Prepare for a lot!! End of week 1
beginning of week 2
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October 16, 2015
Day 3 in the MTC, it's Friday!
It's my Pday. So happy for this day. All the
Elders from my district didn't seem too excited about emailing home. I was
rushing them out, saying come on Elders, get your laundry and your iPads I've
got emails! They all responded so nonchalant saying, I probably don't, one of
them said, I only have my dads email. Haha these poor missionaries families...
I guess I forgot to pack more long sleeve shirts so I didn't do any laundry,
because I'm re-wearing my shirts haha as long as they don't smell yet Im good.
Haha I'll be doing laundry next time for sure.
So we all went to the laundry room, the Elders
began their laundry and I immediately connected to wifi and began emailing! It
makes me feel so much better to have time to email, I wish that there was time
everyday to email, I wouldn't be so worried and feel sad about being away, but
it's all apart of the sacrifice.. So let it begin. I was only here in the MTC 2
1/2 days before my first Pday, but now I have to wait a whole week.. So
let the pain begin, and my patients develop.. Starting now. Well as we all
waited for laundry we emailed as shown in my last email last week haha. All
sitting on the floor emailing home. It was a funny picture.
After emailing I went to the bookstore, bought
a water bottle, a NY mission t-shirt, and a tie rack. Then went and mailed off
my first letter, and received a lot of mail. My district leader Elder Pingle
picked up our mail, and passed the letters out like this, with the letters in
his hand he said "okay there's mail for Newbold, Williams, Myself,
Babcock, Harding, Teeples, Newbold, Newbold, Newbold, and Newbold haha I had so
many Dear elder letters. Sadly they didn't have much and I could see that they
were all "jealous" for lack of a better word, of the love that is
shown through my amount of letters haha. (Not in a bragging or selfish way at
all) but I felt bad they they didn't have much. but It's nice to see that they
aren't "distracted" from constantly thinking about their families and
the outside world... But I think the reason for that is because they are all
different and nerdy, and so because they all like anime, Star Wars, the lord of
the rings, and all these weird things that they quote all the time, it may not
have hit them yet that life is different now.
I absolutely love emailing home, I wish I were
able to just send my daily email (journals) everyday. I'm constantly writing
notes and everything I send in my emails is what I write in my notes throughout
the day/week then I copy and paste it into an email on my Pdays. Best idea!
Helps save personal email time and helps me remember what I did the day of and
so on.
NOTE: I am able to open and read emails
throughout the week but cannot respond until my Pday. So feel free to keep me
posted on what's going on, pictures are awesome, and uplifting stories.
NOTE#2: The iPad I have now is my "MTC
training iPad" which I will return before I leave, then I will receive my
iPad in NY.
IVE SEEN GODS HAND TODAY:
So I decided to take the opportunity to meet
with a scripture studying tutor. I made this decision because I thought it
could help improve my learning disability, and she has shown me ways that have
helped! Sister Rampton, my personal one on one tutor, helped break down
scriptures with me and I was able to understand what I read. The first
scripture we went over was Alma 17:9 and for this scripture to make it
more personal, I read it slow and replaced names of others to my self or the
respectable people that would fit the word, so for example my version of Alma
17:9 would be; "And it came to pass that "I" journeyed many days
in the wilderness, and "I" did fast much and prayed much that the
Lord would grant unto "me" a portion of his Spirit to go with
"me", and abide with "me", that "I" might be an
instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, "my"
brethren, the people of "New York", to the knowledge of truth, to the
knowledge of the baseness (wickedness) of the traditions of their fathers,
which were not correct." And I did get emotional, because 1 I was
understanding what I read and 2 that scripture became so personal. Me, going out to the people of New York as a
missionary (an instrument in the hands of God) it's just amazing to look at it
that way. I am very thankful for her and her helpful study habits. This next
scripture was perfect for this whole thing. Ether 12:27 "and if men come unto me I
will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be
humble, and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before
me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I
make weak things become strong unto them."
