From probation to district leader. when God puts trials in front of us, it means that he knows that we are ready to grow more. through these experiences in the MTC, i have gained much more knowledge and wisdom, not only in the gospel or the language but on how to be a man. one of the things that i've learned about myself is that it's hard for me to listen to someone if i don't respect them or like them. this is something that i've found that i need to improve upon while i'm here on my mission.
My first month here, things were not the best situation. our district had earned the reputation of being "the worse district that the MTC has ever seen." i wasn't the only one to contribute evidence to that statement, but i was the only one to have been put on probation. i was frustrated and extremely upset with my old branch president who singled me out as the cause of all the inadequacies of the district. President Stott (My Old Branch President) and i had been clashing heads since day one and i had made my disapproval of him known. i guess it was pride and anger and the fact that I'm not afraid to speak my mind.. i had been put on probation for something which i had no real part of, but i had spoken out about. even if you don't like your leaders, you still have to do what they tell you to. i had been singled out for discipline when everyone else in the district was more deserving for probation than me. but even though other people were doing wrong, that doesn't excuse my own actions. for as in Alma 42: 30-31
"O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility. And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen."
when i read this, it was one of those instances where you just open up to a random page and read the first thing you see. it may not be the best scripture, but in that instance, it spoke directly to me. By allowing myself to become affected by my surroundings, i had become just as bad as those around me, we didn't study effectively and we hardly stayed on task. i tried to excuse my behavior because of those around me. i was prideful and didn't want to accept many of the things which President Stott said to me. I was aboout to give up and go home, but this scripture told me what i should do.
allowing yourself to be the creation of your surroundings is not the way to progress in this life. if you are surrounded by people who are doing wrong, do not allow yourself to be brought down with them, but rather become a leader and show them the way.
President Taylor (New Branch President) and President Williams (MTC District President) are two great men who had put faith in me when my last branch president thought that i should have gone home. president Williams stuck his neck out for me to stay here, and president Taylor felt that i would be a great help to the district and zone as a leader. so far, he has gone on to say that i have "done the best job that he's ever seen." i wouldn't go that far in saying that about myself, but there is definitely a difference in my attitude. mainly because it is a much more motivating having people love you into being a better person, rather than trying to force you into being a better person. not only that, but i felt relieved to have someone give me a fair trial and to give me the chance to prove President Stott wrong in his assumption that i was a horrible missionary.
As the district leader, i've been able to use my experiences here to help my new district with their trials. i've been here for a few weeks more than them so i've helped them cope with a lot of the challenges that they are now currently facing. many of them have trials going on back at home which i have been able to help them through. i feel that heavenly father wanted me to change districts because he needed me to learn a few valuable lessons and to help the elders in this district. so far, my district has maintained the perfect attitude and obedience that was apparent the second i walked in. even through trials which have greatly affect all of them.
today, my old district left. even though i'll miss Elder Ioane and Elder Vaimalu, i'm happy that i'm staying here with my district. i went and sent them off earlier today, it was sad, but it won't be the last time that i see them. right now though, i need to focus on helping my district to be an even greater district than they already are. i'll have an extra three weeks to learn the language, and i won't waste these next three weeks. i've wasted enough of the lord's time by thinking of myself.
anyways, i'm happy to report that things are going great now, for the past few weeks, there hasn't been any snow at all. most of the snow had already melted and the weather was starting to feel nice. on Friday though, we got a lot of snow. most of it was really fluffy though so it melted the next day, but whenever i got the chance, i would run up to a tree and kick it so the the snow would fall on top of me. it was pretty fun, i'm sure Carli and Drew would have liked to do that with me. i have some videos of me doing it, but it only lasted a day and then the snow was melted.
by the way, i don't think i'll need anymore gum for a while. i think i'll have enough for the next 3 weeks that i'm here at the MTC. after that runs out, i'll be able to get my own. (thanks bishop landree)
oh and i also wanna learn how to cook. (for last weeks blog)
Monday, February 28, 2011
February 21, 2011
One month til I leave for the Philippines. Feels like a long ways away, but the past 2 months have went by fairly quick. I'm already a 12th the way done with my mission. (2 months/24months)
My last district was 2-B, my new district is 3-D. We have this thing where we "TATLO-D" don't ask...(tatlo mean 3 in tagolog) the members of my district are Elder Gagnon, Elder Leishman, Elder Morris, Elder Comish, Elder Tuitama, Elder Adrus, and Elder Tomasi. We'll be moving classrooms soon because we're going to be giving the senior missionaries our rooms. We're on the main floor so they won't have to walk up a bunch of stairs. I don't know where they went to class before, I think they went in the main building which holds the cafeteria and chapel rooms and a few meeting rooms.
