What's up everyone?
Well, today officially marks one month of my Mission. Time really goes by FAST. It feels like i've only beeen here for a week so far. Whoa. 1 down, 23 more to go.
So, to commemorate the 1/24th of my mission, I want to state a few observations of my whole MTC experience so far...
1. The MTC food. The low quality and repetitiveness of the meals they serve has finally pushed us around the point of protest. In fact, one day, when they served fried pieces of whole chicken, one of our sisters proceeded to twist a leg off. Guess what happened?
It gushed blood. Literally. Like up to a foot across, and that was it for us. What did they do, hack off the chicken and serve it within the hour??
Some of us have already chosen to live off salad and cereal from now on, and I'm contemplating crossing that bridge.
2. Last sunday was fast sunday, and several meetings were cancelled in observance, thus most of our district took the advantage of a urgently needed extra few hours of sleep. Normally I would enjoy it too, but my stuffy nose kept me up. I seriously loathe colds.
At least we finally had SNOW that day, and I woke up to a fresh blanket of snow. Joy! Our district was planning on an epic snowball war for P-day, but unfortunately the MTC presidency had the delight to tell us that snowball fishts is strctly not allowed. Drat. Oh well.
3. There are a lot of short people in the MTc. I mean, a LOT of short people, like no taller than four feet or less. In fact, three Elders and a sister are registered as dwarves. I feel like the Goliath to a whole bunch of Davids. Just a statement.
4. The Referral center is good, but sometimes it can get a bit scary. From there you get to chat with people from across the country who responded to church advertising. We met a lot of nice people who wanted to learn more about the church, but (please kindly pardon my french) you also meet some of the idiots who ask about the strangest things. One man spammed about evidence of Evolution, the big bang, etc. one woman told stories of her being 13 years old and pregnant (yikes), one man told us that temple garments "turns him on"??!?!?!
And here's the real kicker. One man said he wants to "Come onto Christ". Fine and all, bout the problem is... the words "Come onto christ" was implied in probably the most extremely inappropriate way ever. If you don't know what i'm talking about by now, then for the sake of your further sanity and mine, DON'T EVER ask me to explain it to you. EVER.
5. Another elder left, who is also our roommate, so our room has become somewhat quieter. Van Dam was very ectastic about finally getting the bottom bunk previously occupied by the other elder. He really don't like top bunks.
Two sisters in out class, Badger and Hansen, found out that they are going to be stuck at the MTC for a lot longer (6 more weeks) and they're pretty torn up about it. I surprised them by giving them both gifts of their favorite candy and they seemed to like it very much. I think little tokens of frienship goes a long way, don't you think?
that's about it for now, snce I don't have much time. One more thing, I ran into Kol Gibson at the MTC. We had a nice long chat yesterday and he seems to be doing very well.
okay. one LAST thing. To my family and friends: Please please please PLEASEEEEE send me letters! I'll reply back, of course! I'm tired of seeing nothing but spiders and cobwebs in my mailbox. IF you don't, I'll break my tie from the nearest tree and exclaim,"THAT WAS MY FAVORITE TIE!" You wouldn't do that me to me, would you...? =-(
haha. bye.
-Zack
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Blog Post #3 - Wait...
okay, so-
As of yesterday, Elder Nightingale has flown the coop for his mission assignment. He will be greatly missed, especially from me, but we hope he is doing very well. At lead it was a fun three weeks with him.
Wait a minute.
Have it been 3 WEEKS ALREADY?!? Where on earth did the time go?? The days feel like watching turtles go by, but when you look back, it like someone attached a jet engine on said turtle. Uh-oh... I'm now incredibly afraid that if I blink, my whole mission might zip by and I missed everything, and I've suddenly grown a 2-feet long beard, and absolutely reek of 2 years lack of hygiene.
There I was, having landed at the LAX airpirt, rubbing my hands in anticipation and exclaiming "I'm READY" when suddently the mission president taps my shoulder
"Your mission is finished now. Time to go home", he says.
"Finished? I just arrived here!", I say
"Arrived? HA! You've been here for the last two years! Seriously, go home. you have the rest of your life to look after!" he says
Anyway, a funny thing happened yesterday also. Yesterday morning, most of the class was either still half-asleep or dozing off. then the unexpected happened. Out of the wild blue, a bird decided to dive-bomb right into our class window, making a loud slamming noise. the shock of the impack scared us all wide-awake. I think that God doesn't want us sleeping on His time, so He sent a little surprise along the way to jump-start our day. Yikes.