Now take into consideration that I went out
asking for help, I humbled myself by knowing my weakness, and did seek out for
help, and during the hour I studied with this tutor my Father in Heaven showed
me the way to make my "weak things become strong". What an amazing
experience. #MissionaryBlessingsInTheMaking.
FEELINGS:
Today was horribly long... The longer I have
time in the day, the more I become homesick.. I'm praying it subsides. I do
miss home, but I know where I need to be, and I'm striving to feel comfort
continuously.
DEVELOPED HABITS:
I have automatically developed this habit to
pray constantly and all throughout the day. I may have mentioned before, maybe
not, but I literally rollover in my bed as I wake up, get on my knees and pray,
before I leave my residence I pray, I pray before each meal, and before and
after each meeting, I pray with my companion before bed and I have personal prayer
right after. I love that praying never gets old, it always helps. But what's
important here, is that I've not only developed this "habit" but with
prayer, I've become more faithful, I ask more fervently for things that I am in
need of, and for things I've noticed others need, I also pray and thank
Heavenly Father for EVERYTHING, but what helps make it more personal and
meaningful, is going into detail about exactly what I need or someone else
needs.
October 17, 2017
Day 4, Saturday
DAILY JOURNAL:
Today felt long as well, what helped it go by
the tiniest bit faster is Gym time, it's like our only real break through out
the week. But it keeps me busy and active. They have different kinds of weight
machines, for legs, chest, back, arms, and core. So I'm working out every part
of my body, and trying not to do much of any legs, because we walk so much
already and all my class meetings are at the 5th floor so I'm CLIMBING up
stairs. Living in California, I'm not used to the elevation difference in Utah
so climbing stairs, literally feels like climbing stairs... And the elevators
are used only for injured or disabled missionaries.. So we walk. And walk. And
walk. And continued to walk in the wilderness for many days. Haha
So we had gym, I worked out from 12:10-1:45.
Which I wish we had everyday. Gives me the break I need to unwind from all the
studying, and to focus less on missing home.
We then had a meeting with an
"investigator" it was role play, so our teacher goes into another
room, acts like someone else and we have little background about him. So we use
what we have to get a general idea of what we should teach so we plan our
lesson, which was more like me planning, so it was horrible. So we get into role play mode, we knock on the
door we "meet our investigator" shake his hand and introduce our
selves. He let us in and I began to ask him about himself, tried to get to know
him more so maybe we would be prompted to teach or ask the right thing. From
what I already knew, not much was added, so I brought up the question, "is
there anything that you specifically want to know?" And he said that the
only thing he really wanted to know was how he could strengthen his
relationship with Heavenly Father. So it was perfect to what I had planned from
my ideas earlier. It being my first time and having little to no experience
teaching, I began to share what has helped me and most people develop that
relationship, I then showed him a video, "earthly father / Heavenly
Father" and I could tell he was really into it and that my lesson
was going somewhere.. What I didn't think to do was ask him how he felt right
after and go from there. I invited him to pray asking
specifically about the relationship he wants, to continue to read the Book of
Mormon, and to continue attending church. He was already doing the last 2
because he had been going to church for about a year, and was not baptized
yet. Well in my eyes I saw the 20 minute lesson as
a failure. But back to reality, Brother Shumway, the man who acted as an
investigator. Commented about how we did. He said we did well, but we definitely need to work together better. But that will be
a challenge.
FOOD:
I definitely do find myself eating more here
during each meal then I do at home. Could be because at home I snack all the
time. So it equals out.
For lunch I ate 2 burgers haha and that was
right before gym time.
For dinner, I had another burger... This time
a chicken burger, but still too many burgers today! Can't wait for NY
food.
MORE FEELINGS:
I can't wait to get out into the mission field
but at the same time I can wait, because I am NOT ready haha. I do just want to
get out of the MTC. The MTC isn't bad, but I'm going crazy in here, the elders
in my district are also going crazy, laughing hysterically (if I spelt that
right) for no reason.