So far, in my new district, things are going great. Right now I'm the new district leader, so I can cal it my district. although I would have been zone leader if it was possible, (they don't switch those assignments until transfers). My new branch president is much better than my old one who seemed to be really misinformed and didn't seem to like me.
I was told by my new president that the missionaries in both my old district and new district didn't know why I was the one who was switched. Many of the missionaries in my new branch have noticed that the other zone still messes around and is rarely on task. Where as they look at me in this zone and can't understand why the president would have sent me out. I have a feeling that the reason why I left was because the president really didn't like me. And I didn't really like him either. We didn't have a good relatoinship with each other. But I think that this challenge was put before me in order to strengthen me. Even through all this adversity, I have still had a strong devotion to serve. The Lord knows the feelings of my heart, whereas men only see the outward appearance. It is good to know that my new district president can see me for who I am and not be extremely judgemental. (my old district president was a jodge). I have faced tremendous challenges here, so much so that I was a few seconds away from turning in my badge and going home. But I stuck through it all. And the Lord blesses those who persevere through hard times. This is a very challenging place, and for those who are preparing to serve a mission, be prepared to face difficult trials that will test you.
On a side note, apparently I look like "vin diesel" and the "the rock". I've had plenty of people here tell me that I look more like Vin Diesel and so, my nickname here has been for the past 2 months "Vin Diesel."
I don't know if I mentioned this, but we've been making saunas in the showers which is pretty nice. It gives us a good chance to just hand out as a zone and talk. I've gotten to know a really humble missionary whi is in my district. His name is Elder Tomasi. Every night, we'll heat out into the hallway and share food and talk until ights out. He's from Tonga so he doesn't speak very good English but he knows enough to have pretty interesting conversations with. He competed in the Beijing Olympics in boxing for Tonga but has not bragged about it to anyone. He's very and always smiles and dinner meal time, he always takes everyone else's trays to the disposal area whether they like it or not. He respects me and I respect him so he lets me take my tray by myself but he still won't let me take his tray for him. It's very sad to not however that while he's been here at the MTC, his younger sister who was about 10 years old was hit and killed by a hit and run drunk driver. Even through all that, he's maintained a very good attitude and has been commited to stay here through it all. I don't know if I would be able to have that kind of strength, but I'm glad that he chose to stay. He's been a great example of what a missionary should be like.
Some elders in my zone who I'm gonna miss when I'm gone are Elder Paulu, Elder Leaulu, Elder Tomasi, Elder Leusa, Elder Nalesoni, Elder Malimali.