This week, we got to hear from Sister Lant, of the Primary General Presidency. She spoke about inviting and feeling the spirit, and challenged us to find ways to find the spirit easier and better because on outr missions, we will ABSOLUTELY have to rely on the Holy Ghost to help us succeed, because without the spirit, we will never be able to, no matter how charismatic and well-teaching we are. It was a very marvelous talk, which in fasct beings me to another topic:
Today, we got to go to the Provo Temple again (no temple last week due to thanksgiving). After the endowment and I walked into the Celestial room, I felt very strongly impressed to sit down, close my eyes, and pray, so I did so twice. I prayed about pretty much everything that happened in the past month. Since the computer clock is ticking down, I will not be able to explain everything, but suffice to say, it was a meaningful two prayers. After I closed my prayers, my eyes almost immediately became fixated on a Book Of Mormon lying on one side of a table, never letting it escape my sight for at least a few minutes. It was then that I knew straight away the answer to my prayers was; that I should read the Book of Mormon once more, AND listen to its words more carefully. I really felt the spirit that morning, and as I left the temple, the cloudy dawn became a clear, crisp day, and I felt a lot different than when I entered the temple.
I think, at that point, I really became a missionary.
-Zack
PS: The bird is fine, by the way. It held on to a tree branch for a moment, then flew away as if nothing happened.
As of yesterday, Elder Nightingale has flown the coop for his mission assignment. He will be greatly missed, especially from me, but we hope he is doing very well. At lead it was a fun three weeks with him.
Wait a minute.
Have it been 3 WEEKS ALREADY?!? Where on earth did the time go?? The days feel like watching turtles go by, but when you look back, it like someone attached a jet engine on said turtle. Uh-oh... I'm now incredibly afraid that if I blink, my whole mission might zip by and I missed everything, and I've suddenly grown a 2-feet long beard, and absolutely reek of 2 years lack of hygiene.
There I was, having landed at the LAX airpirt, rubbing my hands in anticipation and exclaiming "I'm READY" when suddently the mission president taps my shoulder
"Your mission is finished now. Time to go home", he says.
"Finished? I just arrived here!", I say
"Arrived? HA! You've been here for the last two years! Seriously, go home. you have the rest of your life to look after!" he says
Anyway, a funny thing happened yesterday also. Yesterday morning, most of the class was either still half-asleep or dozing off. then the unexpected happened. Out of the wild blue, a bird decided to dive-bomb right into our class window, making a loud slamming noise. the shock of the impack scared us all wide-awake. I think that God doesn't want us sleeping on His time, so He sent a little surprise along the way to jump-start our day. Yikes.
This week, we got to hear from Sister Lant, of the Primary General Presidency. She spoke about inviting and feeling the spirit, and challenged us to find ways to find the spirit easier and better because on outr missions, we will ABSOLUTELY have to rely on the Holy Ghost to help us succeed, because without the spirit, we will never be able to, no matter how charismatic and well-teaching we are. It was a very marvelous talk, which in fasct beings me to another topic:
Today, we got to go to the Provo Temple again (no temple last week due to thanksgiving). After the endowment and I walked into the Celestial room, I felt very strongly impressed to sit down, close my eyes, and pray, so I did so twice. I prayed about pretty much everything that happened in the past month. Since the computer clock is ticking down, I will not be able to explain everything, but suffice to say, it was a meaningful two prayers. After I closed my prayers, my eyes almost immediately became fixated on a Book Of Mormon lying on one side of a table, never letting it escape my sight for at least a few minutes. It was then that I knew straight away the answer to my prayers was; that I should read the Book of Mormon once more, AND listen to its words more carefully. I really felt the spirit that morning, and as I left the temple, the cloudy dawn became a clear, crisp day, and I felt a lot different than when I entered the temple.
I think, at that point, I really became a missionary.
-Zack
PS: The bird is fine, by the way. It held on to a tree branch for a moment, then flew away as if nothing happened.
Blog Post #2 - Week 2
SERIOUSLY, IF I HAVE TO EAT ONE MORE BURGER, I'M GOING TO START A RIO-
Oh, hi.
Wow. it's been two weeks already. Freaking amazing. I thought the days went by like molasses, but then when I look back at it.
odd. odd indeed.
but anyway, I've been having loads of fun so far. just last tuesday, Apostle Dalin H. Oaks graced the MTC with his presence. He first spoke about the statistics of missionaries in the MTC and in the field; how over half of all missionaries are learning 52 different languages; included was 15 ASL missionaries. That was when I immediately knew that he was talking right at me. Really cool.
Elder Van Dam: He's pretty cool too. He comes from a huge family: 12 kids. I think one of them are deaf too so he learned some ASL before coming to the MTC. His ASL is getting better everyday to the level of normal communication so we got a chance to really talk and bond. Oh, and he's going to Los Angeles too.