REALIZATION: IT HIT ME HARD
It definitely is the hardest thing I've ever
done; serving a mission, but I wake up and immediately pray for comfort, and to
make it through the day, then as I get ready I look into the mirror and pep
talk my self, I say that as excited as I am to be here, I am excited to come
home. But I'm here now, and for 2 years. And I'm not coming home till I'm done.
I tell my self, like my mom would always tell me, "you can do hard
things" and all of that is what's keeping me here and stable.
PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS:
Yesterday the 16th was a very hard day for a
lot of us, especially me, I was having home withdrawals, and I couldn't quite
focus. The day seemed to never end. And I kept praying it would... So before I
went to bed, I was sitting and just thinking about my day. And I felt the need
to ask for a blessing, being in a room of 5 other worthy priesthood holders,
they all so willingly got up from what they were doing and placed a chair in
the middle of the room. I immediately saw love fill the room, my heart was
overwhelmed, and my eyes began to fill with tears. ("It takes a strong man
to cry, but an even stronger man to hold it back") so I asked my
companion, who had never given a blessing before, if he wouldn't mind doing so.
Hesitant, then quick to respond he said yes with a smile, after a quick but
thoughtful rundown of the steps to a blessing of comfort, he then stood behind
me and the others huddled around, placing their hands on my head. I gave him my
full name, and they proceeded. With a moment of a silence... Elder Williams
began to speak... "Tyler Aramis Newbold, by the authority of the
Melchizedek priesthood which we hold, we lay our hands upon your head, and I
give you a blessing of comfort..." The rest being personal and guided by
the spirit once again filled my eyes with tears, and began to roll down my
face. And everything at that moment had stopped and slowly the thoughts of home
and the things I missed were no more.
There was an immediate bond that grew after
that night, that brought 6 Elders who knew nothing about each other, to be the
most open, loving, and caring people around me. We stayed up late telling
stories and such that otherwise wouldn't have happened. I felt good about where
I was in my life and happy to be there.
Brothers and sisters, the church is absolutely
true. It doesn't make any sense to have these "miracles" at the
perfect timing just happen. It's the power of our loving Heavenly Father and
the power of priesthood, that bonds together people, feelings, and answers to
the things we otherwise couldn't explain. This is my testimony of the truth of
this gospel and love of our Heavenly Father. And these things I do say in the
name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Unexpected testimony ^^but absolutely true
STRESS BEGINS: (but I still have my hair.. For
now)
We have about 4 meetings right after another,
as you could imagine sitting in a class for the longest hours of your life,
studying and planning for the upcoming day would drive you absolutely crazy,
everyone just erupts with laughter because no one can take it. so we as a
district decided to take a break from our studies and share with everyone about
our families and one thing that made us happy today. We ask "what was your
happy of the day?" And it's just been a really nice experience to come
together as elders and sisters and share with one another things that keep us
sane haha.
MY HAPPY: the sisters wrote little notes
on sticky notes and put them on our desks.
BLESSINGS:
With all this crazy busy schedule going on, we
all have seen each other struggle. And again tonight we had another humbling
experience, as another Elder in our district asked us to give him a
blessing.
To be humble, to me means, for someone to
realize they can't do something on their own without the help of God.
And it's a humbling experience to see these
willing men of God here to serve him, not give up but to notice and confess
that they are struggling it's really neat, although it can be tough.
October 18, 2015
Day 5, Sunday
Sunday is the most laid back as it gets, (but
really it's not laid back at all).
I didn't feel like it was Sunday, to me it
didn't feel like the sabbath. We work just as hard on this day.
DAILY JOURNAL:
So sleeping is the worst, the blankets we have
are small and super thin, so when I wake in the middle of the night my blanket
is off to the side. And I haven't, slept much AT ALL, it feels like I just lay
in bed zoned out enough to where I don't realize I'm still awake, then when I
snap back into it I feel as if I never slept, and it's the middle of the night.
Then it repeats but feels shorter in time, soon after the alarm goes off the
lights flick on. And the day begins.. After all these LONG days, it would be
nice to feel like I slept longer then I had been awake.
