Finally...I'm in the Field!

Well, I'm finally in the field. My companion's name is Elder Pearl. He's from South Africa. Before he came on his mission he was a High school teacher, he's 27. He's a pretty good companion. He was originally english speaking and had to learn Spanish out in the field. He speaks Dutch too. He's got the type of humor that most British influenced people have. Yesterday, the first day, We went to temple square and learned how to use that as a tool with our converts. I'm in an area called West Valley. I'm living in a member's home in the basement. They don't really talk to us that much, but it's a decent living place. After we got settled in we went and visited with a person that was supposed to be baptized he's 10, and both his parents are members but went inactive... I think. I'm not really sure. I'm able to follow some Spanish but not everything. Anyways after that we had a meeting with our branch mission leader. I didn't get too much out of it. But I couldn't really talk, because I lost my voice. It's a little better now but it's still a little messed up. After we met with them we went and tracted a little bit. First person we talked to was smoking a cigarette on his porch and grew up in SLC. He accepted the book of Mormon and an appointment for Friday. We also tracted into a Latino guy who accepted the Book of Mormon and said he'd let us come teach him and his family and would think about being baptized. We also gave a LDM to a kid who was interested in what we were doing. And was interested in the church. Then, we talked to this lady who has members in her family and been around the church but didn't feel it was for her. And she said she was willing to hear what we had to say. So we got about 4 appointments in about an hours work. The week before I got here they had 82 baptisms. The President said this isn't a seed planiting mission it's a baptizing mission. And they said to expect a baptism this weekend. They had something like 176 last month. It's crazy how fast the missionary work is going here. This morning I woke up at 5 and we went to the English Elders apartment and then went to the Temple with a member. It was a way neat experience going through the Salt Lake Temple. My companion said we're going every week which is good. Our p-days are usually on wedneday by the way. But and then today we went grocery shopping bought some stuff, went to get a copy of the key to the house and while we were leaving a member came up to us and gave us some money for lunch. So us 4, Elder Moors, Beck, Pearl, and I went to Cafe Rio. It was good.

First Talk in Spanish

Last Sunday I got called on to give a talk in Sacrament meeting in Spanish. The talk I prepared wasn't the best, but I made it through it. I had a good experience with it th ough. Usually I go into Sacrament meetings nervous because I didn't know who they would call and thought they might call on me everyweek. But this week, I felt calm and relaxed. So I kinda knew it was going to happen but it's all good. So that was a pretty good. We taught the Second lesson in the TRC this week along with the Word of Wisdom. I had more fun with it this week because I wasn't as focused on what I was going to say, but used what I know to answer questions and explain. I didn't have to worry about a written out script i had. Oh and I got my travel plans yesterday. I leave the 29th at 6 in the morning. It's kind of crazy. our teachers are starting to focus more on what we'll be doing out in the field(area book, planning to investigators needs, etc.) and not as much about how to teach general lessons and stuff they focused on before.I'm getting more and more excited, but at the same time I'm getting nervous. Knowing that i'll be in a latino's home in 2 weeks teaching them is a scary thought. It'll be fun though. We finally get to play basketball at the MTC. We played the first day i was here then they stopped because of swine flu, and two days ago they finally allowed us to play 3 on 3. It was a long time without playing real basketball.

Brother Steuer talked to us on Tuesday. Hmm and Spanish is coming along pretty well. I can't think of anything else to say so I'll end by bearing my testimony in Spanish. Sorry for not putting the accents on some of the letters.

Yo se que la iglesia de Jesucristo es verdadera, y que ha sido restaurado en el mundo hoy. Tambien se que tenemos un profeta vivienda en nuestro mundo, se llama Thomas S. Monson. Yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta verdadero, y que por medio la Espiritu traduccio El Libro de Mormon. Yo se que por medio el evangellio de Jesucristo es posible para nosotros a vivir con nuestras familias por eternidad. Tambien se que cuando seguimos los mandamientos de Dios recibiramos bendiciones. Y yo se que Jesucristo es nuestra salvador y redentor. Y que Dios envio Jesucristo a la tierra para expiar los pecados de nosotoros. Y cuando el fue en la gardin de Gethsemane vio la caras de todos personas en el mundo. Y se que Dios nos ama. Y contesta nuestras oraciones. Digo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen.

4th of July

Well, nothing really new or exciting to talk about. I heard the Jonas Brothers on 4th of July, they were playing at the Stadium of Fire. We got to watch the fireworks to. So 4th of July wasn't too bad. Brother Abrea talked to us on Tuesday. He gave a good talk. Tuesday I taught the first lesson in Spanish for the second time and I did alright. My companion doesn't think i speak good enough spanish or something, so he felt the need to repeat what I taught, teach his section, then take my next section. Which was kind of annoying. I'm ready to get out in the field, and out of the MTC. Only 3 more weeks. Well I guess that's about it. Here's a few fun pictures of what we do to chill...

A Joke for You

Que pasa? Tengo un chiste para ustedes. (I have a joke for y'all). Que es la diferencia entre una pera y una novia de un misionero? (What's the difference between a pear and a missionary's girlfriend?)(Answer at the end)

This past week has been crazy. The schedule got all mixed up because of the Mission President's training. But Friday night we had a devotional by Jeffrey R. Holland. And it was amazing. There were 7 apostles there. L Tom Perry, D. Todd Christopherson, Quentin L. Cook, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Dallin H. Oaks, and Neil A. Anderson. He talked to us about the importance of Spirit while we teach investigators. And then last night we had Gerald N. Lund from the 2nd quorum of the 70 come and talk to us. He talked to us about what to do and not to do when we're out of the MTC. After hearing that talk I cannot wait to get out of here. I'm pumped to go teach real people. Speaking of teaching, I taught the first lesson in Spanish yesterday. We made it last over 30 minutes which is pretty crazy. 1 month ago there's no way that I'd be able to say all that. Next week, I teach the other half of the first lesson. So we'll have to see how that turns out. Anyways, it's crazy I've been in here for 5 weeks already. Only 4 more. Sam.. Elder Johnson has the same meal period as me so I see him pretty much every meal. Almost half of our zone left for Argentina this week so it's really quiet now, and a lot of the people we talked to our gone. and the nuevos are really quiet and don't talk to us much.. So it's pretty much 3 districts that talk.

Repueste de chiste: Una pera es pera, pero una novia de un misionero no espera! (a pear is pear, but a missionary's girlfriend doesn't wait) (it's a pun... that only works in spanish. So if you tell it, do it in spanish.)