I think I am going to start out each little entry with a "Mom's Note", but then copy and paste Gabe's email home that describes his week. I want this to be Gabe's mission journal that he can have for when he gets home, but I'll also just quick put a paragraph of my perspective. ;) Also, I am NOT going to be an English teacher and fix all of Gabe's spelling and grammar mistakes. ;)
*Mom's Note - The past week was really rough because we weren't sure if Gabe was feeling any better of not since the first chat. The first time we had talked was only about 44 hours after we had dropped him off at the MTC, and he didn't seem to be in good spirits on that first Facetime call. I was doing my best not to just get in the car and go drive down there to pick him up and tell him, "You're not ready. It's ok. We can try this again in a year. Just come home and do BYUI and live at home for a year." I know Gabe would've NEVER done that (or at least unless he was feeling REALLY bad), but I had nightmares about him taking a bus from the MTC and just coming home those first few days. Thankfully, this last time we talked, it seems like he is doing better. We have all been trying to navigate life without Gabe here and trying to figure out just how often we should send Gabe messages (me, Josh, Sophia... that's another story...) but I think we are all slowly figuring it out. We just want Gabe to thrive and get adjusted to life as a missionary, and hopefully it just keeps getting better! Here is Gabe's email update of his first full week at the MTC!
Email sent on P-DAY, Friday, August 9, 2024:
Hey Mom, I've missed you all so much I hope it's gotten better for you since i first left. I really im doing pretty good and you shouldn't worry. We have a temple trip from 7:40 till about 12:30 where we wont have wifi, so i won't be able to message. But I'll message you as soon as I get back. Then we can call. Here's the summary of my week, I love you.
This is the summary:
Friday, August 2 (two days in the MTC) - Today was p-day and me and Elder Walker started out our day off by going to the basketball courts. But after doing the orientation we ended up just going on a run because the courts were so busy. Then we had breakfast which was pancakes which were really good. Then we did laundry and personal study. Then I got to call my family which was really nice. Then I did some memorization and wrote emails. At 12:40 we weny to the Mt Timpanogos temple which was really nice. Especially because I got quite time to just sit and think, which I haven’t really had since getting here. It was really busy in the temple and we didn't leave until like 4:30. I prefer Rexburg's temple though. The bus ride back was very hot, and took about 40 minutes. But I gotta get used to the heat
. Then we had pizza for dinner, I try and have fruit but it all tastes bad. Then we had a really good class with Brother Middleton. He gave a really good testimony about understanding how to feel adequet as a missionary. Then we came back to the room did some study and went to bed. Elder farmer, one of my roommates going to texas, tried learning spanish in one siting but got bored after about 5 minutes.
. Then we had pizza for dinner, I try and have fruit but it all tastes bad. Then we had a really good class with Brother Middleton. He gave a really good testimony about understanding how to feel adequet as a missionary. Then we came back to the room did some study and went to bed. Elder farmer, one of my roommates going to texas, tried learning spanish in one siting but got bored after about 5 minutes.Saturday, August 3- Today me and Walker started off our day by going running and doing pushups and situps. After we did some study we ate french toast sticks for breakfast and then went onto the the devo class building balcony to study. Then we had a spanish class and I felt pretty behind compared to the others. After that we had one of our lessons with a fake investigator(helping others appointment) it went kinda well but we accidentally read the day wrong. We were supposed to teach next saturday, so we stole the sister missionaries apointment. They came late and waited for us to finish before telling us. Then we has stirr fry at lunch and it was pretty good. We then had a really spiritual 3 hour class with brother middleton. Sadly though, he's going on a trip all next week then the last week
After we ate ham and potoatos for dinner we then had another 3 hour class with sister Cox. It was really fun and was also very spiritual, eccpecially because of how well the two lessons complimented each other. Then I ended my day with some spanish study and journaling.