SACRAMENT MEETING:
Our sacrament meeting was really good. One of
our assignments earlier on in the week was to write a 3-5 minute talk on the
atonement. And only 3 of us would be chosen to speak in sacrament. So Friday
night I wrote my talk. And today during sacrament meeting the MTC district
president called 3 people to speak.. And to hear my name NOT be called was
relieving haha. But the 3 talks given, were really good. Then a musical number
by an Elder, who played the piano and sang. Really brought the spirit
strong.
HELP!:
Each meeting, personal study, companion study,
and planning for next "activity" meeting, we all do in a classroom,
which is where most of our time is spent, sitting, studying, sitting
studying... In the last 5 days we've spent about 20 +hours in here... It's so
bad haha today I keep falling asleep. I can't keep my eyes open. So while they
close I just keep praying, give me the strength to keep going, and there's a
boost of energy, then I begin to fall asleep once again, and the same thing I
pray and pray that I can stay awake to continue my studies, and it repeats
haha.
WHERE IS A RED BULL WHEN YOU NEED ONE... Oh
yeah, Utah doesn't do caffeine.. Someone send help!
PRIESTHOOD INSTRUCTOR:
So the other day during our Branch presidency
meeting, I was assigned with 2 Elders in my district, ( my companion and Elder
Harding) to be priesthood instructors. So basically I had to plan a lesson to
teach on Obedience and the will of the lord for 50 minutes. Which wasn't hard
because I've had so many experiences and ideas about obedience that with the
little I planned I was able to carry on for over 20 minutes of the lesson about
personal stories. So between the 3 of us we had to kind of break it up in a way
where we all could speak and teach. The other two didn't quite say as much,
they planned on just asking the class questions and make it an open discussion
which was good it opened up people's mind and got them involved. And the branch
president and his counselor were in our class to! So that was a bit
intimidating. But they also were involved by sharing stories and comments, they
loved our lesson and thanked us. So we felt really good about that.
TEMPLE WALK:
The walk to the temple was nice, finally got
the break we needed. For the day. We had about a half an hour or so to walk to
the temple take our pictures and enjoy each other. I absolutely love temples!!
Having the opportunity to work as an ordinance worker was the most amazing
experience, it opened my eyes and my mind to so much and helped me realize how
important temples really are. "I love to see the temple", my goal is
to at least go to see the temple at least 1 time every week that I live. I'm
hoping I have the opportunity to do so in the next 2 years, but if not I'll
continue my goal when I get home.
CHOIR:
Me and the Elders in my district went to choir
practice which I hate, (no offense Stuffy Moore)
It's just I sit there, I can't read music, I
don't understand how it all works, I just like singing. But in choir the,
(conductor?) I think thats what you call him? Lol he stands there waving his
arms around like a swarm of bees are after him.. Or flys? Yea probably flys,
cause if it were bees he'd probably be running. Well anyways, I just don't get
it and he never got to the baritones and tenors. So we sat there. Maybe next
time..
ANSWER TO PRAYERS:
So at dinner I'm gong through my notes and
sharing my journal entry emails with people. And this Elder next to me was
listening and he's like wait what let me see, and I showed him haha he said
"you are the son my mom would love to have" he's continued to say,
"before I left my mom told me, DETAIL ZACH, I want detailed emails from
you" and he was saying "you know what, my mom is probably praying that
I'd write detailed emails and then you came along and have shared your awesome
way of emailing" I just think it's so funny. I love writing my
emails and keeping up with things that are going on, and all these people
admire it but that can't do it for themselves.
PONDER:
"FEAR. DUTY. LOVE. These 3 things are
what make us do things."
Think about that quote.. Feel free to tell me
what you think.
DEVOTIONAL:
We had a really inspiring devotional this
evening, Chad Lewis, a former BYU football player and former player in the NFL
for Philadelphia Eagles, he spoke about a few things and some awesome stories.
