the MTC.

 

Elder Trail asleep in class

 

Elder Trail and our teacher snuggling. haha

Jake, my BYU lacrosse teammate

This morning we got to go to the temple and wow it was so awesome. If the temple isn't already special then pack it full of about 50-60 missionaries per session for three hours and it's unbelievable the spirit that is there. But gosh that wasn't even the cool part. So in our Fijian speaking district we have one elder and one sister from the island of Papa New Guinea serving with us. Like from what I understand they were like straight tribal but they speak pretty good english and are so cool. But since they don't have a temple in Papa New Guinea, they came to the MTC first and then went through the temple here. You could see how much they loved and cherished the experience to go through the temple. But because they didn't have any family here, we as a district got to basically be their family for getting their endowments. Gosh it was such a spiritual experience and one I will never forget.

Well guys thank you so much for all the love and support you guys give me. Please dont be afraid to email me or send dear elders, because I love every single one of them. I love you all so much, I know this church is true and I have no doubt that what I'm doing here is right. Moce everyone!

 

PS  I love you guys and want to share two Mormon messages one "You never Know" (for all the things you've done Mom) and "The hope of God's light."  I love you and have a good week!

Weak Ankles, Strong Spirits

Bula Vinaka everyone! This week was another week full of hard work and plenty of ups and downs but man it really flew by. I've been working harder then I've ever worked and have felt more rewarded then I've ever felt. However I know it's not about me but about those people I will be teaching so that's what I'm focusing on. I can feel the spirit so strongly here and everyday I just know this is what I need to be doing.

 

So last Friday night, we went and taught our first lesson here at the MTC in Fijian....... Ya I would say it's pretty hard to teach a lesson to someone, when all you know how to do is bear your testimony, tell them hello, and pray. hahaha It was hard to really get the spirit in the room when we had no idea what we were saying, but it went alright! Apparently we did better then some of the other Elders. Elder Traill, this huge Samoan soft spoken dude from New Zealand, got asked to give the prayer in the lesson, and just said "Our dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ amen." Hahahahah we were all just dying laughing.

 

Elder Traill

 

Saturday (the fourth of July) was a busy day as well. We worked hard all day and learned that if we are obedient that we can have the spirit to be with us in our lessons. We taught our second lesson Saturday night, and it was amazing how much we could speak and understand what we were hearing. In just a matter of a day we had such a better grasp on the language it was crazy. We totally knew the spirit was rewarding us for our hard work. We then had what was supposed to be a Fourth of July celebration that night. Lol that sucked. We were supposed to go to the Stadium of Fire, but instead they just brought us out to the parking lot behind the building and let us watch from there. So we were standing up in a parking lot watching fireworks that were mostly blocked by trees. That night was tough because fourth of July is like the best holiday, and man I just missed spending it with the family. But I know like I said that this work is true, so it's totally worth it to make that sacrifice to bring this happiness that I have to the people of Fiji.

Sunday was fast Sunday, and here at the MTC we do a full real twenty four hour fast, and wow let me tell you I think me and some of the other Big boys in our branch nearly passed away... hahaha We had mission conference that morning however which takes place every fast Sunday, and man it was awesome. It was such a spiritually uplifting experience. I got reminded to forget myself and go to work and that if I would do that I would be blessed, so I've been working on doing that all week.

AND THEN THERE WAS MONDAY. So Monday, during the fifty minutes of gym time that we get a day, I sprained my ankle playing basketball soooo bad. I've always had a bad right ankle but the suck thing was this was my left ankle so now I'm going to have two bad ankles, boooooooo. it literally swelled up to the size of a tennis ball, and I had to crutch around for two days on it. I'm such a little awkward kid. But man it could have been so much worse. Elder Foava, who's this huge tough guy from Australia who gave up a 4 million dollar rugby pro contract to be here, dislocated his shoulder in gym and because it was like his 8th dislocation on his shoulder he had to get surgery, poor guy. But now like four days later my ankle is almost 100 percent which I feel truly blessed because of. (But probably no more basketball for me) haha

 

That night after I destroyed my ankle we taught our third investigator lesson and wow it was just amazing. We felt the spirit so strongly that we decided to ask the person to be baptized and they agreed! (Remember these aren't real investigators, just our teachers) but still the spirit was so strong! Two kids from Arizona and Colorado, who have never spoke Fijian in our lives were able to bring the spirit in so strongly that we were able to have our teacher feel it. Man I love this work.

