First Real Email!

The stress of not being able to tell you when my p-day was awful!!

Anyway, I've done a lot over here at the MTC. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so I guess I'll send you those pictures later.

One thing I did was join the Choir. The only song we did was "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" which actually made me a bit homesick. It was fun to learn, though.

I also have a couple of investigators here who I'm teaching. One is an old lady named Debi who talks a lot, which is awesome, and the other investigator is nicknamed Oogi (Oggie). She's a Mongolian who grew up Buddhist and works as an English translator and a tourist. She's here to get her Master's degree.

My companion is named Elder Kahle (like kale, the vegetable) and he's pretty much the opposite of me in many ways. That doesn't mean we don't get along, though. He tends to lead the discussions with my investigators, though I try to step in here and there.

The Lunches here are okay, but I'm not eating very much. I think it's the stress. I haven't had chocolate milk every meal, but I have it at least once a day. On the first meal I dipped my tie into some gravy, which is REAAAL nice. I don't even LIKE gravy!!

There are 5 other Elders staying in my dorm. There's my companion of course, there's Elder Anderson, who is really weird but super hilarious and talks about Spongebob a bit too much. Elder Moulton, who is generally quiet, is actually pretty witty when he has something to say. Elder Hodges, who is pretty much like Caleb Joffs from our ward, and lastly there's Elder Robison, who is just generally funny. Also, he smells, but no one is man enough to tell him.

(I just got an Email from ya, mom!)

My district has 15 people in total, and 5 of them are sisters. There's a trio of sisters as well, which is why there are 15 people.

I went to the temple today, so I got back as soon as I could to send you all an email.

Overall, I've had a lot of fun being here. It's a lot more talking than I'm used to, but I think I'll get the hang of it eventually.

Miss you guys!

Additional Emails with Isaac on Thursday:  

Apparently these computers have been set up so you can't send pictures. Sorry!

I have done basketball, volleyball, and spike ball. Oh, and frisbee, too. My district doesn't seem to understand that four-square is a big deal here, so we haven't played it yet. I've suggested it a few times, though.

Frisbee was my favorite one we've done so far, followed by spike ball, then basketball, then volleyball. 

I forgot my middle name, but I had already done the scripture engraving before you sent this email 😲 I didn't put Elder in my name, in case your wondering. 

Also I bought a copy of "Preach My Gospel" because I think I left mine in the car or something.

My bag is way too small, so I can only carry about half of what I need. The other half I carry around in a plastic bag from the bookstore.

I guess I'm having fun?? I don't join in the conversations too much, but at least I listen and laugh when it's funny. Ahh, the joy of socialization.

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Day One

I'm already sending you an email and I've been here about 30 minutes!! 

The people here are super nice and always say hi to the new missionaries, which is pretty cool. I've even met one of my friends, Cameron Miller. He's doing a service mission here. We weren't able to talk much, though. Anyway, I'm having a great time so far, and I'm glad I'm here.

 Justin reminiscing his mission.

There were several families with missionaries eating at In-N-Out.

Before shots of his Hush Puppies.

Quick drop off.  All the moms were bawling.

Hello!  About four weeks ago I was called to serve in the New Mexico Farmington mission. It covers the four corners area, including Monticello, Utah, so not far from home. I leave a week from Wednesday and I’m getting pretty excited. I have had to spend way more time than i would like shopping for suits, socks, ties and learned way more about different collar options for white shirts than i ever wanted to know. Just like everyone preparing to leave on a mission i get the fantastic opportunity to stand up and speak today and the topic i was given is Gospel doctrines taught in the Book of Mormon and how they have helped me throughout my life. With this in mind I have been thinking about this topic. What exactly does doctrine mean? The dictionary says doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group. So what beliefs have I learned from the Book of Mormon, and how have they affected me? 1) Something I have learned from the Book of Mormon is that obedience brings blessings. In Mosiah chapter two, it says, “if you should render all the thanks and praise which your soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another- “I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another--I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. “And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye would prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.” This scripture is very powerful and it teaches us a valuable lesson, which is that we should keep the commandments that the lord has given us with all that we can muster. By doing so, we are blessed by the Lord. The prophet has taught me that I should serve a mission. By being obedient, I aim to achieve this goal that the Prophet has commanded of me. 2) Another gospel doctrine that has meant something in my life that is taught in the book of mormon is Forgiveness. Nephi teaches us forgiveness when he has to forgive his brothers Laman and Lemuel many times because of their misdeeds. However, Nephi was always willing to forgive them, even though what they did wasn’t always good. Laman and Lemuel even tied Nephi up in cords, and he was completely willing to forgive them for what they did to him. I have tried to practice forgiveness many times throughout my life, usually with small and simple things like when people accidentally bump into me or someone cuts me off in traffic. With forgiveness, though sometimes difficult, I can overcome anger and be able to act more friendly with others. 3) We can also learn about faith in Jesus Christ throughout the Book of Mormon. In the gospel library, it says “faith includes a hope for things which are not seen, but which are true. Faith is kindled by hearing the gospel taught by authorized administrators sent by God. Miracles do not produce faith, but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words faith comes by righteousness” 4) The Book of Mormon also teaches us about the importance of the Sacrament. In third nephi chapter 18, it reads, “And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat. “And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude. “And when the multitude had eaten and were filled he said unto the disciples: behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name.” It goes on to say that the bread is to remember Jesus Christ’s body, as a testimony that we always remember Him. It also talks about how the water in the sacrament is to symbolize Jesus’s blood, which was shed for us. These things we do so that we remember Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. 5) Baptism can also be found in the Book of Mormon. In alma chapter seven verse fourteen it says, “Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.” What this scriptures means is that, without baptism, we would not be able to inherit the kingdom of heaven. That is why baptism is important. Overall, there are many scriptures that teach gospel doctrines throughout the Book of Mormon, and it is important to look for these doctrines while reading the Book of Mormon. (Bear Testimony)

The Farewell