One thing he shared, I think could apply to Josh and his back or anyone with a
similar situation. One of Chad Lewis's friends also a former quarterback for
the BYU football team, Taysen Hill, had the same injury that Chad Lewis had in
the NFL. Chad and Taysen were sitting together on the sidelines at a football
game, Chad said to Taysen, "there are 6 apostles in the "VIP"
box up there" Taysen replied "dude you got to get me up there"
so Chad takes him up there and he had the opportunity to meet them, one of the
apostles sat and talked with Taysen for a good 10 minutes about his injury, the
apostle said to him. "Taysen, if the Lord wanted you to be on that field
playing football, you would be playing. It's obvious that the Lord has
something else for you and it's your responsibility to figure out what that is
he wants you to be doing."
COOL SHORT STORY:
Chad Lewis also talked about how he met a
missionary Who was the brother to the NFL player Troy (with the big hair, who's
on those commercials) and he asked him what his brother thought about him
serving a mission and he said that he thought it was awesome! (I assume NFL
player Troy isn't a member)
TEDDY: (Bruski?) don't know how to spell his
last name haha
So another fun story of Chad ^^..He was asked
to hike with 2 NFL players one I can't remember and the other Teddy Bruski.
(Not sure if you still have contact with Teddy mom, but if you do you should
tell him this) With these 3 men, 2 men (marines) who had there legs blown off
in Iraq, were with them, so they could have mental support with hiking this
volcanic hill side to the top.
On this hike Teddy said to Ben (one the
marines who had a bad issue going on with his stubbed leg and his prosthetic
leg during the end of the hike) "a part of you is making it up there with
us, so give me your leg." Haha how awesome is that. Teddy being so loving to
take on a prosthetic leg on his very hard journey up this mountain.
I just thought that was cool, since mom knows
Teddy.
October 19, 2015
Day 6, Monday
Nothing exciting about this morning. Last
night I did realize that Elder Babcock had like 4 blankets so I got some from him.
I don't know what it is, if I'm not comfortable in my bed, or if it's not the
same comfort as home. Cause I still just can't get enough sleep. I wake up
around the same time every morning, and stay awake till the alarm goes off. So
still trying to figure out my sleep haha, but I am able to have the strength
and energy I need for the day through my daily prayers. "Pray
always"
GYM TIME:
Me and the Elders met up with the sisters in
our district and another district in our zone and we played kickball. Which was
fun, the grass of course was wet from the rain the last couple nights.
RAIN:
Speaking of which, I've been praying for rain
since I got here, but not for Utah for California and specifically where we
live. But It rained here. Haha so I'm hoping Cali gets or is getting rain
too.
TEACHING:
So if you give me a lesson and time to
prepare, I think I could teach a pretty good lesson. But when your teaching
investigators, it feels so much harder, because its really just about getting
to know them. But at the same time you have the mind set that your a
missionary, and you just feel like you have to teach teach teach. But that's
not the case. You have to learn how to "teach a person, not a
lesson".
COLLAR BURN:
So I'm totally okay with wearing a white shirt
and tie EVERYDAY. I've worn a suit everyday, because we need them for meetings.
But day 6, and I have a rash or burn, some kind of irritation from my collar
rubbing on my neck... So yay for that!
DEAR ELDER LETTERS:
So I keep getting all these letters, but I
also get the email of the same letter, and it shows the confirmation that it's
been sent so I get to read it in letters and in the mail. I don't know which
way to respond.
1st LESSON:
So I'm definitely not ready for the mission
field, I don't know how to teach what I know.. My companion and I met up with
this planned meeting with this investigator. So we had a plan and lesson
prepared, but once we got in there, questions were asked and it changed the
whole direction in what our plan was, so I need to come completely unprepared
the 1st lesson, get to know the person, and come back better prepare answer
those questions haha, no I wish I had better help teaching...
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
"Not everyone you teach is going to get
baptized, so if the only thing you can teach them, is how to pray. Then think
about what tool you just gave them, that will help them for the rest of their
life."
Another long day...and tomorrow we get up even
earlier for service in the MTC.
October 20, 2015
Day 7, Tuesday. 103 weeks to go
Perfect way to start off the day, by doing
service! What's not so fun is that we have to wake up even earlier, 5:30. So we
get up and get ready, finally got to wear regular clothes! For an hour..