I've gotten better in tagalog, I made a talk about free agency and for almost all of it did the translation myself. But for parts ot it towards the end U used an English gospel principles with a Tagalog one right next to it and just copied down the sentences. :P
here's how it goes:
magandan po hapon mga elder at mga sister. ngayon araw pananalita ko tungkol sa karapatang pumili. isa, ano po ang karapatang pumili? gaano itulong kami? bakit mahalaga para kami? Ang karapatang pumili sa pagitan ng mabuti at masama at kumilos para sa ating sarili ay tinatawag na kalayaan. Sa buhay bago tayo isinilang mayroon tayong kalayaang moral. Ang isang layunin ng buhay sa lupa ay ipakita kung ano ang ating mga pipiliin. Kung napilitan tayong piliin ang tama, hindi natin maipapakita kung ano ang pipiliin natin para sa ating sarili. bago buhay na ito na naging katulad tayo ng diyos. lumakha siya natin at mahal tayo niya. lumikha ang diyos ng balak para matuto tayo sa loob ng buhay na ito. ibinigay ng diyos ang karapatang pumili bale pumili tayo sa gitna ng mabuti at masama. hindi puwede ang diyos tumulong sa atin o hindi makatuto. sa halamanan ng eden, binigyan ng diyos sina adam at eve ng karapatang pumili. kung hindi kumain siya ng bunga, hindi nila naalam mabuti kaysa sa masama. sa pamamagitan karapatang pumili ang buhay na ito ay nagbibigay sa atin ng karanasan na piliin ang mabuti kaysa sa masama. dahil na ito maaari silang pumili o may kakayahan silang matuto at umunlad. pagkamatay natin, magdadala tayong ating kaalaman at mga karanasan kung alin matuto tayo sa loob ng buhay na ito. kung tumanggi tayo ng balak na ito at isinudon lucifer, hindi makaunlad tayo sa buhay na ito. magbasa tayo ng isang talata tungkol sa pagsisisi. ang talatang ito ay matatagpuan sa Ang Mahalagang Perlas, sa aklat ni mosies kabanata lima, bersiculo labing isa. mula sa mga talatang ito natututunan natin ang kahalagahan ng kalayaang pumili. (MOSES 5:11) At si Eva, na kanyang asawa, ay narinig ang lahat ng bagay na ito at natuwa, nagsasabing: Kung hindi dahil sa ating paglabag tayo sana ay hindi nagkaroon ng mga binhi, at kailanman ay hindi nalaman ang mabuti at masama, at ang kagalakan ng ating pagkakatubos, at ang buhay na walang hanggan na ibinibigay ng Diyos sa lahat ng masunurin. Kalayaan ang nagbigay-daan para maging panahon ng pagsubok ang ating buhay sa lupa. Nang planuhin ang paglikha ng Kanyang mga anak sa lupa, sinabi ng Diyos, “Susubukin natin sila upang makita kung kanilang gagawin ang lahat ng bagay anuman ang iutos sa kanila ng Panginoon nilang Diyos” (Abraham 3:25). Kung wala ang kaloob na kalayaan, hindi sana natin maipapakita sa ating Ama sa Langit kung gagawin natin ang lahat ng ipinag-utos Niya sa atin. Dahil nakakapili tayo, tayo ang mananagot sa ating mga kilos. Hindi natin mapipili ang kabutihan maliban kung iharap sa atin ang mga kasalungat ng mabuti at masama. Sinabi ni Lehi, isang dakilang propeta sa Aklat ni Mormon, sa anak niyang si Jacob na para maisakatuparan ang mga walang hanggang layunin ng Diyos, dapat ay may “pagsalungat sa lahat ng bagay. Kung hindi, . . . ang kabutihan ay hindi mangyayari, ni ang kasamaan, ni ang kabanalan o kalungkutan, ni mabuti o masama” Inilalayo tayo sa panganib ng mga utos ng Diyos at inaakay tungo sa buhay na walang hanggan. Sa matalinong pagpapasiya, magtatamo tayo ng kadakilaan, uunlad nang walang hanggan, at magtatamasa ng lubos na kaligayahan. nagsasabi ako sa loob ng pangalan ni jesucristo amen.
when i get home, i wanna have a list of things that i want to do. i can't really write it anywhere permanent, but i know that i'll probably be able to come back to this blog and read over it once i get home.
i want to:
get a paramedic certification
learn piano
start longsnapping again
attend BYU (walk on) and visit springville
join up into the airforce
go into either police, fire or doctor
i've also seen a few wooden watches and i'm assuming that they were bought in the Philippines. when i'm out there, i'll look out for a few wooden watches to send back home.
My last district was 2-B, my new district is 3-D. We have this thing where we "TATLO-D" don't ask...(tatlo mean 3 in tagolog) the members of my district are Elder Gagnon, Elder Leishman, Elder Morris, Elder Comish, Elder Tuitama, Elder Adrus, and Elder Tomasi. We'll be moving classrooms soon because we're going to be giving the senior missionaries our rooms. We're on the main floor so they won't have to walk up a bunch of stairs. I don't know where they went to class before, I think they went in the main building which holds the cafeteria and chapel rooms and a few meeting rooms.