. They came late and waited for us to finish before telling us. Then we has stirr fry at lunch and it was pretty good. We then had a really spiritual 3 hour class with brother middleton. Sadly though, he's going on a trip all next week then the last week After we ate ham and potoatos for dinner we then had another 3 hour class with sister Cox. It was really fun and was also very spiritual, eccpecially because of how well the two lessons complimented each other. Then I ended my day with some spanish study and journaling.Sunday, August 4 - Today was the my first fast sunday of the MTC and it was quite the experience. Me and elder Walker did some studying then went to sacrament meeting, which was fun. The testimonies of the other missionaries was really good. Then we had Elders Quorum which was pretty good. After we had a 3 hour break where we spent time with our district and studied. After that we had "go and do" which started with all of us in the gym where we learned about how we can let the spirit guide us while we study. Then there was a really good solo singer. But after that big meeting every district went into a classroom for individual personal study, which was really enjoyable. Our district, for whatever reason, decided to do chior practice which made us like 30 minutes late to Dinner. My horrible voice gets drowed out by the other 600 people luckly. I was very hungry Dinner was crazy!! Everyone was starving so everyone was going back for seconds and the lines were incredibly long. Everyone was moving super fast to get food. There was too much going on.I ate this weird breaded chicken an ham thing with sauce that tasted so bad but I was too hungry to care. After me and Elder Walker chatted with our district and Elder Fetuao and Elder Farmer. We then had a big devotional about the book of mormon which was awesome. After we had a discussion about it with our district. Then our district and couple others cleaned up after the big devotional which was funny cause the guy in charge was getting mad because we weren't moving fast enough. All my roommates are getting annoyed with our roommate, Elder Christenson because he leaves his stuff everywhere but his own bed. And his companion, Elder Lovel waits to read till 10:30 so we always have to persuade him to go to bed. Im starting to miss Caleb as a roommate.
Me and elder Walker did some studying then went to sacrament meeting, which was fun. The testimonies of the other missionaries was really good. Then we had Elders Quorum which was pretty good. After we had a 3 hour break where we spent time with our district and studied. After that we had "go and do" which started with all of us in the gym where we learned about how we can let the spirit guide us while we study. Then there was a really good solo singer. But after that big meeting every district went into a classroom for individual personal study, which was really enjoyable. Our district, for whatever reason, decided to do chior practice which made us like 30 minutes late to Dinner. My horrible voice gets drowed out by the other 600 people luckly. I was very hungry Dinner was crazy!! Everyone was starving so everyone was going back for seconds and the lines were incredibly long. Everyone was moving super fast to get food. There was too much going on.I ate this weird breaded chicken an ham thing with sauce that tasted so bad but I was too hungry to care. After me and Elder Walker chatted with our district and Elder Fetuao and Elder Farmer. We then had a big devotional about the book of mormon which was awesome. After we had a discussion about it with our district. Then our district and couple others cleaned up after the big devotional which was funny cause the guy in charge was getting mad because we weren't moving fast enough. All my roommates are getting annoyed with our roommate, Elder Christenson because he leaves his stuff everywhere but his own bed. And his companion, Elder Lovel waits to read till 10:30 so we always have to persuade him to go to bed. Im starting to miss Caleb as a roommate.Monday, August 5 - Me and Elder Walker did kickball this morning for our exercise with our district. It was super fun. After we had breakfast which was ok, but everday I feel more excited for Spain food. Then we had spanish class. It turns out everyone was confused so im not alone. Im not ready for full emersion on thursday. After we had a workshop and we learned about how to build relationships with members while on our mission and how that can help us reach non-members. Then we had lunch and chatted with our district which was fun. After we had a 3 hour class with Sister Cox where we talked about how when we serve other and help them with their problems ours would fade. Then we had dinner then another 3 hour class with our sub because brother Middleton is out of time. She seems nice, but we definitely didn’t feel the spirit as much. After, we got ready for bed and I studied and journaled and then we we heard the national anthem being sung. Everyone was on the staircases singing and when I got there they switched to Armies of Helaman which was fun.
. Then we had spanish class. It turns out everyone was confused so im not alone. Im not ready for full emersion on thursday. After we had a workshop and we learned about how to build relationships with members while on our mission and how that can help us reach non-members. Then we had lunch and chatted with our district which was fun. After we had a 3 hour class with Sister Cox where we talked about how when we serve other and help them with their problems ours would fade. Then we had dinner then another 3 hour class with our sub because brother Middleton is out of time. She seems nice, but we definitely didn’t feel the spirit as much. After, we got ready for bed and I studied and journaled and then we we heard the national anthem being sung. Everyone was on the staircases singing and when I got there they switched to Armies of Helaman which was fun. Tuesday, August 6 - Today was pretty fun. Me and Elder Walker went on a run with the district, which was pretty funny. After we had breakfast then Spanish class. Every spanish class makes me both excited and scared for full emersion. But after Spanish we had lunch then a 3 hour class with Sister Cox. She shared with us part of "the conversion story of bill carpenter" which was amazing. If you have time you should definitely listen to it. I have never felt the spirit so strongly during a MTC class. After that we had dinner and quickly hurried to choir practice. I'm so glad we did choir because it guaranteed us a spot in the devo room where Carl B. Cook spoke. A lot of people had to go watch it get broadcasted in another building because the gym wasn't big enough. It was an amazing devo and He talked about how he struggled a lot learning German for his mission but the phrase "I didn't call you to master the Language but to serve with lord with all your heart, might, strength" came to him through prayer, which I really needed to hear. Then we talked about the devo with our branch president which was another really great testimony session. Our roommates Elder lovel and Elder Christensen have upped their game by leaving all their belongings thrown on half of one side of the room. I once again im missing caleb as a roommate.