Haha we took out all the garbage's in the residence building. Restocked all the
paper towels and toilet paper. Vacuumed all floors from floor 0-4. So that was
a good way to start the day. I do wish that the service was fit into the day,
instead of making it earlier, just so it could help pass the time.
But besides that, 1 week down, 103 to go!
7 days left in the MTC, counting down.
This morning, around 10:30 we had our daily
role play meeting with our "investigator". And the last 2 lessons we
felt like we just ruined it haha, turns out we get too down on our selves,
because our "investigator" has been learning. And the lesson we gave
today, I felt that it needed to be on prayer, we have been inviting him to
accept the commitment to pray daily about the things he needs answers too and
what we are teaching him is true. So we taught him about how we know what we
know, through the confirmation we get from prayer. Then I showed him a video on
prayer. Which you could tell he was really feeling the spirit. So we asked how
he felt about it, and if he thinks it's true and possible to receive answers through
prayer, and he agreed. So we then taught that it is a commandment to pray
often. So we taught him the order of prayer, to address Heavenly Father, to
express gratitude, feelings, questions but to do so sincerely and with real
intention and so on, and that you end in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. After
teaching him that, I asked him if he would close our meeting by offering a
prayer. So he accepted and gave a good prayer. I wish this progress was being
made with a real investigator.
But we are meeting with another investigator,
who we assume isn't a member. But possible that he is.. The MTC has this TRC
program kind of thing where they ask different people to be taught by
missionaries. Either members, non members, real people investigating the church,
or even less active members. But the "leader" (or who ever runs this
program) of this "activity", doesn't tell us the position this
"investigator" has in the church, if any at all. So it's like
teaching a real investigator, which very well could be he case. So it would be
pretty awesome if this guy became converted. But we will see how this next
lesson goes tomorrow.
MTC TEACHERS:
I have 2 teachers, Brother Okelberry and
Brother Shumway. Both these men are awesome teachers but, I feel more special
connection with Brother Shumway, just because I feel like we relate in a way
that I haven't figured out yet. But he has been my role play investigator, so
practicing with him has been an awesome experience.
LESSON LEARNED: Brother Shumway
He also taught me about stress and how the MTC
is BUSY and crazy by schedule and if we feel like it's too much, we just need
to pray and if we feel like a failure because we feel that we didn't meet our
goal or requirement that we should forget it, the only thing that matters is,
did you do thy Fathers will. Did you get done today the things that God wanted
us to do.
MAIL:
Love getting mail from everyone, I love
reading about everyone's questions and the things going on back home. I love
reading about people that heard my talk who have emailed or written to me about
their commitment to my challenge of attending the temple weekly. I love
it!
I just received anther dear elder letter and 2
packages! Thank you all!
DEVOTIONAL:
The atonement was the big topic that was
discussed. With the trials I have been through I've been able to apply the
atonement, not only through personal experiences, but everyday. So I will be
able to use my personal experiences to relate to those struggling and those who
aren't necessarily struggling can be taught how tongues the atonement in our
everyday lives.
SCRIPTURE:
Alma 26:27
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and
we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst
thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I
will give unto you success."
I feel like this really does tell you what a
mission is like and how we get through it. When it gets hard and you feel
depressed and you want to turn back, Heavenly Father comforts us. Letting us
know we are in a place of good. And to continue to work among his other
children.
October 21, 2015
Day 8, Wednesday
Another day in the MTC. 8 days in and 6 more
to go.
We had another appointment with "Adam the
investigator" we rekindled the feeling of the spirit he felt in our last
meeting. So that went perfect to plan, so we taught him to recognize the
Spirit. It went so well, that at the end when we leave the appointment, and go
back in to get an "evaluation" of how we did, he told us that we
could have invited him to be baptized and he would have said yes! So it's too
bad we didn't but we will just have to teach and bring the spirit back next
time and invite him to be baptized. Fingers crossed.
