Well I just got back from our second temple session. It was really amazing and I'm so lucky to be able to attend. I got several letters throughout the week that really helped me a ton! I will try to make an effort in writing letters back to those of you who sent me hand written letters. But honestly DearElder is really awesome and it's amazing hearing from people through that too. To those of you who thought of me this past week and sent something to read, Thanks so much!
The week has been fairly routine but there have been highlights. I haven't been here at the MTC two weeks yet and as of last sunday my companionship have been called to be Zone Leaders. Theres roughly fifty people in our zone. Honestly we weren't too excited. Being a zone leader means we need to set examples and be responsible for everyone else. Basically, less fun. But we definitely recognize the blessings that come with it! Tonight I will get the chance to escort and orient a group of new missionaries coming into our zone. Being a ZL is a lot of work, meetings, and responsibility, but we are not given tasks we cannot complete and are given them so that we can better ourselves.
Another highlight is that just last night we got a devotional from Elder Russell M Nelson! It was really something to see him and hear him talk live and in person. What stuck out to me in his talk was that we should strive to stay in contact with our converts as missionaries. It made me think of how those who helped me get in the church were already following his advise and made me smile knowing they did so. I thank Elder Crandell, Elder Webster, Elder Bruton, Elder Pulley, Elder Geis, and Elder Baliff for being the studs they were and still are!
I finally ran into my roommate from college, Thomas Cottam. Haven't seen him since then though. I constantly run into familiar faces and it's pretty awesome. Fortunately the field is still open at certain times of the day so it's a good break doing gym outside. You can also get adjustments on suits and pants here. Unfortunately I have to wait about a week to get them back. My district (my classmates) also ordered Argentina shirts to kind of wear and show off where we're going during gym and P-days. They arrived last night and hopefully we will get to pick them up. My knowledge of the gospel and my fluency in spanish are growing like crazy. I remember reading in a blog from Christopher Pedersen about how when he was getting ready to leave he was able to pray and testify in Spanish. They made us do all that the first two days! We are really getting pushed hard, and sometimes we get a little off task, but we are definitely growing and becoming excellent missionaries. A fun experience that happens once a week here is called TRC (Training Resource Center). Basically it's a teaching simulation where you knock on doors, contact, and then return to give a lesson. It really is an awesome experience and really helps you learn what you need to improve on and how to grow closer to your companions so you can teach more effectively.
A funny experience is that on the first day or two when you enter they take you to some demonstrations of teachings. A few volunteers act as investigators (all different kinds) and two missionaries attempt to give them a lesson with the new group of missionaries watching. Theres time for Q&A and it's really funny to watch at times. One of the ones we watched involved a Hispanic man named Daniel. Later this week and a few times during lunch I saw him in the cafeteria and tried talking to him. Saying what an awesome job he did and getting to know him. He was kind of reserved and didn't really want to do anything with me. I after found out that he ALWAYS stays in character, so I felt kind of like an idiot haha. But he is a really cool guy. Sundays we got to watcvh a movie in the gym and this week was the Testaments. Sundays are generally the best days (besides P days), because we get relaxing things like that.
Well that is basically all I have to say so far for this week. I just want to thank everyone who is making this possible for me right now. My parents especially, and the ward back in Oregon. This truly is an enlightening experience and I can't wait to get to the mission field. Until next week!
-Elder Trevor Jones
No comments:
Post a Comment