So far, in my new district, things are going great. Right now I'm the new district leader, so I can cal it my district. although I would have been zone leader if it was possible, (they don't switch those assignments until transfers). My new branch president is much better than my old one who seemed to be really misinformed and didn't seem to like me.
I was told by my new president that the missionaries in both my old district and new district didn't know why I was the one who was switched. Many of the missionaries in my new branch have noticed that the other zone still messes around and is rarely on task. Where as they look at me in this zone and can't understand why the president would have sent me out. I have a feeling that the reason why I left was because the president really didn't like me. And I didn't really like him either. We didn't have a good relatoinship with each other. But I think that this challenge was put before me in order to strengthen me. Even through all this adversity, I have still had a strong devotion to serve. The Lord knows the feelings of my heart, whereas men only see the outward appearance. It is good to know that my new district president can see me for who I am and not be extremely judgemental. (my old district president was a jodge). I have faced tremendous challenges here, so much so that I was a few seconds away from turning in my badge and going home. But I stuck through it all. And the Lord blesses those who persevere through hard times. This is a very challenging place, and for those who are preparing to serve a mission, be prepared to face difficult trials that will test you.
On a side note, apparently I look like "vin diesel" and the "the rock". I've had plenty of people here tell me that I look more like Vin Diesel and so, my nickname here has been for the past 2 months "Vin Diesel."
I don't know if I mentioned this, but we've been making saunas in the showers which is pretty nice. It gives us a good chance to just hand out as a zone and talk. I've gotten to know a really humble missionary whi is in my district. His name is Elder Tomasi. Every night, we'll heat out into the hallway and share food and talk until ights out. He's from Tonga so he doesn't speak very good English but he knows enough to have pretty interesting conversations with. He competed in the Beijing Olympics in boxing for Tonga but has not bragged about it to anyone. He's very and always smiles and dinner meal time, he always takes everyone else's trays to the disposal area whether they like it or not. He respects me and I respect him so he lets me take my tray by myself but he still won't let me take his tray for him. It's very sad to not however that while he's been here at the MTC, his younger sister who was about 10 years old was hit and killed by a hit and run drunk driver. Even through all that, he's maintained a very good attitude and has been commited to stay here through it all. I don't know if I would be able to have that kind of strength, but I'm glad that he chose to stay. He's been a great example of what a missionary should be like.
Some elders in my zone who I'm gonna miss when I'm gone are Elder Paulu, Elder Leaulu, Elder Tomasi, Elder Leusa, Elder Nalesoni, Elder Malimali.
I've gotten better in tagalog, I made a talk about free agency and for almost all of it did the translation myself. But for parts ot it towards the end U used an English gospel principles with a Tagalog one right next to it and just copied down the sentences. :P
here's how it goes:
magandan po hapon mga elder at mga sister. ngayon araw pananalita ko tungkol sa karapatang pumili. isa, ano po ang karapatang pumili? gaano itulong kami? bakit mahalaga para kami? Ang karapatang pumili sa pagitan ng mabuti at masama at kumilos para sa ating sarili ay tinatawag na kalayaan. Sa buhay bago tayo isinilang mayroon tayong kalayaang moral. Ang isang layunin ng buhay sa lupa ay ipakita kung ano ang ating mga pipiliin. Kung napilitan tayong piliin ang tama, hindi natin maipapakita kung ano ang pipiliin natin para sa ating sarili. bago buhay na ito na naging katulad tayo ng diyos. lumakha siya natin at mahal tayo niya. lumikha ang diyos ng balak para matuto tayo sa loob ng buhay na ito. ibinigay ng diyos ang karapatang pumili