Tuesday one of the highlights was our service assignment, which is basically just cleaning the buildings here in the MTC. Since I was still a cripple the only job they could find for me was, cleaning erasers in a closet with a vacuum. Hahah I've never felt so useless, and special in my life. All the guys thought that one was pretty funny.

Wednesday night was one of the funniest moments I've had in the MTC. So me and my companion were teaching our fourth lesson, and we were talking about Jesus Christ. My companion leaned forward with pure seriousness, looked into our investigators eyes and instead of saying "Jesus Created his church" he said "Jesus Christ created the fish" and our teacher just lost it, like fell on the ground laughing haha We were just nervously looking at each other, not knowing what we did wrong, but once he told us we died laughing as well. haha Missionary work is so hard, but it's seriously so fun.

 

Me and my companion hanging with Joseph Smith :)

I really am trying to just better myself a little bit at a time and I can feel that happening. I love this work and I know it's true. I hope everyone had a good week and I love you all! Moce!

 

Mic, a friend I baptized in high school, who is going on a mission to Spain.

Sam, my lacrosse teammate from BYU, who is going to Taiwan on his mission
 

My branch (anyone going on a mission to any island in the Pacific)



CRAZIEST TWO DAYS EVER

Bula Vanaka everyone!

 

So my Preparation day (the day I get to email) will be on Friday while I'm in the MTC so ya this is why you are all getting this email. Wow these have just been the craziest two days ever. Like unreal. But I love it and already feel so strongly that this is where I need to be. So I'll try to give you guys a general overview of what these two days were like. The first day after I got dropped off they shuttled us through like a hundred different rooms and handed us like a million papers and our missionary tags which we were pumped about. After literally like 10 minutes we were already in our classroom and our teachers were speaking Fijian to us. I was already nervous and that literally put me over the edge haha. It was good though and we learned a few basic conversation phrases that I'm starting to really get the hang of. It also helped that all 15 of us Fijian speaking Elders and three sisters had gone into the MTC so we all just supported each other on being completely overwhelmed haha. We have two districts of Fijian speaking elders here in the MTC and all the guys are just so cool. My companion Elder Babcock is such an awesome guy. He shares my desire to work as hard as possible and get as much out of this MTC experience as possible. Its been like two days and I already love him so much. One unique thing about our District is that we have a lot of islanders here. We have a two Tongan guys from New Zealand that love rugby and have the coolest accents. There is a Samoan guy from Australia who once again has the coolest accent. Then there is one elder and two sisters from Papa New Guinea and a sister from Tahiti. Talk about diversity haha its so cool to be learning the language with all of them. The rest of the Elders are pretty much all just super white guys from Utah or Idaho haha.
 

The very first night that we were here we got to teach investigators with huge groups of missionaries. It was awesome because like 40 of us all had to work together and feel the spirit to tell the investigator what he needed to hear. One investigator said he felt as if God had never cared and was never there for him and that felt like a punch right to my gut. I felt so strongly that the Lord loved him unconditionally and wanted him to be happy and I know that's how he feels about each and every one of us. It was so cool and so spiritual.
 

Yesterday was quite honestly just a long day but so rewarding all at the same time. For our classroom session we learned how to bear our testimony and pray in Fijian. Gosh it is literally the coolest thing. We also learned how to ask a few commitment type questions for investigators. I am starting to get better at it all but we have to teach a lesson in Fijian tonight, and let me tell you its going to be a trainwreck. haha That poor guy who has to listen to us is going to laugh his head off but we are going to give it our best shot haha. Yesterday night we had a district meeting with our Branch president who was a former mission president out on Hawaii. He is apparently the nephew of President Hinckley and its so weird because he looks and talks just like him. He is just the man and brings the spirit into the room so strongly every time he speaks.We learned from him that the Lord can't trust us missionaries with peoples eternal salvation if he can't trust us with the little things such as getting up on time and doing things the right way. It was so awesome and so true. Well I honestly don't have too much more to write about because its only been two days, but I'm sure I'll have plenty of more for next week. I love the MTC so much and I know it's where I'm supposed to be. I love this gospel and know its true.

Moce Everyone!