Today is Wednesday which means more greenies
enter the MTC. So again you hear and say welcome to the MTC ALL DAY! Haha
totally gets old. I hated hearing it very quickly so I don't welcome the
missionaries haha.
Each day, slowly has less to talk about.
Everyday is mostly the same. But we do have a TRC investigator appointment
tonight at 6:45. So I guess we will see how that goes.
TRC:
So we kinda got off to a rough start
explaining the Book of Mormon the 1st appointment we had, he wasn't quite
understanding why the Book of Mormon was needed when we have the Bible.. So
this appointment we just apologized for all that and talked to him about The
Gospel of Jesus Christ. And he was wondering how we known what we know, so we
explained the Holy Ghost and how we can get confirmation from the feelings we
get from the Holy Ghost. He was interested in that so we taught him how to pray
and he agreed to pray about what we've taught him. So progress is being made,
we didn't get to finish The Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet and before we left
he asked if we could continue teaching him about it, we excitedly answered
"of course!" How's tomorrow sound? He agreed to meet again. So I like
where this is going.
Wow, I'm kind of disappointed that nothing
really happened today, compared to other days haha but that's okay cause there's
been a lot of things going on this whole week!
So I haven't been into what's been going on
with in my zone, but I guess what's happened is 2 Elders have been having a
really tough time, one of them from what I heard has depression problems. So
I've heard these 2 Elders are going home..I don't know these 2 individuals but
it saddens my heart to know this is happening.
But a mission is the toughest thing anyone in
the world could do, that's what I think. It's not for everyone, even though
it's a commandment of God, it's not the plan he has for specific people.
With all this happening and the stress level
of others, 2 sisters came to our classroom during study time and asked one of
our Elders to give them both a blessing, so Elder Babcock who they asked gave
them blessings.
Then another Elder in my district, has been
having a tough time as well, he doesn't have the desire to go home, but he's
really missing home. And I asked for a quick companion exchange and I went into
the other room where it was quiet and we talked about what was going on, and he
asked me to give him a blessing. I told him of course, and went on to tell him
that I have been feeling the same way he is feeling, it was really hard for me
the first few days and every now and then gets hard again but I'm able to move
past it because of the blessing I received early on in the week, and the truth
to why I am here.
So with that being said, a mission is hard,
when missionaries tell you it's hard, don't be scared. But do prepare yourself
for the hardest times. Missionaries always told me about how a mission isn't
easy so don't expect it to be, but I never imagined in reality what it would be
like, because you can't. In order to know you have to experience. But you can't
focus on the hard things, the reason you serve a mission is what you should be
focused on. I just want you all to know that it's not always hard, you will
find a lot of the time that your happier then you've ever been, your more
spiritual then ever, you've felt more confirmation on a mission then anywhere,
or that you feel closer to God. Don't let this change your mind about a mission
because although I've only been here and only in the MTC for over a week I can
tell you that it doesn't get any better then sharing the truth. Life in general
is hard, but you live every day and you get through it. So a mission is the
same way, it may not be what you have expected but just be prepared for the
best and toughest 2 years of your life.
Be worthy and pray always.
PACKAGES:
So I received 2 boxes yesterday, which was
exciting! Felt like a child on Christmas it was so fun opening haha. THANK YOU
FAMILY AND SARA HAMASAKI! Thankful for the treats and the shirts you sent
me!
Now I can do laundry haha!
GYM: Closed
So because missionaries were coming in I guess
they closed the gym and physical activity field. So instead I just wrote
letters and made an appointment to cut my hair on Friday.
HAIRCUT:
So I scheduled my haircut for Friday the 23rd
at round 11 so if I'm not responding to emails around that time that's
why!
FOOD:
Oh so the MTC thinks it funny to make burgers
for like every meal, so in the last couple days I've had about 8 burgers... But
to be honest that's their best meal.. Haha
GROWING:
Spiritually? Absolutely!!!
Physically? I have no clue... I don't feel or
look bigger and I have no scale to know.
CHIOR:
Haha so we never did end up going back to
choir, so no singing during our devotional which is fine.