. But after Spanish we had lunch then a 3 hour class with Sister Cox. She shared with us part of "the conversion story of bill carpenter" which was amazing. If you have time you should definitely listen to it. I have never felt the spirit so strongly during a MTC class. After that we had dinner and quickly hurried to choir practice. I'm so glad we did choir because it guaranteed us a spot in the devo room where Carl B. Cook spoke. A lot of people had to go watch it get broadcasted in another building because the gym wasn't big enough. It was an amazing devo and He talked about how he struggled a lot learning German for his mission but the phrase "I didn't call you to master the Language but to serve with lord with all your heart, might, strength" came to him through prayer, which I really needed to hear. Then we talked about the devo with our branch president which was another really great testimony session. Our roommates Elder lovel and Elder Christensen have upped their game by leaving all their belongings thrown on half of one side of the room. I once again im missing caleb as a roommate.Wednesday, August 7 - Me and my district played soccer this morning for our exercise and it was awesome. It was so fun to play soccer again and it was a really good workout too. After we had breakfast we did some companion study and went to spanish. Today was our last day of english in class, I'm pretty nervous about tomorrow. It's safe to say I might know the least spanish in the class. But I know I'll get it, even if it takes a while After that, me and Elder Walker did personal study then had lunch. After lunch our district went into one of the classrooms and listened to Elder Walker, Hermano Chase, and Elder Madsen practice a piano/violin/singing preformance their going to do on an upcoming Sunday. I just practiced Spanish the whole time. Today was also the first time new missionaries got here, which was weird to see because it felt like we got here just yesterday, but also that we've been here forever. After that though we had a 3 hour class with Hermana Cox. The biggest take away from that class was that as long as we try our hardest it doesn't matter how fluent we are in Spanish, because the lord will help us with the rest. After we had the worst steak I've ever eaten for dinner, and my standards aren't that high. Then we had another class with the sub for Middleton, Sister Hayine, it was pretty good. We learned about different senerioes we would encounter while teaching and it was really interesting and fun to talk about. After we went back to our room and studied. I had a headache most the day, a runny nose, and sore throat. So i hope that clears up tomorrow.
. It's safe to say I might know the least spanish in the class. But I know I'll get it, even if it takes a while After that, me and Elder Walker did personal study then had lunch. After lunch our district went into one of the classrooms and listened to Elder Walker, Hermano Chase, and Elder Madsen practice a piano/violin/singing preformance their going to do on an upcoming Sunday. I just practiced Spanish the whole time. Today was also the first time new missionaries got here, which was weird to see because it felt like we got here just yesterday, but also that we've been here forever. After that though we had a 3 hour class with Hermana Cox. The biggest take away from that class was that as long as we try our hardest it doesn't matter how fluent we are in Spanish, because the lord will help us with the rest. After we had the worst steak I've ever eaten for dinner, and my standards aren't that high. Then we had another class with the sub for Middleton, Sister Hayine, it was pretty good. We learned about different senerioes we would encounter while teaching and it was really interesting and fun to talk about. After we went back to our room and studied. I had a headache most the day, a runny nose, and sore throat. So i hope that clears up tomorrow.Thursday, August 8 - Today I still felt a little sick, but it's not too bad. We played soccer again this morning which was really fun. After breakfast we studied Spanish and the Book of Mormon. Then we had our spanish class. Today was the first day of emersion and it was quite the experience. I wasn't even close to understanding every word but my first 2 teachers did a good job making sure we understood almost everything. It was pretty fun learning Spanish, but after the first hour of constant interpreting I had a headache. Today, like everyday from now on, we will usually do about 7 hours of spanish in class. Which is a lot. But it'll help us learn faster I hope. Our evening class sub was such a fast talker and I don't think I understood more than 20 words. After class we hurried to bed, today was very tiring. But I know heavenly father will help me progress in both the language and my knowledge of the gospel, I just need to keep trying.
. I wasn't even close to understanding every word but my first 2 teachers did a good job making sure we understood almost everything. It was pretty fun learning Spanish, but after the first hour of constant interpreting I had a headache. Today, like everyday from now on, we will usually do about 7 hours of spanish in class. Which is a lot. But it'll help us learn faster I hope. Our evening class sub was such a fast talker and I don't think I understood more than 20 words. After class we hurried to bed, today was very tiring. But I know heavenly father will help me progress in both the language and my knowledge of the gospel, I just need to keep trying.
No comments:
Post a Comment