Lemmon and Nightingale are doing well. Nighingale just got informed that they're sending him out in about a week. Lucky him.
the five ASL sisters in our branch are nice too. all hearing, but fairly versed into ASL, so...
Anyway, last week, we had our first referral center appointment where we talked to actual people online who had questions about the church. It was ok, but you meet the strangest people online. One man had a "concrete testimony about the Big Bang Theory, science, and stuff like that. Another man discussed the intricaties of *cough* his intimate moments. etc. etc.
But on the plus side, we hooked an appointment on our FIRST call. W00t. Think that's a good omen or something?
We also had opportunities to teach real investigators in person at the MTC last friday. I think it went well, as the investingator (Amanda) didn't show us out the door on the first minute. yikes. I was very nervous but I think I did fairly well.
agh. Time running out. again. BUT... a story before I go.
Two mew missionaries arrived on a island where they were supposed to be teaching. There, they were immediately surrounded by tribial natives wearing masks and paint. And spears. lots of spears.
One elder made the mistake of saying Hello in plain english, and for some reason the natives bound them up with rope and carried both elders off to their giant idol on the island. there, the natives chanted to the idol to burn the elders in sacrifice, but the idol has done nothing. the chanting went on for hours and yet nothing happened, so one of the elders finally decided to wriggle out of his ropes. he than put his hand in his pocket as the natives stopped and looked on suspiciously. He then took out a lighter and flickered a flame. the natives, all 2,000 of them, jumped back in astonishment. the elder then lit his post on fire, showing that he could make fire when the idol couldn't. every native on the island collective bowed on the ground.
At that, he told the natives to read the Book of Mormon, and pray about it (the right way, of course).
Withing a month. the two elders baptized all 2,000 people. the Mission president's jaw dropped to the sand.
Anyway, enough about us. What's up on the home front?
-Zack
PS: Please PLEASE send letters. it gives me a thrill of seeing the shiny white envelope in the mail. If typing is REALLY your thing, then send me mail at DearElder.com THANKS!
Oh, hi.
Wow. it's been two weeks already. Freaking amazing. I thought the days went by like molasses, but then when I look back at it.
odd. odd indeed.
but anyway, I've been having loads of fun so far. just last tuesday, Apostle Dalin H. Oaks graced the MTC with his presence. He first spoke about the statistics of missionaries in the MTC and in the field; how over half of all missionaries are learning 52 different languages; included was 15 ASL missionaries. That was when I immediately knew that he was talking right at me. Really cool.
Elder Van Dam: He's pretty cool too. He comes from a huge family: 12 kids. I think one of them are deaf too so he learned some ASL before coming to the MTC. His ASL is getting better everyday to the level of normal communication so we got a chance to really talk and bond. Oh, and he's going to Los Angeles too.
Lemmon and Nightingale are doing well. Nighingale just got informed that they're sending him out in about a week. Lucky him.
the five ASL sisters in our branch are nice too. all hearing, but fairly versed into ASL, so...
Anyway, last week, we had our first referral center appointment where we talked to actual people online who had questions about the church. It was ok, but you meet the strangest people online. One man had a "concrete testimony about the Big Bang Theory, science, and stuff like that. Another man discussed the intricaties of *cough* his intimate moments. etc. etc.
But on the plus side, we hooked an appointment on our FIRST call. W00t. Think that's a good omen or something?
We also had opportunities to teach real investigators in person at the MTC last friday. I think it went well, as the investingator (Amanda) didn't show us out the door on the first minute. yikes. I was very nervous but I think I did fairly well.
agh. Time running out. again. BUT... a story before I go.
Two mew missionaries arrived on a island where they were supposed to be teaching. There, they were immediately surrounded by tribial natives wearing masks and paint. And spears. lots of spears.
One elder made the mistake of saying Hello in plain english, and for some reason the natives bound them up with rope and carried both elders off to their giant idol on the island. there, the natives chanted to the idol to burn the elders in sacrifice, but the idol has done nothing. the chanting went on for hours and yet nothing happened, so one of the elders finally decided to wriggle out of his ropes. he than put his hand in his pocket as the natives stopped and looked on suspiciously. He then took out a lighter and flickered a flame. the natives, all 2,000 of them, jumped back in astonishment. the elder then lit his post on fire, showing that he could make fire when the idol couldn't. every native on the island collective bowed on the ground.
At that, he told the natives to read the Book of Mormon, and pray about it (the right way, of course).
Withing a month. the two elders baptized all 2,000 people. the Mission president's jaw dropped to the sand.
Anyway, enough about us. What's up on the home front?
-Zack
PS: Please PLEASE send letters. it gives me a thrill of seeing the shiny white envelope in the mail. If typing is REALLY your thing, then send me mail at DearElder.com THANKS!
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