MTC COLLAR:
So I guess it's not just me, but maybe a
select amount if not everyone at one point gets this collar burn. But I found
this redness relief face lotion that I forgot I packed in my suitcase. So I
pressed the bottle to get the lotion out and it came out green... So that
scared me for a second, so I read the bottle.. It says (subtle) with green dye
or something or other haha, so not knowing what that meant, scored me s little
more... Haha not really but it's working so I feel good.
PRIESTHOOD:
As the stress grows on all of us, each person
takes it upon them self differently. One of the elders in my district asked me
specifically to give him a blessing. So I agreed to give him one, and he gave
me time to pray and invite the spirit so we waited till we got back to our
residence.. But like I mentioned above, we got a companion exchange so I could
talk to him personally and we talked about how he's doing. It was all a neat
experience.
So we got back to our room and I pulled up a
chair, he took a seat, and he gave me his name. And I began... I just love
blessings, the feeling they give me and the others around is just so
great!
When we had some time after the blessing, this
Elder called me over to the chair next to him, he said take a seat. And not to
share to much and get to personal but he felt the need to share with me
something in his patriarchal blessing, it was something that I had worded
exactly, in the beginning of his blessing.
Awesome way to end the day!
October 22, 2015
Day 9, Thursday
So excited for tomorrow, pday!
We have this "in-field orientation",
preparing us to go out int the field. So a few hours of that, then we had
lunch. And guess what I ate?!...... 2 more burgers.. That's like 10 burgers in
4 days. So there's my highlight of the day...haha not really. After lunch we
came back to the orientation, where we continued for another few hours.
So everyday after breakfast our district
leader goes and gets the mail, one of the Elders received a letter from home,
his mom just had a baby 2 weeks before he left. The letter he took out of the
envelope was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen and I hadn't even read the letter
but on the bottom of the page were ink footprints of his baby sister! I thought
that was just so cute! *cough *cough Courtney. I think it's a good idea.
We then went back to orientation and this was
something that stuck out to me.
In field orientation
Do not waste the Lords time.
"You have more important things to do on
a Saturday then to be "hanging out" at a members home." -Elder
Bednar
"If you go to a members home, when you
meet with a member at their home, let the, know you here for only a short time,
that you want to share share a brief spiritual thought, end with a prayer, ask
if they have any referrals (or know of anyone who could really benefit from the
Book of Mormon), and then leave the home." -Elder Bednar
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:
Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto
them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my
grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they
humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things
become strong unto them."
If we humble ourselves before God, showing him
the understanding we have of our weakness, he will make those weaknesses
strong.
TRC INVESTIGATOR:
So we met again with Andrew our investigator
and we followed up with him on our challenge for him to pray, he told us that
he did pray, with his wife. He told us his wife's grandpa passed away just the
other day, and they prayed to feel better, he then told us that she had been
crying and stressed all that day up until after the prayer he explained that
both of them did feel better and his wife was able to continue her homework and
both of them could focus better.
We explained to him that it was the Holy Ghost
comforting them. We asked him what he thought about it, he said "yes I
guess that sounds right, we both felt good after the prayer" I then asked,
"Andrew, do you want to be able to feel that way all the time?" He
said well it felt good so I think I'd like that.
But he wanted to focus on the steps to
becoming s better person, so time was running out so we quickly just told him
that it's okay, and we want him to keep praying and read some scriptures. So he
agreed.
Tomorrow is our last appointment with him, so
our goal is to invite him to be baptized...
So fingers crossed.
MY HAPPY:
So every night we together as a district go
around the room telling everyone about what made us happy today.
My happy was when we sang I need thee every
hour as a district before we went to our separate residences.
A long email for sure, but I hope it was worth
it. That's it for this week, the next time I email, I will have been in New
York for about 3 days. Looking forward to it then! I leave the MTC around 3:30
AM on Tuesday the 27th.
Talk to you all soon!
Patience. Love. Faith
Much love,
Elder Newbold
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| MTC district at the Temple |
 |
| Hamburgers for dinner AGAIN!!! |
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| Off to do laundry! |
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