bale pumili tayo sa gitna ng mabuti at masama. hindi puwede ang diyos tumulong sa atin o hindi makatuto. sa halamanan ng eden, binigyan ng diyos sina adam at eve ng karapatang pumili. kung hindi kumain siya ng bunga, hindi nila naalam mabuti kaysa sa masama. sa pamamagitan karapatang pumili ang buhay na ito ay nagbibigay sa atin ng karanasan na piliin ang mabuti kaysa sa masama. dahil na ito maaari silang pumili o may kakayahan silang matuto at umunlad. pagkamatay natin, magdadala tayong ating kaalaman at mga karanasan kung alin matuto tayo sa loob ng buhay na ito. kung tumanggi tayo ng balak na ito at isinudon lucifer, hindi makaunlad tayo sa buhay na ito. magbasa tayo ng isang talata tungkol sa pagsisisi. ang talatang ito ay matatagpuan sa Ang Mahalagang Perlas, sa aklat ni mosies kabanata lima, bersiculo labing isa. mula sa mga talatang ito natututunan natin ang kahalagahan ng kalayaang pumili. (MOSES 5:11) At si Eva, na kanyang asawa, ay narinig ang lahat ng bagay na ito at natuwa, nagsasabing: Kung hindi dahil sa ating paglabag tayo sana ay hindi nagkaroon ng mga binhi, at kailanman ay hindi nalaman ang mabuti at masama, at ang kagalakan ng ating pagkakatubos, at ang buhay na walang hanggan na ibinibigay ng Diyos sa lahat ng masunurin. Kalayaan ang nagbigay-daan para maging panahon ng pagsubok ang ating buhay sa lupa. Nang planuhin ang paglikha ng Kanyang mga anak sa lupa, sinabi ng Diyos, “Susubukin natin sila upang makita kung kanilang gagawin ang lahat ng bagay anuman ang iutos sa kanila ng Panginoon nilang Diyos” (Abraham 3:25). Kung wala ang kaloob na kalayaan, hindi sana natin maipapakita sa ating Ama sa Langit kung gagawin natin ang lahat ng ipinag-utos Niya sa atin. Dahil nakakapili tayo, tayo ang mananagot sa ating mga kilos. Hindi natin mapipili ang kabutihan maliban kung iharap sa atin ang mga kasalungat ng mabuti at masama. Sinabi ni Lehi, isang dakilang propeta sa Aklat ni Mormon, sa anak niyang si Jacob na para maisakatuparan ang mga walang hanggang layunin ng Diyos, dapat ay may “pagsalungat sa lahat ng bagay. Kung hindi, . . . ang kabutihan ay hindi mangyayari, ni ang kasamaan, ni ang kabanalan o kalungkutan, ni mabuti o masama” Inilalayo tayo sa panganib ng mga utos ng Diyos at inaakay tungo sa buhay na walang hanggan. Sa matalinong pagpapasiya, magtatamo tayo ng kadakilaan, uunlad nang walang hanggan, at magtatamasa ng lubos na kaligayahan. nagsasabi ako sa loob ng pangalan ni jesucristo amen.
when i get home, i wanna have a list of things that i want to do. i can't really write it anywhere permanent, but i know that i'll probably be able to come back to this blog and read over it once i get home.
i want to:
get a paramedic certification
learn piano
start longsnapping again
attend BYU (walk on) and visit springville
join up into the airforce
go into either police, fire or doctor
i've also seen a few wooden watches and i'm assuming that they were bought in the Philippines. when i'm out there, i'll look out for a few wooden watches to send back home.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
February 14, 2011
This week has been really different than the last few weeks. We had really slacked off before the companion change two weeks ago as a district and we didn't get much learning done. I got moved to another branch which will help me with the language a lot. I miss my old district and I still hang out with them every chance I get, which is mainly gym and meal time though. I won't be leaving until March 21, which is kinda dissapointing. 5 weeks here feels like an eternity, but it will give me a big boost with the language. My new teachers stay on task and teach rather fast. It's a big difference between my last teachers because they didn't teach the language the language very much and weren't always on task.
My new district is also pretty small, just 6 missionaries including me. My companion is Elder Ganon. The others are Elder Comish, Tomasi, Leishman, and Morris. we get along really well and my new branch president is very good. I feel like this district is where I'll succeed. The rigors of the MTC stretch you to your limits at times so it gets pretty stressful. , but you have to be focused on your purpose and the ultimate goal of teaching the people of the PHillippines.
My new district president is a great man and and sees a lot of potential in me. He wants me to be the next district/zone leader and I hope that I don't let him down.
Oh and by the way, my new MTC address box number 148 instead of 118, but the rest is still the same.
My new district is also pretty small, just 6 missionaries including me. My companion is Elder Ganon. The others are Elder Comish, Tomasi, Leishman, and Morris. we get along really well and my new branch president is very good. I feel like this district is where I'll succeed. The rigors of the MTC stretch you to your limits at times so it gets pretty stressful. , but you have to be focused on your purpose and the ultimate goal of teaching the people of the PHillippines.
My new district president is a great man and and sees a lot of potential in me. He wants me to be the next district/zone leader and I hope that I don't let him down.
Oh and by the way, my new MTC address box number 148 instead of 118, but the rest is still the same.
Monday, February 14, 2011
February 7, 2011
Almost done with the MTC, only 3 more weeks and I'm gone. Hopefully I can pick up more of the language by then, but it's starting to get difficult because rather than just talking to them about the lessons that you want to teach, you have to both translate and teach.
I've been teaching lessons in Taglog and it's really difficult because you have to:
1. listen to what they say and translate it
2. Understand what they said and think about what they need to hear
3. think of what you're going to say
4. translate what you want to say.
It sounds easy but it's really hard when you can barely understand what they're saying.
The weather here is pretty bipolar. One day it's nice and the snow is all melted and the next there's a bunch of snow on the ground. I've kind gotten used to the cold though and my body has adjusted as well.
Jeffrey R Holland is my new favorite apostle. If you've listened to any of his talks, they are excellent talks and he speaks with great conviction. When he came here he didn't have a teleprompter or notes but his speech was well prepared and had purpose and a definitive message. I only hope that one day I can talk as good as him. We haven't had anyone else from the twelve but I'm hoping that one of them will come before I leave.
For the past few weeks we've kinda made this game where we tell stories and incorporate a song into the story. It's pretty entertaining and it passes the time when we're not busy and bored. In our dorms, we managed to make a sauna by putting a sheet over the exit and turning all the shower heads on hot full blast. It was pretty relaxing and we might do it again before we leave for the Phillippines. I forgot to mention earlier that we've gotten nicknames from the distict before (which already left) and my name is Vin Diesel. There is another district before us leaving today but I'm not nearly as sad about it because the last district was the best ever. After today, we'll be the old district in our zone and then we're off. It's funny how fast the time has flown by and it makes me wonder how fast my mission is gonna go by.
Well that's about it, nothing new has been going on. Things are going well and I'm enjoying my stay here at the MTC.
I've been teaching lessons in Taglog and it's really difficult because you have to:
1. listen to what they say and translate it
2. Understand what they said and think about what they need to hear
3. think of what you're going to say
4. translate what you want to say.
It sounds easy but it's really hard when you can barely understand what they're saying.
The weather here is pretty bipolar. One day it's nice and the snow is all melted and the next there's a bunch of snow on the ground. I've kind gotten used to the cold though and my body has adjusted as well.
Jeffrey R Holland is my new favorite apostle. If you've listened to any of his talks, they are excellent talks and he speaks with great conviction. When he came here he didn't have a teleprompter or notes but his speech was well prepared and had purpose and a definitive message. I only hope that one day I can talk as good as him. We haven't had anyone else from the twelve but I'm hoping that one of them will come before I leave.
For the past few weeks we've kinda made this game where we tell stories and incorporate a song into the story. It's pretty entertaining and it passes the time when we're not busy and bored. In our dorms, we managed to make a sauna by putting a sheet over the exit and turning all the shower heads on hot full blast. It was pretty relaxing and we might do it again before we leave for the Phillippines. I forgot to mention earlier that we've gotten nicknames from the distict before (which already left) and my name is Vin Diesel. There is another district before us leaving today but I'm not nearly as sad about it because the last district was the best ever. After today, we'll be the old district in our zone and then we're off. It's funny how fast the time has flown by and it makes me wonder how fast my mission is gonna go by.
Well that's about it, nothing new has been going on. Things are going well and I'm enjoying my stay here at the MTC.
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